‘In 20 years, it will have probably changed’: Iwata’s 2009 gaming prediction revisited

Late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata’s 2009 remarks on the pace of the video game industry’s shift to digital distribution are being revisited online, after Sony’s reported decision to stop producing physical PlayStation 5 discs from 2028.

During a 2009 investor meeting, Iwata said: “Most radical people even dare to say that retailers will be replaced by digital distribution in no time. But personally, I think it will still require a significant amount of time.” He continued: “In other words, it will require many years and months for the majority of video game purchase to become digital. In short, in 20 years or so, I might say it will have probably changed. But in 5 years or so, I do not totally agree with opinions that no one will purchase titles at retailers by then.”

The remarks have resurfaced on Reddit after being shared in an earlier Kotaku report, as discussions about physical games have gained momentum following recent industry announcements. Rockstar Games announced in 2026 that Grand Theft Auto VI will be digital-only.

Xbox has not announced plans to discontinue physical discs, though some recent releases have shipped with little game data on the disc itself, and Microsoft’s rumoured Project Helix hardware may not include a disc drive at all. Iwata served as Nintendo’s president from 2002 until his death in 2015.