Former PlayStation executives Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes have reunited to recreate one of the most famous moments in gaming marketing history. However, in a nod to the industry’s rapid shift towards a digital-only future, the updated image features a significant change: there is no physical game disc to be seen.
The pair were the stars of the 2013 “Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video”, a 22-second clip that became an instant sensation during the launch of the PlayStation 4. The original video, which has since amassed more than 21 million views, was a pointed response to Microsoft’s then-proposed digital rights management (DRM) policies for the Xbox One, which would have restricted the sharing of physical games. In the 2013 version, Boyes handed a physical disc to Yoshida in a silent, tongue-in-cheek demonstration of how “easy” it was to share games on Sony’s console.
In the 2026 recreation, the two men mimed the exact same hand-over gesture, but their hands remained empty. The change reflects a vastly different landscape for the brand compared to a decade ago.
The end of physical media
The irony of the “disc-less” recreation comes just months after Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed in July 2026 that it will cease all physical game disc production for new releases by January 2028. While Sony has stated that existing physical libraries will continue to work on compatible hardware, no new titles will be printed on disc after that deadline.
This shift has already been felt by UK consumers through hardware pricing and design. The PS5 Pro, which saw its recommended retail price rise to £789.99 in April 2026, does not include a disc drive as standard. For those wishing to play their existing physical collections, an optional external disc drive must be purchased separately at a cost of approximately £100.
The men behind the meme
The reunion also marked a rare public appearance together for the two industry veterans. Shuhei Yoshida, formerly the head of Independent Developer Initiatives, departed Sony Interactive Entertainment in early 2025 following a long and influential career with the company. Adam Boyes, who served as vice president of third-party relations during the PS4 era, left Sony in 2016 and currently serves as the Co-CEO of the development studio Iron Galaxy.
The original 2013 video is still widely regarded as a turning point in the “console wars” of that generation, helping Sony secure an early lead in public perception. However, as the 2026 recreation suggests, the era of physical game sharing that the pair once championed is now officially drawing to a close.
