Hideki Kamiya, one of the big brains behind franchises like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta – as well as the practice of threatening people on Twitter – has a good reason to be worried. Under all the ex-Capcom hero's bluster, there is a genuine concern for a healthy and well-preserved video game industry, and publishers are becoming increasingly obvious about the fact that they don't care.

PlayStation has become an expert in launching mood-killing torpedoes, having recently paired its decision to phase physical game discs out in 2028 with the assertion that "reasonable consumers" know they don't actually own digital games when they buy them. Meanwhile Xbox chews these torpedoes into toothpicks while announcing 3,200 layoffs and getting confronted with the harsh reality of a rapidly changing gaming landscape.

Kamiya is unsurprised we're seeing the end of physical discs you're glad to pass to a friend, but he implores IP owners to think of the future.

Don't buy single physical game

"I don't buy a single physical game these days – every single game I buy is 100% digital," Kamiya tells Video Games Chronicle adding that "I look at that decision [to discontinue PlayStation discs] and think, 'Yeah, I guess this is where things were heading.'" The more important question to Kamiya is instead "whether or not the IP holders are going to take responsibility for ensuring that all of these games will continue to be available to future generations in order for them to be played."

"Whether that's physically or digitally is less important to me, just so long as these games will be available to people in the future," Kamiya continues. "There are already so many of these older classic games that are not playable on modern hardware at all, and I hope that the IP holders will recognize that and continue to make those games available to future people not just from a gameplay perspective, but also from a game culture perspective, and to continue to foster and grow that culture of gaming." Publishers do seem especially keen to kill that culture these days.

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I think Kamiya's fears and eager initiatives like Stop Killing Games are the most natural ways to respond.

Resident Evil Requiem is "way too scary" says Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya, who'd rather Capcom put paper bags over all the enemies' heads: "It's not a joke." This sentiment is reflective of his broader concerns about the direction of the gaming industry. As someone who has spent their career creating iconic characters and stories, Kamiya knows what makes games truly special – it's not just about the gameplay or graphics, but about the emotional connection players form with the game world and its inhabitants.

"As a director, I've always tried to create games that are memorable, that leave an impact on the player," Kamiya explains. "And I think that's what's missing from a lot of modern games – that sense of wonder, that sense of discovery.

When you play a game like Resident Evil 2 or Devil May Cry, you feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself. You feel like you're experiencing a world that's been carefully crafted to transport you to another time and place."

"But that's what's at risk if we keep pushing the industry towards digital-only releases," Kamiya warns. "We're losing that sense of tactile connection, that physicality that makes games so special. And I think that's a tragedy – not just for gamers, but for the industry as a whole." So what can be done to prevent this from happening?

For Kamiya, it starts with IP owners taking responsibility for preserving their games and their legacy.

"I think it's time for publishers to start thinking about the long-term implications of their decisions," Kamiya says. "They need to consider not just what's best for their bottom line, but what's best for the fans who have supported them over the years.

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That means preserving classic games, making sure they're available on multiple platforms, and fostering a community around those games that will continue to grow and thrive long after the initial release has faded from memory."

"It won't be easy," Kamiya acknowledges. "There will be challenges along the way – technical difficulties, financial constraints, and of course, the inevitable pushback from fans who are used to seeing their favorite games available on physical media." But he's undeterred, convinced that with the right approach, it is possible to create a gaming industry that prioritizes quality over quantity, creativity over commercialism.

"I believe in the power of games to transform our lives," Kamiya says. "And I think that's what we need to hold onto – not just as gamers, but as an industry.

We need to remember why we got into this business in the first place: to create something special, something that will leave a lasting impact on people's lives." With initiatives like Stop Killing Games and his own work on Resident Evil Requiem, Kamiya is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future for the gaming industry.

"It won't be easy," he says. "But I'm willing to take the risk. Because if we don't, who will?"