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In 2009, late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said it'll take "20 years or so" for game purchases to…
Former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata predicted in 2009 that it would take approximately 20 years for digital game purchases to become the majority. With Sony phasing out physical PS5 games by 2028 and Rockstar Games opting for digital or code-in-box releases for Grand Theft Auto 6, his prediction appears to be nearly accurate. While Xbox has not yet announced similar plans, the trend towards digital distribution is evident across the industry.
Xbox’s New Plan After Brutal Cuts: Focus On The Thing Called Xbox
Following significant layoffs, Xbox is refocusing its strategy on its core business, including its flagship console hardware and major IPs like Minecraft. This shift aims to address issues like spreading resources too thin and declining hardware revenue, despite industry-wide cost increases and component shortages. The restructuring also involves making some studios independent or selling them off.
'Physical media is what makes consoles the best place to play' — PlayStation fans pushing back against Sony's plan to end physical discs have managed to amass over 170,000 signatures in a bid to reverse the decision
PlayStation fans are protesting Sony's decision to end the production of physical game discs starting January 2028, with a petition amassing over 170,000 signatures. The petition argues that physical media offers true ownership, unlike digital licenses, and expresses concern over job losses in retail. This move follows the confirmation that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch with a digital download code instead of a disc.
It sure feels like PlayStation underestimated the backlash to ending physical games: its first post in a week has been…
Sony's decision to end support for physical PlayStation games and shut down the PS3 and PS Vita storefronts has generated significant backlash. The company's first social media post since the announcement, discussing a fight stick controller, was met with widespread criticism and demands for physical media, indicating a potential underestimation of player sentiment.
The petition against Sony's decision to kill PlayStation physical discs has over 170,000 signatures
A petition against Sony's decision to end physical disc manufacturing for PlayStation in January 2028 has garnered over 170,000 signatures. The campaign, started by retailer PNP Games, argues against the loss of consumer ownership, reduced market choice, and damage to game preservation. The petition urges Sony to continue physical disc production beyond 2028.
List of PS3 Games on PlayStation Store With PS5, PS4 Cross-Buy
Sony is closing the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in July 2027, impacting digital game purchases. Players can still buy games until then, with some PS1/PSP classics and digital PS3 titles offering cross-buy functionality on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Xbox Game Pass subscription numbers are reportedly well below where Microsoft wants them to be
Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers have reportedly fallen to 30 million, significantly below Microsoft's target of 77 million by 2026. This decline follows a substantial price increase for Game Pass Ultimate and a change in strategy regarding day-one releases for Call of Duty titles. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cited Game Pass growth troubles as a reason for recent job cuts within the Xbox division.
Ex-Xbox dev slams game execs as ‘money grubbing idiots’ in quote of the year
A former Bungie and 343 Industries developer, Dan Callen, has criticized game executives, calling them 'stupid detached money grubbing idiots.' Callen shared an anecdote about former Xbox executive Don Mattrick suggesting Halo 4 should implement a real money auction house for mech skins, a concept that had previously failed in Diablo 3. This criticism comes amid recent layoffs at Sony and Microsoft, highlighting ongoing issues within the games industry.
"How much innovation can the end-user handle?" - Shawn Layden explains why he said Sony should have made PlayStation Portable 2 rather than PS Vita
Former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Sony's PlayStation Vita was over-innovated, leading to increased costs and lower sales compared to the successful PlayStation Portable. He suggests a simpler 'PSP2' with an added analog stick would have been more viable. Layden also discusses the broader industry challenge of game preservation across hardware generations and Sony's decision to close older digital storefronts.
Sony leadership says AI tools are "an important foundational technology supporting our strategy"
Sony Interactive Entertainment leadership has declared artificial intelligence a crucial foundational technology for their strategy, emphasizing its role in enhancing game development quality and speed rather than solely for cost efficiency. AI tools are being integrated to streamline repetitive tasks, enable faster iteration, and create richer in-game experiences and content. While acknowledging near-term efficiency gains, Sony is also exploring fundamental AI-first initiatives to maintain a leading position as the technology evolves.
PS Plus Essential July 2026 Monthly Free Games Rolling Out Now
Sony has begun rolling out the PlayStation Plus Essential free games for July 2026, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, For the King II, and CrossCode for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This announcement comes amidst backlash over Sony's decision to end disc production for PlayStation 5 games and speculation about upcoming price increases for the PlayStation Plus subscription service.
Games Inbox: Is the Xbox doomed to failure?
Readers express concerns about the future of Xbox, citing recent studio closures and a reliance on aging franchises like Halo and Gears of War. The discussion also touches on the shift towards digital-only games, the impact on game preservation, and the potential for companies like Sony to influence Kickstarter campaigns.
Sony tells publishers they can still reorder physical game discs for games pubbed before 2028
Sony has informed publishers that they can still reorder physical PlayStation game discs released before January 2028, even after the stated end of disc printing. This comes after significant backlash from publishers and preservation groups regarding the initial announcement. Meanwhile, Sony's disc manufacturing plant in Austria is being repurposed for optical microlens production.
French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon declares 'Players have rights too!' over the death of…
French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has voiced strong opposition to the upcoming digital-only releases of Grand Theft Auto 6 and Sony's planned discontinuation of physical game sales. He argues that players will pay for games without ever truly owning them, leading to a loss of rights like resale and preservation, and is supporting a petition to save physical videogames.
Why we love Star Fox! Pure Nintendo Podcast E169
The Pure Nintendo Podcast episode 169 features a discussion on the Star Fox franchise, including its characters, action, and cutscenes, with a particular focus on the Nintendo 64 original and its potential for the Nintendo Switch. The hosts also touch upon the latest Nintendo Direct, the future of physical media, and other games they are currently playing.
Save Physical Games petition passes 125,000 signatures and tells Sony “Don’t Kill the Disc”
A petition on Change.org urging Sony to continue producing physical game discs has surpassed 125,000 signatures. The petition, launched by PNP Games Inc. owner Jade Pearce, argues for the importance of physical ownership and the negative impact of a digital-only future on local economies and consumer choice. Despite Sony's shift towards digital distribution and changes in manufacturing, the article notes past instances where public pressure influenced Sony's business decisions.
After PS5 Disc Controversy, Microsoft Confirms Halo: Campaign Evolved Will Come On A Disc
Microsoft has confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved will include physical discs for its PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S editions, despite Sony's recent announcement to phase out physical media by 2028. This move caters to players who value physical collections and raises discussions about game preservation and the potential elimination of the secondhand market.
If physical games are dying, we need better laws for our digital rights
Sony's decision to end disc production for PlayStation games and the impending removal of Studio Canal films from PlayStation Video highlight the precariousness of digital ownership. The article argues for stronger consumer rights and new laws to protect digital purchases, contrasting them with the freedoms offered by physical media. It notes ongoing efforts in the EU and France to address these issues, while also pointing to PC storefronts like GOG.com as alternatives offering true ownership.
Word on the street is that the PS5 Disc Drive has been "limited" to 1 per order, but it's actually been…
Sony has clarified that the "limit of 1 per order" for the PlayStation 5 Disc Drive was added in January 2026 due to high demand, not in response to the January 2028 discontinuation of physical game production. While the drive is still readily available at MSRP, resellers are already listing it for higher prices on platforms like eBay. The article advises against purchasing the drive solely for future game access, as new physical releases will cease in 2028, but notes its utility for existing physical games and 4K Blu-ray playback.
GTA 6 shipping without discs "feels unfair to studios still backing physical," Lords of the Fallen 2 boss says, and Sony's certainly not helping
CI Games CEO Marek Tyminski expressed concern over Rockstar Games' decision to ship Grand Theft Auto 6 without physical discs and Sony's planned discontinuation of PlayStation disc production in 2028. Tyminski argues these moves are unfair to studios still supporting physical releases, citing lower revenue and higher costs compared to digital sales. He confirmed Lords of the Fallen 2 will still receive a physical disc release, but acknowledged the increasing difficulty in justifying the format.
