Digital Games
Ongoing coverage on Digital Games.
Latest coverage
Games Inbox: Will Red Dead Redemption 3 be Rockstar’s next game?
Readers discuss Rockstar Games' next project, with speculation leaning towards Red Dead Redemption 3 over new IPs, despite a desire for experimentation. Other topics include the perceived high pricing of PlayStation Store digital games, the mismanagement of BioWare leading to the decline of franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, and concerns about future online security threats and the impact of piracy on the games industry.
Former Halo boss is now in charge of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games
Dan Ayoub, formerly of 343 Industries, has been promoted to lead Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games. He will oversee major projects like Exodus and Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons, as well as established franchises such as Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons. The appointment comes at a challenging time for Hasbro, which has faced game cancellations and is navigating the evolving landscape of AI in gaming.
Hasbro games and Wizards of the Coast's new president is a former Halo studio head
Hasbro has appointed Dan Ayoub as the new president of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games, overseeing titles like Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. Ayoub, formerly of 343 Industries and Certain Affinity, expressed his commitment to fans and creators. This appointment comes amidst ongoing unionization efforts by developers concerned about AI adoption.
Backlash to Sony ending PS5 discs comes from a "vocal minority of a revenue minority," analyst says - but that's still a community "that spends a lot of money"
An analyst suggests that the backlash against Sony ending PlayStation 5 disc production in 2028 represents a vocal minority of players, despite their significant spending habits. While physical sales remain strong for single-player titles, multiplayer games are overwhelmingly digital, a trend Sony is leveraging for cost savings and market control.
Resident Evil: Requiem made more money from PlayStation discs than on Xbox in total, reportedly, as Sony's march to a discless future continues
A report indicates that physical copies of Resident Evil: Requiem sold more on PlayStation than all versions of the game on Xbox, highlighting the continued importance of physical media, especially in Japan. Despite Sony's push towards digital-only consoles and games, physical sales still represent a significant portion of revenue for many single-player titles, though this trend is less pronounced for sports games.
Xbox is appointing someone to focus on physical games just to spite PlayStation
Microsoft is reportedly hiring a strategist to focus on the launch of physical Xbox games, a move seen as an attempt to gain a public relations advantage over Sony. This comes as Sony plans to phase out physical game support after 2027, a decision that has faced backlash. While Xbox has historically favored digital releases, Microsoft appears to be capitalizing on Sony's controversial decision.
Xbox Job Listing for Supply Strategist Hint at Continued Plans to Support Physical Games – Rumor
A new Xbox job listing for a Supply Strategist suggests the company plans to continue supporting physical game releases, contrasting with Sony's announced discontinuation of PlayStation disc production. The role involves coordinating physical game launches and managing supply chain strategies throughout the product lifecycle. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has previously stated a desire to offer players choices between physical and digital media.
Nintendo Make Key Decision on Future of Physical Gaming
Nintendo of America's Vice President and General Manager, Bill van Zyll, confirmed that the company has no plans to discontinue physical game releases, stating that both digital and physical formats will be supported for the Nintendo Switch 2. This decision comes as a relief to fans, contrasting with Sony's move away from physical media.
The best early Black Friday PS5 deals in Australia for 2026: the biggest Sony savings so far
This article discusses the upcoming Black Friday deals for the PlayStation 5 in Australia, noting that Sony's move towards digital-only games starting in 2028 and recent price hikes may dampen enthusiasm. The author emphasizes the importance of these sales for acquiring physical games before they become obsolete and highlights potential discounts on major titles and accessories like headsets and controllers.
Nintendo executive confirms company has "no plans to ditch physical games"
Nintendo of America's VP and general manager, Bill van Zyll, confirmed that the company has no plans to discontinue physical game releases. He stated that Nintendo remains agnostic and will continue to support physical media as long as consumers prefer it, contrasting with Sony's move towards an all-digital future.
Nintendo reveals Japan’s best-selling Switch 2 and Switch digital games for September 2026
Nintendo has released the best-selling digital games for the Japanese Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 eShops for September 2026. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave topped the charts for the Switch 2, while Rhythm Heaven Groove led on the Switch. The lists include a variety of new and established titles.
Nintendo says it has no plans to ditch physical games, knows how much fans like it
Nintendo of America's VP and general manager, Bill van Zyll, stated that the company has no plans to discontinue physical game releases. He acknowledged the strong fan preference for physical media and confirmed that the Nintendo Switch supports both digital and physical formats. While full cartridges are preferred by collectors, game-key card sales have seen significant growth.
"If you don't own it, then what are you buying?": Ex-PlayStation boss says Sony killing discs raises the "insidious" discussion of game ownership
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden expressed concern over Sony's move away from physical discs, arguing it shifts the focus from game ownership to mere access. He believes this decision alienates dedicated players and could negatively impact the PlayStation brand, despite acknowledging he lacks insight into Sony's financial data.
PlayStation is "hearing the feedback from customers" on discs, says JRPG boss whose business is built on…
Nippon Ichi Software president Kenzo Saruhashi suggests Sony is listening to customer feedback regarding the planned discontinuation of physical PlayStation discs in 2028. While Sony has not announced any changes, Saruhashi expressed hope that discussions might alter the future direction, emphasizing the importance of physical editions to his company's business model.
The best early Black Friday PS5 deals in 2026: the biggest Sony savings so far
Black Friday 2026 PlayStation 5 deals are anticipated to focus on physical games and accessories, with Sony's shift towards digital-only releases and a price hike for the PS5 Pro impacting savings. While discounts on consoles are unlikely, bundles and deals on physical titles are expected to be prevalent, especially with major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon.
New PS5 cashback scheme will make digital games cheaper as first trials begin
Sony Interactive Entertainment is trialing a new 'wallet credit' cashback scheme on the PlayStation Store, potentially making digital games cheaper. The scheme, which offers credit for future purchases, has been spotted by some users in the US for specific titles like The Blood Of Dawnwalker. This initiative comes as Sony faces criticism for phasing out physical discs and pushing live service games.
As Sony kills physical games, former PlayStation execs recreate now-infamous PS4 game-sharing tutorial, but whoops,…
Former PlayStation executives Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes recreated a famous PS4 game-sharing tutorial as Sony prepares to end support for physical games in January 2028. The recreation, shared on social media, has drawn criticism from many online who view it as a symbol of Sony's shift away from physical media and a departure from its past practices.
Resident Evil Movie Director Comments On Physical Media Debate
Resident Evil movie director Zach Cregger shared his views on the debate surrounding physical media, stating he is no longer a proponent due to losing or damaging discs and space constraints. While acknowledging the convenience of digital downloads, he expressed concern over companies' ability to delete purchased digital games.
Instead of convincing us digital-only games are secretly a good thing, Sony was just caught testing dynamic pricing…
Sony has been observed testing dynamic pricing for digital games on the PlayStation 5, with users seeing different discounts for titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor based on account factors. This practice, which has been noted before, is criticized as anti-consumer and further fuels concerns about a digital-only future for gaming, especially as Microsoft's Xbox has also faced similar accusations regarding Game Pass discounts.
Xbox’s Disc-To-Digital Program Has A Big Problem: Several Major Publishers Aren’t Participating
Xbox's disc-to-digital program is facing significant limitations as major publishers like Sega, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Bandai Namco are not participating. This means physical copies of many popular games, including Far Cry 4, Final Fantasy 15, and Dark Souls 3, cannot be converted to digital licenses. This lack of participation raises concerns for game preservation, especially given Square Enix's history of requiring repurchase for new console generations.
