Digital Media
Ongoing coverage on Digital Media.
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Tired of digital everything, more people are buying physical media: CD sales are up 58% and vinyl records jumped 17%,…
Despite the dominance of streaming, physical media sales are experiencing a resurgence, with CD sales up 58.6% and vinyl records up 17.7% in the first half of 2026. This trend mirrors discussions in the gaming industry about the value of physical ownership, especially as platforms like PlayStation move away from disc support.
PS5 Being in the Later Stages of its Life Makes Aggressive Marketing Unnecessary, Says Sony CEO
Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki stated that aggressive marketing for the PlayStation 5 is unnecessary as it is in the later stages of its lifecycle, with the company focusing instead on recurring revenue from its user base. The article also highlights fan criticism regarding Sony's decision to end physical game releases by 2028, with many expressing a desire to keep physical media.
Xbox CEO refuses to confirm whether next console Helix will have a disc drive
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma declined to confirm if the upcoming console, codenamed Project Helix, will feature a disc drive. Sharma emphasized player choice and the importance of library portability, while also announcing a disc-to-digital initiative for a thousand titles. The company is preparing to share more details about the next-generation hardware soon.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma wants players to have a choice between physical and digital games
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that the company wants players to have a choice between physical and digital games, highlighting the disc-to-digital program as a step towards this goal. Sharma acknowledged the benefits of both physical and digital media during an interview at Gamescom.
Xbox CEO Wants to “Make Sure People Have a Choice” Between Physical and Digital Media
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that the company wants to ensure players have a choice between physical and digital media, acknowledging the love for physical game discs. Microsoft is also introducing a disc-to-digital initiative for Xbox One and Series X titles, allowing players to convert physical copies into digital licenses.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma won't confirm whether Project Helix has a disc drive: "We have to be thinking about…
Xbox boss Asha Sharma declined to confirm if the upcoming 'Project Helix' console will feature a disc drive, emphasizing the need for affordability and efficiency in next-generation hardware. This suggests a potential all-digital future for Xbox consoles, though the company is exploring options like a disc-to-digital program to maintain backwards compatibility.
The Lord Of The Rings Extended Trilogy Is Massively Discounted Just After Surprise Game Re-Release
Amazon is offering a significant discount on the digital extended edition trilogy of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films, reducing the price from $45 to $15. This sale follows a recent re-release of the game The Lord of the Rings: War in the North. The article also touches on upcoming Lord of the Rings movies and games, noting mixed reception for recent titles like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
One Lord of the Rings fan is fighting back after Google removed the extended edition from their digital library
A fan reported that Google Play removed the extended edition trilogy of The Lord of the Rings from their digital library, despite the user having purchased it. Google initially refused a refund, citing policy, but later offered a partial credit and links to the films, though some remain inaccessible. This incident highlights concerns about digital ownership and the reliability of digital libraries compared to physical media.
UNC Greensboro game preservation project back on track after Trump funding cuts
A game preservation project at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, led by Dr. Colin Post, has resumed after funding cuts by the Trump administration were overturned in court. The project aims to establish how libraries can preserve and provide access to digital video games. This initiative gains urgency with Sony Interactive Entertainment's announcement to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games, highlighting the critical need for digital preservation strategies.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Says “Discs Don’t Make Sense to the Consumer”
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that physical discs 'don't make sense to the consumer' due to the convenience of digital media, noting that 90 percent of the company's sales are digital. Sony Interactive Entertainment is ending PlayStation disc production in January 2028, aligning with consumer trends favoring digital downloads. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot also commented that the shift away from physical discs is 'no big deal' for his company.
Sony starts promoting physical media again - but not for PlayStation
Sony is facing backlash for its decision to discontinue physical game releases on PlayStation 5 after 2027, while simultaneously promoting vinyl records as a physical media format. This has led to accusations of hypocrisy from fans, who question the company's stance on physical media given the larger market size of video games compared to vinyl.
Rockstar Games and GTA co-founder chimes in on the raging physical games debate: "If people want that, companies should provide it"
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser and writer Lazlow Jones have weighed in on the debate surrounding physical versus digital game releases. Houser stated that if consumers want physical copies, companies should provide them, while Jones expressed appreciation for the convenience of digital downloads on devices like the Steam Deck. Both acknowledged the value of physical media, drawing parallels to their current work in comic books.
Sony Ending PlayStation Discs Driven by Consumer Behavior, Says Former Valve Writer
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek believes Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production is driven by consumer preference for digital media, not a conspiracy. He cited declining physical game sales at retailers like GameStop and Sony's own digital sales figures as evidence that consumers are actively choosing digital convenience over physical copies.
How PlayStation should have handled the news about going all-digital - Reader’s Feature
A reader suggests Sony Interactive Entertainment should have handled its transition to an all-digital PlayStation 5 by 2028 more carefully. The author proposes solutions like offering free digital transfers for physical discs, reducing digital game prices, and creating a dedicated studio for game preservation to appease critics and support physical media.
Dan Houser shrugs at physical media — then admits he loves it
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser expressed conflicting views on physical media, stating he doesn't personally care but believes companies should provide it if consumers want it. He acknowledged the utility of digital updates for game quality while also admitting a personal fondness for physical products, particularly in the context of his new venture, Absurd Ventures.
Sony Issued “Strict” Social Media Guidelines Following Physical Disc Announcement – Rumor
Sony has reportedly implemented strict social media guidelines for employees following the announcement that PlayStation disc production will cease in January 2028. Former Santa Monica Studio writer Alanah Pearce stated these guidelines are the strictest she has seen, indicating Sony anticipated backlash. The company cited a shift in consumer trends towards digital media as the reason for ending physical disc production.
'I find it really sad': Hideo Kojima laments the current state of the videogame industry as companies turn…
Hideo Kojima expressed sadness over the impending end of physical game disc production by 2028, citing concerns for game preservation and player ownership. He worries that a shift towards streaming services could lead to a future where players do not truly possess their digital media, drawing parallels to the current state of the video game industry and its potential impact on other media like movies.
Bethesda not-so-subtly brags about its physical Oblivion Remastered Switch 2 cartridge, mere hours after Sony announces…
Bethesda Game Studios is highlighting that The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Deluxe Edition will be available on a physical game card for the Nintendo Switch 2. This announcement comes shortly after Sony revealed its plan to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games in 2028, sparking discussion about the future of physical media in gaming.
PS3 and PS Vita digital stores are closing starting August 2026
Sony Interactive Entertainment will close the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in select markets starting August 2026, with a wider closure in July 2027. This decision is due to the platforms no longer supporting necessary updates for modern commerce systems. Sony also announced an end to physical disc production for new PlayStation games starting January 2028, reflecting a shift towards digital media.
Sony announces that the PS3 and Vita stores are going offline on the same day it tells us we won't be able to buy physical games in future — 'This is why physical media matters'
Sony has announced the closure of the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita storefronts, with staggered shutdowns beginning next month and concluding in July 2027 for major regions. This decision, attributed to the systems' inability to support modern commerce systems, coincides with Sony's announcement that it will cease producing physical game discs in 2028, sparking concerns about the future of physical media among consumers.
