Game Distribution
Ongoing coverage on Game Distribution.
Latest coverage
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director says Square Enix would have to compromise "the quality of the final chapter" to ship the game fully on disc
Square Enix director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that Final Fantasy 7 Revelation requires a download for its physical edition to avoid compromising the game's quality. While physical copies will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch, all versions necessitate an additional download, a decision that has drawn criticism from fans who point to previous multi-disc releases.
NIS president says they “don’t see a difference” with Game-Key Card sales compared to physical
NIS president stated that the company sees no difference in sales between Game-Key Cards and traditional physical game sales for the Nintendo Switch. While third-party developers find the cards cost-effective, many consumers are reportedly unhappy with the format.
"This has been the most humiliating and surreal experience in 20+ years of game making": Dev pleads with Valve as Steam brands his PEGI 12 game as pornography
Developer Molleindustria is experiencing a "humiliating and surreal" situation as Valve has classified their teen-rated game, Future? No Thanks!, as pornography, making it largely invisible on Steam. Despite removing a mild sex scene, the game retains an adult-only label, impacting its visibility and availability, particularly in Germany. The developer is seeking assistance to understand Valve's decision and resolve the classification issue.
The Quake shareware CD-ROM contained encrypted copies of every id Software game—and yes, it was cracked 39 days…
The shareware CD-ROM for id Software's Quake included encrypted copies of the company's entire game catalog, intended to be unlocked via phone purchase. However, just 39 days after its release, a tool called Quakecrk.zip emerged, allowing users to generate unlock codes for all included games, effectively enabling widespread piracy of id Software's back catalog.
ONEstore Debuts AI-Built Games Hub With 20 Launch Titles as NEXUS Wires the Store Into ONEchain
ONEstore has launched "AI Games," a new section featuring 20 titles developed using AI tools, with plans to integrate further with its parent company NEXUS's blockchain network, ONEchain. This initiative aims to leverage ONEstore's 38 million user base in Korea to promote on-chain games without the restrictions of other app stores. The platform, developed with AI game creation platform Verse8, allows users to describe games in plain language, with AI handling development.
ONE Store Launches AI Games Section, Debuting With 20 Verse8-Built Titles
ONE store has launched a new section dedicated to AI-generated games, debuting with 20 titles built on the Verse8 platform that can be played instantly within the app without downloads. This initiative, spearheaded by Nexus following its acquisition of ONE store, aims to streamline the distribution process for AI-created games by handling store review, age ratings, and payment integration for creators. The platform also introduced a coupon promotion to incentivize players.
"Just pirate it": Roguelike dev would rather you download its games illegally than buy from Steam code…
Indie developer Dicehit Games, creator of the roguelike Runeveil, has publicly stated they would rather players pirate their games than purchase them through unofficial key reseller websites. The studio explained that these sites often sell game keys that were initially provided for free to content creators, thus abusing developer goodwill and failing to generate revenue or content coverage.
Quoteworthy
John Romero shared an anecdote about id Software selling empty Doom boxes to Taiwanese pirates to circumvent distribution issues, stating it was a form of distribution for them. Trent Reznor also commented on Doom's impact.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick Won't Rule Out GTA 6 on Disc at Some Point, Insists Decision Had Nothing to Do With Concern Over Leaks
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has not ruled out the possibility of a disc version of Grand Theft Auto 6 being released at some point, though he insists the decision not to launch with one was not due to concerns about leaks. The discussion follows the recent announcement regarding the game's launch format.
Rockstar Co-Founder Says 'if People Want' Physical Game Releases Then 'Companies Should Provide It'
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser stated that companies should provide physical game releases if players desire them. This sentiment touches upon the ongoing shift towards digital distribution in the gaming industry.
The History of Game Pass: How the Service Became Xbox’s Greatest Weapon
Introduced in 2017, Xbox Game Pass has evolved from a niche subscription service into a cornerstone of Microsoft's gaming strategy. By offering a vast library of games for a monthly fee, including all first-party titles at launch, it significantly lowered the barrier to entry and encouraged game discovery. Acquisitions of major studios like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard further bolstered its content, while cloud gaming expanded accessibility across devices. Despite challenges like licensing and profitability, Game Pass remains a key competitive advantage for Xbox, shaping the future of game distribution and player engagement.
XSOLLA RELEASES NEW INDUSTRY REPORT HIGHLIGHTING THE SHIFT TOWARD DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MODELS AS THE NEW BASELINE FOR MONETIZATION
Xsolla's latest report highlights the significant shift towards direct-to-consumer (D2C) models in the video game industry, moving from an experimental strategy to a core operating model. The report indicates that D2C revenue is growing substantially faster than overall mobile game revenue, driven by regulatory changes and publisher adoption. This shift allows studios to build direct relationships with players, optimize lifetime value, and improve margins.
PlayStation Stopping Disc Production in 2028 is a “Fairly Dramatic Decision,” Says Former Executive
Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden expressed surprise at Sony's decision to cease manufacturing physical game discs by January 2028, calling it a "fairly dramatic decision" driven by spreadsheet analysis of digital versus physical sales. Layden noted that while the move prioritizes revenue from the majority of players, it may alienate a global fanbase with inconsistent internet access, a factor PlayStation has historically considered.
How a South Korean intern saved Valve from a Vivendi lawsuit
A South Korean intern named Andrew played a crucial role in resolving Valve's 2002 lawsuit against Vivendi, which threatened the company's existence and the release of Half-Life 2. The intern discovered evidence of Vivendi destroying documents related to their deal, leading the court to side with Valve and secure ownership of Half-Life and Counter-Strike, paving the way for Steam's creation.
Epic Games CEO says "Steam charges such high fees" that companies like Genshin Impact maker MiHoYo "find it more profitable to go it alone," fans remind him MiHoYo has multiple games on Steam
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney stated that Steam's high fees make it more profitable for major companies like MiHoYo to distribute their games independently. This claim was met with a community note clarifying that MiHoYo has a growing presence on Steam, recently releasing Zenless Zone Zero and potentially planning a Steam launch for Genshin Impact.
Insomniac Responds to Wolverine Fan to Confirm Physical Edition Includes a Disc in the Box and I Suspect More Devs Will Have to Answer This Question in a Post-GTA 6 World
Insomniac Games confirmed that the physical edition of Marvel's Wolverine will include a disc, addressing fan concerns amplified by Rockstar's decision to not release Grand Theft Auto 6 on disc at launch. This situation highlights a growing trend in game distribution regarding physical media.
GTA 6’s Physical Edition Not Including a Disc Is About Control and Secrecy
The decision to release Grand Theft Auto 6's physical edition without a disc is attributed to Rockstar Games' desire for greater control and secrecy over the product. This move highlights a growing trend in game distribution, potentially impacting how physical media is perceived and utilized.
Lords of the Fallen 2-utvecklarna river exklusivitet med Epic
CI Games has terminated its exclusivity agreement with Epic Games for the upcoming PC release of Lords of the Fallen 2. This decision allows the action RPG to be distributed on other PC storefronts, likely including Steam, in addition to its planned releases on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. CI Games will continue to collaborate with Epic on Unreal Engine.
Level-5 criticised for anti-piracy statement while not having legal alternative to play back catalogue
Level-5 has faced criticism for issuing an anti-piracy statement while failing to provide legal avenues for international fans to access its older titles, such as the Yo-kai Watch series. Fans point out the lack of global releases and modern re-releases, making piracy the only option for many outside of Japan.
Flexion adds Fishing Travel from ARK Games to growing alternative store portfolio
Flexion has partnered with ARK Games to bring the fishing simulation game Fishing Travel to alternative app stores including Amazon Appstore, Samsung Galaxy Store, and Epic Games Store in Q2 2026. Flexion will manage the technical requirements and platform relations for ARK Games, aiming to increase incremental revenue for the title. Fishing Travel is a casual game with over 1 million downloads on Google Play.