Physical Games
Ongoing coverage on Physical Games.
Latest coverage
PS5 fans troll Sony over whether its new headsets are digital or not
Sony announced new PlayStation Pulse and Pulse Edge wireless headsets for the PlayStation 5, but the announcement was met with widespread criticism online. Fans are complaining about Sony's recent business decisions, including abandoning physical games and the perceived poor quality of previous headsets, overshadowing the new product details.
Sony makes twice as much money from you on PS5 compared to PS4
Sony is prioritizing monetizing existing PlayStation 5 owners over acquiring new ones, as the company makes significantly more revenue per user on the current generation console compared to the PlayStation 4. This strategy focuses on recurring revenue from services like PlayStation Plus and digital purchases, while physical game sales decline.
Saber Boss Reacts To The Death Of Physical Games And Rising Console Prices
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits shared his thoughts on the decline of physical games and the rising cost of consoles. While acknowledging the convenience of digital titles and his personal shift away from physical media, Willits noted that Saber still profits from physical game sales, particularly in Europe. He also speculated about a future "AI box" for games and expressed concern over current console prices, suggesting it will be interesting to see how Sony and Microsoft navigate this trend with future hardware.
Xbox Won’t Say If Project Helix Has A Disc Drive, But It’s Not Giving Up On Physical Games Yet
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma discussed the importance of hardware affordability and efficiency for next-generation consoles like the rumored Project Helix, without confirming if it will include a disc drive. While acknowledging Sony's move towards an all-digital future, Sharma emphasized providing players with choices for purchasing games, indicating Xbox's continued commitment to physical media options.
Lies of P director says he wouldn't settle for a game-key card on Nintendo Switch 2 because everyone at his studio…
Jiwon Choi, director of Lies of P at Nough Studio, stated that the studio plans a full physical release for the game's Complete Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2. This decision stems from the studio's identity as 'proud gamers' who value physical media and the concept of game ownership, contrasting with trends towards digital-only releases.
Ex-PlayStation boss doesn't know if Sony killing physical games is "such a big issue" since players need to download patches and extra data anyway
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida stated he doesn't understand why Sony's decision to stop producing physical game discs from 2028 is a major issue, as most games require digital updates and downloads anyway. While acknowledging the appeal for collectors, Yoshida, a digital-first consumer himself, believes players can still find games on sale digitally. This perspective contrasts with significant consumer backlash regarding game preservation and ownership.
Capcom Unfazed By Physical Games Dying Off
Capcom has stated that the decline of physical game sales will not significantly impact the company, as approximately 90% of its sales are now digital. This trend is reflected across the industry, with Nintendo and Electronic Arts also reporting a majority of sales coming from digital downloads. Sony is ending support for physical discs in 2028, citing consumer trends, though experts suggest this shift also relates to control and profitability.
PlayStation ditching physical games is "a bridge across the bad years" of high hardware costs, analyst says, but it means "casuals and youngsters will drift off to mobile, PC, and free-to-play even faster"
Industry analyst Rhys Elliott suggests Sony's decision to phase out physical PlayStation games by 2028 is a short-term strategy to offset high hardware costs. While it may improve margins during a difficult period, it risks alienating budget-conscious and younger players who might then drift to mobile, PC, or free-to-play markets.
An Xbox outage left physical games unplayable, tech lead says Microsoft is working to make sure that never happens again
Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet stated that an Xbox outage which rendered some physical games unplayable should not have occurred. The company is investigating the issue, which involved disc-based entitlement checks preventing access, and plans to implement a fix in a future update to ensure this does not happen again.
Games Inbox: Why isn’t there a Skyrim remake?
Readers discuss the lack of a Skyrim remake despite numerous special editions, questioning why publishers don't prioritize such projects. Other topics include the viability of a PlayStation 5 boycott, the underutilization of tornadoes in games, and concerns about Capcom's yearly Resident Evil releases and Ubisoft's Far Cry franchise.
The PS6 will have bigger problems than not having physical games
The success of the PlayStation 6 is unlikely to be determined by its lack of physical game support, but rather by its price, launch titles, and hardware innovation. While the move to an all-digital future is controversial, consumer convenience and the prevalence of digital sales suggest it may not be the primary factor in the console's potential failure. More significant challenges include a presumed high price point, the difficulty of securing compelling exclusive titles, and the need for unique hardware features beyond what the PlayStation 5 offers.
Sega isn't "abandoning" physical games: president reminds everyone "we used to develop consoles," but says it's eyeing PC gaming in an increasingly digital future
Sega president Shuji Utsumi stated the company is not abandoning physical games but is focusing on improving digital releases due to the increasing global popularity of PC gaming. While acknowledging Japan's preference for physical media, Utsumi emphasized the need to strengthen digital products to reach a wider, global audience. Sega is also considering the important elements of digital media while simultaneously trying to make a shift, rather than completely abandoning physical culture.
Ubisoft CEO says ditching physical games "helped" PC gaming, and PlayStation ending discs won't "disturb" the industry much anyway
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot believes the discontinuation of physical PlayStation games will not significantly disrupt the industry, citing PC gaming's growth as evidence that a digital-only future can be beneficial. He suggests that eliminating physical media could lead to more accessible console pricing. While acknowledging the loss of the used games market, Guillemot stated that the overall impact on the industry will be manageable.
Physical Games Are “Irrelevant” To GameStop’s Business, Says CEO
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen stated that physical games are irrelevant to the company's business, with software now making up less than 12% of revenue while collectibles and hardware comprise the majority. He expressed indifference to PlayStation's potential shift away from physical discs, emphasizing the company's focus on other revenue streams like collectibles and his ambition to acquire eBay.
Commissioner says the EU can't stop Sony from ending physical games: "Companies are free to offer games and…
An EU commissioner stated that companies are free to decide how they offer games, implying that Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs by 2028 is within their commercial rights. This statement comes as collectors and preservationists rally against the move, but it suggests legal intervention is unlikely. Analysts predict Sony will not reverse its decision, with future consoles like the PlayStation 6 potentially omitting disc drives entirely.
Attention physical game fans - the retro-anime-inspired Orbitals for the Switch 2 is already on sale, and it's not…
The retro-anime-inspired game Orbitals for the Nintendo Switch is available for pre-order at a discounted price of $39.88, saving $10 off its MSRP. This deal is particularly notable for physical game collectors, especially with Sony phasing out physical releases for PlayStation 5 in 2028. The discount is also available in the UK, though less significant.
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.
‘You've become the villain you mocked’ - PS5 fans slam Sony over classic video
Fans are criticizing Sony's shift away from physical PlayStation 5 game releases, drawing parallels to a 2013 instructional video where Sony championed game sharing against Microsoft's policies. The article highlights user comments expressing resentment over Sony's current digital-only direction, contrasting it with past marketing. Former PlayStation executives Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes are mentioned as having departed the company.
PlayStation’s Digital-Only Future Makes Sony’s Dynamic Pricing Harder To Ignore
With Sony ending disc production for PlayStation 5 games in 2028, the company's recent implementation of dynamic pricing on the PlayStation Store becomes more concerning. This model adjusts game prices based on factors like user habits and location, leading to significant price discrepancies for titles like Stellar Blade and Astro Bot. The shift to an all-digital future, coupled with dynamic pricing, raises concerns about potential cost increases and unpredictable pricing for consumers.
"This Is Even Worse" - GTA 6 Code-In-A-Box Reveal Reignites Game-Key Card Debate
Rockstar Games has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released as a "code-in-a-box" instead of including a physical disc, a decision that has drawn criticism from gamers. This move has sparked debate, with some comparing it unfavorably to Nintendo's Game-Key Card format for the Switch and expressing concern that it could accelerate the decline of physical game releases.
