Physical Media
Ongoing coverage on Physical Media.
Latest coverage
GTA 6 soundtrack up for pre-order and unlike the game will be on a disc
Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive are releasing a 36-track soundtrack album for Grand Theft Auto 6, available on disc and vinyl alongside the game's launch. The album features new singles from artists like Travis Scott and Keith Richards, with physical pre-orders available on Rockstar's website and other retailers. This contrasts with the game itself, which will not have a physical disc release.
The death of physical media is having the opposite effect on me – I've fallen back in love with my disc drive…
The author reflects on the decline of physical media in gaming, noting Sony's discontinuation of physical game support by 2028. Despite a failed boycott, the author embraces physical media, purchasing a PlayStation 5 disc drive and returning to collecting physical games like Ghost of Tsushima and Marvel's Wolverine.
Resident Evil director Zach Cregger weighs in on PlayStation ending physical games: "I'm not a physical media…
Resident Evil director Zach Cregger shared his perspective on the shift from physical to digital game distribution, stating he is not a physical media enthusiast due to his tendency to lose or damage items. While acknowledging concerns about digital ownership, he finds downloading games more convenient as it ensures they are always accessible.
PlayStation boycott made "no significant change at all in player count or engagement" with Sony's media…
A boycott initiated by PlayStation fans against the company's move away from physical disc production has had no significant impact on player count or engagement, according to analyst Mat Piscatella. Despite fan outcry and concerns about digital ownership, Sony appears unaffected by the 'PSBlackout' movement.
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.
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.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director defends its physical disk still needing a download: 'We didn't want to…
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi defended the decision to require a digital download for the physical disc version, stating it was necessary to avoid compromising game fidelity. While acknowledging the importance of physical media, he explained that using standard disc sizes would have necessitated cuts to the game's quality. The article also touches on broader industry concerns about the shift towards digital-only releases and the potential impact on pricing and the second-hand market.
Sony is Ending PlayStation Discs Despite Commercial Success to “Control” The Market, says Analyst
An analyst suggests Sony is ending PlayStation disc production in January 2028 to control the market and prioritize digital revenue, despite strong commercial success from physical releases like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Ghost of Yōtei. While live-service games like Helldivers 2 show less reliance on physical sales, Sony aims to capture more revenue and potentially influence the market ahead of a rumored digital-only PlayStation 6 handheld.
Stellar Blade on Nintendo Switch 2 will ship on a smaller 32GB cartridge
Stellar Blade will be among the first games to utilize the new 32GB cartridges for the Nintendo Switch 2. This marks a shift from the previously standard 64GB cartridges, indicating a rollout of smaller storage options for physical game releases.
Stellar Blade devs say the game is "100% on cartridge" for Switch 2 because they understand "the…
Shift Up has confirmed that Stellar Blade will be released on Switch 2 on November 5, with the physical edition featuring the complete game on a 32GB cartridge. This move emphasizes the importance of physical media for the developers, ensuring all DLC and updates are included on the cart. The game will also receive a free update with Bayonetta-themed costumes for Eve on PC and PlayStation 5.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's physical disc still requires a download because Square Enix "didn't want to…
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will require an online download for its physical release, a departure from previous entries in the trilogy. Director Naoki Hamaguchi stated this decision was made to avoid compromising the game's quality, though the author expresses disappointment with the lack of a fully physical experience and the potential implications for game preservation.
"If they won't give you physical games, make your own" - GOG now lets you turn digital games into big box PC releases, and my shelf is already sobbing
GOG has expanded its Preservation Program to allow users to download and print 3D scans of original big-box PC game packaging. This initiative, in collaboration with Big Box Collection, aims to preserve classic titles like Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, Armikrog, Descent, Hitman: Codename 47, and Myst, enabling fans to create their own physical releases at home.
Sonic fans have double the physical Switch game goodness as the Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic Collections are now up…
SEGA has announced the pre-order availability of the Classic Sonic Collection and Modern Sonic Collection for the Nintendo Switch, launching in October for $49.99 each. While these collections offer physical releases of various Sonic titles, notable omissions like Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 from the Modern collection have been noted. The collections include a 35th Anniversary Logo Patch and reversible covers.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation: Our Big Interview with Director Naoki Hamaguchi and Battle Director Teruki Endo
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi and battle director Teruki Endo discuss the game's development, including the decision-making process behind the subtitle and considerations for physical media. The interview touches on various aspects of the game's creation.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation Director Explains Why the Physical Disc Version Requires a Download to Play
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi explained that the physical disc version for PlayStation 5 and Xbox requires a download to play. This requirement pertains to the game's content, even when using a physical disc.
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.
Rings of Power Seasons 1 and 2 are getting an official 4K Blu-ray release, and if even Amazon can admit physical media is still worth our time, I have no idea what that says about PlayStation
Amazon is releasing the first two seasons of its expensive series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, on 4K Blu-ray, a move that surprises the author given the company's digital-first approach. This decision is contrasted with Sony and PlayStation's apparent move away from physical media, questioning why console makers wouldn't follow Amazon's lead in supporting physical releases.
Corporations want to kill physical media because it suits them, but Big Box PC game packaging just got a second chance
GOG is offering printable big boxes for classic PC games, tapping into a renewed interest in physical media. This initiative, in collaboration with Big Box Collection, provides fans with a way to recreate the tangible experience of buying PC games from the nineties, contrasting with the perceived risks of digital ownership and the discontinuation of physical PlayStation titles by Sony.
As publishers like Sony kill physical games, DRM-free store GOG preserves classic big boxes with 3D models and box art…
As Sony moves away from physical PlayStation games, the DRM-free storefront GOG is enhancing its preservation program. GOG is now offering interactive 3D scans of classic PC game box art and printable versions for fans to recreate physical boxes at home. This initiative aims to preserve not just the games but also their packaging and included supplements.
Sony attempts to spin PlayStation disc reduction while physical media sales boom
Sony is attempting to reframe its decision to reduce physical disc production for PlayStation games, following consumer backlash. While a representative clarified that the reduction is not down to 10% but rather an overall 10% decline in product volume, the company declined to comment on disc production beyond 2028. This news comes amidst a reported boom in physical media sales, with consumers pushing back against the trend of digital-only ownership.
