Physical Media
Ongoing coverage on Physical Media.
Latest coverage
Capcom (CCOEY) Q1 2027 earnings results reveal 93.3% of its game sales were digital
Capcom's Q1 2027 financial report indicates that digital game sales accounted for 93.3% of its total revenue, a significant increase year-over-year. PC digital sales represented 60.4% of all game sales, with console sales making up 32.9%. This trend highlights a growing player preference for digital purchases over physical media.
Rockstar Co-Founder And GTA Co-Creator On Physical Games: Companies Should Provide It If People Want It
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser stated that companies should provide physical game discs if consumers want them, despite his personal indifference. He also acknowledged the benefits of digital games for updates and fixes. Sony is phasing out disc support for PlayStation in 2028, a move experts attribute to increased control and profitability, while Grand Theft Auto 6 will be a digital-exclusive with a code in the box.
Trying to find a good deal on Saros has made me angrier about PlayStation killing discs – it's anti-consumer and will price gamers out of our hobby
The author expresses frustration over the increasing cost of games and the perceived anti-consumer trend of PlayStation ending physical disc production. This shift, coupled with the decline of physical game deals and the pre-owned market, is seen as pricing gamers out of the hobby and reducing consumer choice.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director wants "some kind of physical edition" for the RPG, but he can't promise it as Sony becomes the latest to "shift away" toward digital
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi is advocating for a physical edition of the RPG, despite the industry's trend towards digital releases. While no definitive decision has been made by Square Enix, Hamaguchi hopes to offer some form of packaged product, acknowledging the cultural value of physical media. The discussion comes as many platforms and publishers are shifting away from traditional disc releases.
Naoki Hamaguchi talks Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Final Fantasy 14, and physical media plans: "It's a wonderful culture and it would be a shame to lose that"
Naoki Hamaguchi discusses the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, its collaboration with Final Fantasy 14, and the game's development, including new gameplay mechanics and endgame content. He also shares his thoughts on the industry's shift towards digital distribution and his personal hope for the continued existence of physical media editions for games like Final Fantasy 7 Revelation.
Clair Obscur developers see Sony's no-disk announcement as 'a sad decision', because they 'like to go outside, buy a game, and come back home with it'
Developers at Sandfall Interactive, creators of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have expressed sadness over Sony's decision to discontinue game discs. Studio leads Guillaume Broche, Tom Guillermin, and Alan Reynaud shared that physical releases hold artistic value and contribute to the tangible ownership experience that many players cherish.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads call PlayStation killing discs a "sad decision" after buying boxed copies of their own RPG – "For us, physical was something special"
Developers from Sandfall Interactive, creators of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have expressed sadness over Sony's decision to end physical disc production for PlayStation consoles in 2028. Creative director Guillaume Broche and CTO Tom Guillermin believe physical media is a special and tangible part of art, despite understanding the business rationale. The studio even went out of its way to produce and purchase physical copies of their own game.
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.
Sony's latest PR masterstroke is promoting vinyl records in the same breath it kills PlayStation discs: "If you can do physical for music, you can do it for games"
Sony's promotion of vinyl records has drawn criticism from PlayStation fans following the company's decision to end support for physical game discs in January 2028. Critics argue that if physical media is viable for music, it should be for games, questioning the profit-driven shift to digital-only sales and its impact on game preservation.
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.
Critics of Sony's Decision to Kill Physical Discs Call on Gamers to Boycott PlayStation for a Week Next Month, but Will Anyone Listen?
Critics of Sony's decision to phase out physical discs from PlayStation consoles by 2028 are calling for a week-long boycott of the platform in August. The protest aims to pressure Sony into reconsidering its move away from physical media.
PlayStation fans plan week-long blackout over Sony’s disc decision, but will you actually log off?
A week-long PlayStation blackout is being organized by the physical media preservation group Does It Play? to protest Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs by January 2028. The campaign aims to reduce console usage and purchases on Sony platforms to demonstrate player dissatisfaction, though its effectiveness is questioned given the dominance of digital sales and the large number of active PlayStation users.
PlayStation fans plan PS5 protest with one week of not playing any video games
A group of PlayStation gamers are organizing a week-long 'blackout' protest from August 23 to August 30, urging participants to avoid playing any games on Sony's platforms. This action is in response to Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs after 2027, which organizers believe further alienates the fanbase. While the protest aims to impact active player metrics, its effectiveness in reversing Sony's decision is questioned due to the growing dominance of digital sales.
Will you power down your PS5 for a week in protest of Sony's all-digital future? A new petition encourages you to pull the plug on PlayStation
A fan-organized protest is encouraging PlayStation 5 owners to boycott Sony's platforms for a week in response to the company's planned discontinuation of physical media by 2028. The movement, spearheaded by the Twitter account 'Does It Play?', aims to demonstrate player dissatisfaction with Sony's perceived disconnect from its community and its shift towards an all-digital future.
Companies Should Provide Physical Releases if People Want Them, Says Rockstar Games Co-Founder
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser stated that companies should continue to offer physical game releases if fans desire them, despite his personal preference for digital convenience. Former writer Jeffery Jones also discussed the experience of owning physical copies versus the utility of digital downloads. The conversation arises amidst discussions about the future of physical media, including Grand Theft Auto 6's lack of a disc and Sony's planned end to PlayStation discs in 2028.
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.
"Sony had the strictest social media guidelines they've ever seen issued," says former first-party dev about physical disc backlash
Sony has reportedly implemented its strictest social media guidelines ever for employees and former staff following its announcement to discontinue physical media on PlayStation consoles starting January 2028. Former writer Alanah Pearce stated that the company anticipated significant public backlash and prepared internal communications accordingly. This policy change applies to all games released on PlayStation platforms from 2028 onwards, including third-party titles.
Rockstar co-founder says 'I don't know if I personally care' if games release on disc, adds 'I love…
Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate between physical and digital game media, stating he doesn't personally care if games are released on disc but acknowledges the appeal of physical copies. He also highlighted the benefits of digital distribution for game updates and the convenience of downloading games on devices like the Steam Deck for travel.
Rockstar Games co-founder and GTA co-creator Dan Houser says he loves physical media, but digital releases have their…
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser expressed his personal indifference towards physical game media but believes companies should continue offering it if consumers desire. He highlighted the benefits of digital distribution for developers, citing the ease of updating and fixing games. Houser's comments come as PlayStation plans to cease disc production and concerns arise about the ownership and accessibility of digital libraries.
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.
