Physical Media
Ongoing coverage on Physical Media.
Latest coverage
PS5 social media makes first post in six days and gets annihilated by angry fans
Sony's PlayStation social media accounts have resumed activity after a week of silence, only to be met with intense backlash from fans regarding the company's decision to cease physical game releases after 2027 and shut down PlayStation 3 and Vita digital stores. Despite the widespread anger and fan protests, Sony's posts have focused on promoting a new wireless fight stick, the FlexStrike, rather than addressing the concerns about physical media.
'No way THIS is the first tweet PlayStation puts out after 6 days' — Instead of responding to the physical disc controversy, PlayStation is trying to advertise its new fight stick as fans refuse to back down
Sony Interactive Entertainment is facing significant backlash after announcing plans to cease the production of physical game discs for PlayStation 5 starting in January 2028. Instead of addressing the controversy, the company's first social media post after six days of silence was an advertisement for its new FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick, further angering fans who are demanding a response and urging the company to reverse its decision.
In 2009, late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said it'll take "20 years or so" for game purchases to…
Former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata predicted in 2009 that it would take approximately 20 years for digital game purchases to become the majority. With Sony phasing out physical PS5 games by 2028 and Rockstar Games opting for digital or code-in-box releases for Grand Theft Auto 6, his prediction appears to be nearly accurate. While Xbox has not yet announced similar plans, the trend towards digital distribution is evident across the industry.
'Physical media is what makes consoles the best place to play' — PlayStation fans pushing back against Sony's plan to end physical discs have managed to amass over 170,000 signatures in a bid to reverse the decision
PlayStation fans are protesting Sony's decision to end the production of physical game discs starting January 2028, with a petition amassing over 170,000 signatures. The petition argues that physical media offers true ownership, unlike digital licenses, and expresses concern over job losses in retail. This move follows the confirmation that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch with a digital download code instead of a disc.
PlayStation social media accounts bombarded with complaints over its disc controversy
PlayStation's social media accounts have been inundated with complaints following the announcement that the company will cease support for physical game discs in January 2028. Fans expressed their dissatisfaction across platforms like X and Instagram, with many pleading for the company to reconsider its decision to move towards digital-only distribution.
The petition against Sony's decision to kill PlayStation physical discs has over 170,000 signatures
A petition against Sony's decision to end physical disc manufacturing for PlayStation in January 2028 has garnered over 170,000 signatures. The campaign, started by retailer PNP Games, argues against the loss of consumer ownership, reduced market choice, and damage to game preservation. The petition urges Sony to continue physical disc production beyond 2028.
Lords of the Fallen 2 Studio CEO Says More Games May Go Fully Digital by 2027 or Sooner
CI Games CEO Marek Tyminski believes physical game discs could disappear by 2027 or sooner, citing Grand Theft Auto 6 potentially skipping physical releases and Sony's planned end of disc production in 2028. Tyminski argues digital sales offer significantly higher revenue per unit for developers compared to physical releases, which incur higher costs and lower margins. Industry figures like Shawn Layden and Hideo Kojima have also commented on Sony's decision, with Kojima expressing concerns about the broader implications for digital ownership and access to art.
The Criterion Collection 40-Film Set Is Down To 50% Off
The Criterion Collection's 40-film, 49-disc Blu-ray box set is currently available for 50% off its original price, marked down to $400 from $800. This collection, released in celebration of the company's 40th anniversary in 2024, includes premium packaging and a 216-page compilation of essays. The set offers hundreds of hours of special features, including commentaries, documentaries, and interviews for each film.
Sony tells publishers they can still reorder physical game discs for games pubbed before 2028
Sony has informed publishers that they can still reorder physical PlayStation game discs released before January 2028, even after the stated end of disc printing. This comes after significant backlash from publishers and preservation groups regarding the initial announcement. Meanwhile, Sony's disc manufacturing plant in Austria is being repurposed for optical microlens production.
French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon declares 'Players have rights too!' over the death of…
French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has voiced strong opposition to the upcoming digital-only releases of Grand Theft Auto 6 and Sony's planned discontinuation of physical game sales. He argues that players will pay for games without ever truly owning them, leading to a loss of rights like resale and preservation, and is supporting a petition to save physical videogames.
Why we love Star Fox! Pure Nintendo Podcast E169
The Pure Nintendo Podcast episode 169 features a discussion on the Star Fox franchise, including its characters, action, and cutscenes, with a particular focus on the Nintendo 64 original and its potential for the Nintendo Switch. The hosts also touch upon the latest Nintendo Direct, the future of physical media, and other games they are currently playing.
Save Physical Games petition passes 125,000 signatures and tells Sony “Don’t Kill the Disc”
A petition on Change.org urging Sony to continue producing physical game discs has surpassed 125,000 signatures. The petition, launched by PNP Games Inc. owner Jade Pearce, argues for the importance of physical ownership and the negative impact of a digital-only future on local economies and consumer choice. Despite Sony's shift towards digital distribution and changes in manufacturing, the article notes past instances where public pressure influenced Sony's business decisions.
After PS5 Disc Controversy, Microsoft Confirms Halo: Campaign Evolved Will Come On A Disc
Microsoft has confirmed that Halo: Campaign Evolved will include physical discs for its PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S editions, despite Sony's recent announcement to phase out physical media by 2028. This move caters to players who value physical collections and raises discussions about game preservation and the potential elimination of the secondhand market.
Word on the street is that the PS5 Disc Drive has been "limited" to 1 per order, but it's actually been…
Sony has clarified that the "limit of 1 per order" for the PlayStation 5 Disc Drive was added in January 2026 due to high demand, not in response to the January 2028 discontinuation of physical game production. While the drive is still readily available at MSRP, resellers are already listing it for higher prices on platforms like eBay. The article advises against purchasing the drive solely for future game access, as new physical releases will cease in 2028, but notes its utility for existing physical games and 4K Blu-ray playback.
GTA 6 shipping without discs "feels unfair to studios still backing physical," Lords of the Fallen 2 boss says, and Sony's certainly not helping
CI Games CEO Marek Tyminski expressed concern over Rockstar Games' decision to ship Grand Theft Auto 6 without physical discs and Sony's planned discontinuation of PlayStation disc production in 2028. Tyminski argues these moves are unfair to studios still supporting physical releases, citing lower revenue and higher costs compared to digital sales. He confirmed Lords of the Fallen 2 will still receive a physical disc release, but acknowledged the increasing difficulty in justifying the format.
'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.
"This is all about control" - industry experts speak on Sony's move away from discs, and what this means for the PlayStation 6 and the cost of games
Sony has announced it will cease production of physical game discs in January 2028, a move industry experts believe signals a disc-less PlayStation 6 likely launching in 2028. This decision is expected to reduce console manufacturing costs and shift the market further towards digital distribution, impacting game pricing and consumer ownership. While some see it as a necessary evolution, concerns remain about preservation and the second-hand market.
Hideo Kojima is "really sad" about PlayStation ending physical disc production, warns against "frightening" streaming-only future: "You don't actually possess the data yourself"
Hideo Kojima expressed sadness and concern over Sony's decision to end new PlayStation physical disc production in 2028, warning of a "frightening" future dominated by streaming-only access. He highlighted concerns about data ownership and the potential loss of access to games and movies if servers are ever shut down or content is removed. Other developers, like Larian Studios, have also voiced disappointment with the move.
Death Stranding director Hideo Kojima "really sad" about Sony ending physical disc production, and says lack of media ownership has "frightening" possibilities
Hideo Kojima expressed sadness and concern over Sony's decision to end physical disc production in January 2028, highlighting the frightening possibilities of losing media ownership with the rise of cloud streaming. He drew parallels to subscription services like Netflix, warning that a shift away from physical media could lead to a future where access to games and movies is revoked due to political or other changes.
Sony clarifies re-order support for existing PlayStation discs
Sony Interactive Entertainment has clarified its plans regarding the end of physical disc production, stating that publishers can still re-order existing PlayStation discs beyond the January 2028 end-of-production date. The company is shifting towards an all-digital future, which will also see the closure of the PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita by July 2027. This move has drawn criticism from some companies concerned about game preservation and consumer choice.
