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Physical Media

All articles tagged with #physical media

Cost and Security Barriers Kept Movies from Jumping to USB Drives
technology1 hour ago

Cost and Security Barriers Kept Movies from Jumping to USB Drives

Movies didn’t migrate to USB drives after DVDs largely because flash memory costs in the 2000s made a full movie on USB far more expensive than a disc (flash was about $2.50 per GB in 2008, versus sub-$0.50 to manufacture a DVD and under $2 for Blu-ray). Piracy and weaker encryption on USB also deterred producers, so studios stuck with discs while streaming and digital downloads rose; niche experiments (e.g., indie outfits) exist, but the mainstream shift favored streaming, not USB drives.

via bgr.com|
#digital-distribution#home-entertainment#physical-media
Switch 2 Keeps Physical Cartridges Alive Amid Industry Shifts
gaming9 hours ago

Switch 2 Keeps Physical Cartridges Alive Amid Industry Shifts

Nintendo Switch 2 appears to keep true physical cartridges for most first‑party releases, despite rising memory costs and a broader industry shift toward digital. Third‑party games increasingly use game‑key cards, which store only a digital license and require a download, though they can be resold. Nintendo’s own titles largely remain cart-based (Pokemon Pokopia is cited as a game‑key card exception), with some third‑party true‑physical releases existing but costly. Digital versions are typically about $10 cheaper than physical, and Sony’s move away from physical could boost Nintendo’s physical store presence. The article argues physical media will persist for now, while acknowledging the downsides for collectors and developers relying on game‑key cards.

via Nintendo Everything|
#game-key-cards#gaming#nintendo
Canadian Petition Urges Sony to Save PlayStation Discs Beyond 2028
gaming3 days ago

Canadian Petition Urges Sony to Save PlayStation Discs Beyond 2028

A Change.org petition launched by Canadian retailer PNP Games to “Don’t Kill the Disc” has gathered over 220,000 signatures, urging Sony to keep disc-based PlayStation games alive beyond the January 2028 end of disc production. Proponents argue physical media sustains jobs, retailers, distributors, and the resale/collection market, while not opposing digital, they want ownership and choice to remain available even as Sony pushes toward an all-digital future.

via GameSpot|
#gaming#gaming-industry#petition
Fans rally as Sony ends PlayStation disc era
gaming4 days ago

Fans rally as Sony ends PlayStation disc era

A Change.org petition called Don’t Kill the Disc has surpassed 170,000 signatures in response to Sony’s plan to end physical PlayStation discs in 2028, moving all releases to digital formats. Supporters argue the move harms ownership, resale, and preservation, while Sony has not yet commented; industry observers warn it could grant Sony greater market control and reduce consumer choice and preservation options.

via Eurogamer.net|
#digital-distribution#gaming#petition
Sony's Move to Digital-Only PS Games Triggers Backlash and Ownership Fears
technology4 days ago

Sony's Move to Digital-Only PS Games Triggers Backlash and Ownership Fears

Sony announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation discs for new games in 2028 as it pivots to digital releases, a move that has sparked a widespread social-media backlash (with about 145 million views and 90,000 replies on X) over ownership and licensing concerns, including the risk of losing access to already purchased titles like StudioCanal content. Kojima voiced sadness and warned digital-only could erase ownership in the future; GTA VI will also be digital-only. The response included trolling from brands and a playful GitHub CD-ROM gag as well. Sony has not issued additional comment at press time.

via Business Insider|
#digital-distribution#gaming-industry#physical-media
Sony's 2025 Blu-ray Upscales Old DVDs to Near-4K with HDR and Dolby Vision
technology7 days ago

Sony's 2025 Blu-ray Upscales Old DVDs to Near-4K with HDR and Dolby Vision

Sony's 2025 UBP-X700U Blu-ray/DVD player uses advanced 4K upscaling to convert standard DVDs to near-4K quality up to 60 fps, adds HDR10 and Dolby Vision for richer contrast and color, and supports a wide range of disc formats (DVDs, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, CDs, SACDs, native 4K UHD). It offers both player- and TV-based upscaling for flexibility and includes an HDMI connection for easy setup, making it a practical upgrade to preserve and enjoy aging physical media libraries.

via | Cord Cutters News|
#4k-upscaling#blu-ray-player#dolby-vision
Sony to phase out new PlayStation physical discs by 2028, digital shift prompts preservation concerns
business8 days ago

Sony to phase out new PlayStation physical discs by 2028, digital shift prompts preservation concerns

Sony plans to discontinue production of new PlayStation physical discs from January 2028 and will close the PS3 and PS Vita stores by July 2027, accelerating a shift to digital-only gaming. The move has sparked concerns among publishers, collectors, and preservationists who emphasize the importance of physical media for ownership, durability, and archiving, with several studios pledging to continue offering physical editions where feasible and reframing preservation in a digital era.

via GamesIndustry.biz|
#business#digital-distribution#game-preservation
Sony repurposes its last PS disc factory as physical media fades
technology8 days ago

Sony repurposes its last PS disc factory as physical media fades

Sony is repurposing its sole PlayStation disc plant in Thalgau, Austria, retraining about 300 workers to produce optical microlenses as it winds down physical disc production for PS games; output is cut to roughly 10% of former levels (about 60,000 discs/year), with €30 million invested in the new tech, effectively ending worldwide PS disc manufacturing and coinciding with the end of PS3/PS Vita store support.

via Eurogamer.net|
#manufacturing#microlenses#physical-media
Sony Shifts to All-Digital by 2028, Sparking Backlash and Nostalgia for DRM Era
gaming9 days ago

Sony Shifts to All-Digital by 2028, Sparking Backlash and Nostalgia for DRM Era

Sony announced it will stop producing disc-based PlayStation games starting January 2028, accelerating an all-digital future. The move has provoked widespread backlash over perceived anti-consumer practices, with fans revisiting Sony’s old PS4 anti-DRM video as a point of nostalgia and critique while experts debate the broader implications for game ownership and store monopolies.

via Eurogamer.net|
#digital-distribution#gaming#gaming-industry
GTA 6 goes digital-only, signaling the end of physical game media
technology14 days ago

GTA 6 goes digital-only, signaling the end of physical game media

GTA 6 pre-orders are open ahead of its November launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and unlike GTA V there will be no genuine physical edition; retailers will sell download codes in boxes. The piece frames this as part of a broader shift to digital distribution in gaming, with implications for ownership, the used market, and retailer strategies, while pre-order bonuses like the Vintage Vice City Pack and GTA+ offer incentives.

via Creative Bloq|
#digital-distribution#gta-6#physical-media