All articles tagged with #physical media
Sony-backed Crunchyroll’s store update reportedly removes all physical books and drastically trims the Blu-ray lineup, prompting fan backlash and underscoring Sony’s shift toward digital distribution and the decline of disc-based media.
Sony is ending PS5 physical-disc production, effectively shifting games toward digital distribution and streaming; industry sources say the disc-making process is a trade secret and costs roughly 15% of a game’s MSRP, with Sony tightly controlling the production pipeline, making a DIY homebrew scene unlikely as the industry moves further into digital ownership.
Sony appears to be confirming its plan to phase out physical disc-based games: new PS5 boxes with disc drives reportedly carry an 'Important notice' stating that from January 2028, new releases will be digital-only and that discs for games released before then will continue to work, a move that has sparked backlash among fans and prompted petitions.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says a low-latency streaming era is about three years away, potentially multiplying GTA 6's reach and reshaping its post-launch strategy as the industry shifts toward digital and away from physical discs.
Capcom reported a strong quarter with a 68% rise in game unit sales and Pragmata’s performance, stressing that roughly 90% of its unit sales are digital and that the shrinking physical market is not expected to have a significant impact. The company highlights digital growth in its filings, reflecting a broader industry shift toward digital distribution, even as concerns persist about the loss of physical ownership.
Fans and collectors balk at pricey new vinyl releases from Charli XCX, Olivia Rodrigo, The Weeknd, Beyoncé, and Raye that ship with unfinished tracks or altered final mixes, a consequence of longer vinyl production timelines; some artists acknowledge the issues and suggest clearer pre-order notes or later complete editions, underscoring the tension between physical-press realities and digital perfection.
Sony reaffirmed in its earnings Q&A that PS5 game discs will end for new titles starting in 2028, citing broader digitalization of content. It will keep discs for games released before the cutoff and is exploring ways to engage gamers amid widespread backlash from players and industry figures.
Sony will stop producing PlayStation game discs by January 2028, citing digitalization and saying the move should not hurt profits; despite backlash from players, the company argues discs don’t differentiate PlayStation from PC gaming and plans to repurpose its disc factory for optical microlenses while continuing a curated, affordable ecosystem as digital storefronts grow.
A DoesItPlay study shows about 27% of physical game releases require downloads to fix bugs or access missing content (34% on PS5, 50% on Xbox Series X), highlighting a growing online dependency that could render discs unplayable as servers shut down. The piece also notes Sony’s limited disc production, the rise of online-prompted progress in several titles, and a push from preservation advocates for offline-capable, DRM-free options.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says Sony’s plan to move to all-digital PlayStation should not have a major disrupting effect on the industry, noting that digital sales are already growing (even on PC) and that a disc-free console could lower hardware costs, though more memory may be needed; the shift is likely to bring mixed, manageable impacts rather than a seismic change.
Disgaea creator Sohei Niikawa told Noisy Pixel at Anime Expo 2026 that if Sony eliminates physical game discs, it should also remove the hardware, joking that a TV could replace the console. Sony has not reversed its move away from physical media, despite backlash, while Niikawa is promoting Demons' Night Fever for PS5, Switch, and PC from his new studio. EU support or opposition to Sony’s policy isn’t blocking the decision, and more dissent is expected to emerge.
Former Left 4 Dead writer Chet Faliszek argues Sony’s plan to end physical game production (by 2028) is driven by consumer choice, citing that 78% of PS5/PS4 game sales in 2025 were digital and that the market has overwhelmingly shifted away from physical. The piece frames a wider debate about the significance of 22% still being physical, with supporters saying digital is the future and critics warning about nostalgia, the used-games market, and potential store-monopoly concerns, while noting how patches, preloads, and retail dynamics affect the landscape.
Following Sony’s plan to stop manufacturing PlayStation discs after 2028, fans flooded YouTube with anger over the move to digital. Sony also disabled comments on family-friendly trailers, meaning kids’ titles are largely shielded from the backlash, while trailers for non-kid games continue to draw pro-disc (physical media) comments and quips about the shift.
Sony-backed Crunchyroll is drastically downsizing its physical anime store, transitioning to a subscription-tier-exclusive experience focused on collectibles, after acquiring Right Stuf in 2023. The move has angered fans over reduced disc availability and stalled licenses (e.g., Gundam, Macross), fueling concerns that Sony's push to end physical media could threaten future physical releases.
Sony plans to phase out physical PS game discs by 2028, but the bigger hurdle for preserving software history is DRM and online-authorization schemes that tie titles to publishers’ servers. While archives like the Internet Archive and the Video Game History Foundation work to preserve history, many modern games require continuous online access and encrypted launchers, making true, bit-perfect preservation difficult and often pushing archivists toward legal grey areas or gaps in the record.