Katarzyna Petru
Just a decade ago, physical editions were the standard on consoles. Today, more and more gamers are buying games directly from digital stores such as PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store. The reason is simple: convenience. Downloading a title without leaving home, not having to change the disc, and immediate access to a library are arguments that are decisive for many users.
Economy and Market Control
Digital distribution means lower production and logistics costs. There is no need to press discs, print covers, or transport goods to stores. Moreover, platforms such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S in disc-less versions show that manufacturers are increasingly promoting a model without physical media. For companies, this also means greater control over prices and promotions, as sales occur in a closed ecosystem.
Technological Limitations of Discs
Modern games can take up 100 GB or more. Even if they end up on a Blu-ray disc, they often still require large updates to be downloaded on the release day. In practice, the physical medium often serves merely as a key for installation rather than a complete, standalone version of the game. With the increasing sizes of productions, physical media are becoming an ineffective solution.
Is a return to physical discs still possible?
Technically, there is nothing to prevent the continued release of games on physical media. The issue lies more in market trends than in hardware capabilities. Consoles with drives still exist, and collectors continue to buy boxed versions. However, the dominance of digital distribution means that the share of discs is systematically decreasing, and it is hard to expect the trend to reverse.
Physical discs for consoles have not completely disappeared, but they have ceased to be the main sales channel. The convenience of digital stores, lower costs for producers, and the increasing sizes of games are causing the market to naturally shift towards files instead of plastic. A return to the dominance of discs is unlikely, although there is still room in the market for collectors and fans of traditional releases.
