VGHF Discusses the Changes Brought About by the End of the Physical Format Initiated by Sony with PlayStation

Video games have become an integral part of our audiovisual culture, alongside film and music, even surpassing them in revenue years ago. While once criticized, games and their 'geek' players have become widely accepted across all age groups. However, a significant aspect of gaming history is now fading: the physical format. Sony has announced its discontinuation on PlayStation by 2028, and the Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has weighed in on the consequences of this shift away from traditional disc-based gaming.

The end of physical game formats was inevitable, given the increasing popularity and dominance of digital distribution in recent years. Digital sales now account for an estimated 80-85% of PlayStation game sales, around 85-90% for Xbox, and an overwhelming 98-99% on PC.

VGHF Highlights the Primary Negative Consequence: The Loss of Game Resale and Ownership Rights

While the demise of physical games seemed inevitable, Sony's announcement has accelerated this transition, effectively opening a Pandora's Box. It's anticipated that Xbox will follow suit, and Nintendo, with its Game-Key Cards (GKC), appears to be paving the way for a digital-only future, significantly shortening the lifespan of disc-based games. The VGHF has released a statement detailing the repercussions of this shift.

The VGHF points out that the complete transition to digital will lead to the disappearance of markets like second-hand game trading. Furthermore, it impacts consumer rights, as players will no longer have true ownership but rather rely on external platforms. Despite these concerns, the VGHF does not believe the loss of physical discs to be entirely catastrophic.

VGHF's Stance: Modern Games Aren't Designed for Physical Media, Often Requiring Immediate Downloads

According to the VGHF, physical formats offer limited benefits for game preservation. Discs are prone to damage, loss, and wear, and represent a finite medium. Once no longer sold in stores, they become collector's items, diminishing in availability. In contrast, digital formats persist indefinitely, though platform closures can still lead to the loss of access. The VGHF's view on preservation is more about long-term availability. They also argue that games developed over the past two decades 'were not designed for home consoles or for physical formats'.

This is evident when purchasing a physical game and immediately needing to download a day-one patch digitally. This was not the case for older consoles like the PS1 and PS2, where games were complete upon release without digital updates. While older games might have had more bugs, these were part of the original experience, unlike today's model where a physical purchase often requires immediate digital intervention.