Video games are the last bastion of physical format in the entertainment sector, but that won't be the case for much longer, as the transition to digital format has been faster than expected. Evidence of this can be seen in what used to be a thriving business of physical copies in supermarkets and department stores, which is rapidly diminishing. Recently, an image shook fans of physical copies.
A video game shelf filled with digital download code cards
A Reddit user shared an image taken in a store where there was still a space dedicated to the sale of Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo video games. However, the surprise was that, instead of physical copies, the shelf was filled with cards containing codes for services and digital-format video games for the respective consoles. This highlights the progress that digital format has made in the gaming industry. It's worth noting that this isn't uncommon in recent years, as on platforms like Amazon, the best-selling video game products are often these types of cards.
The fan community of physical format in video games quickly expressed regret over this shift towards digital and the fact that stores are selling fewer and fewer physical copies. In the context of reports about the decline of the physical format in gaming, there has been a noted drastic reduction in spaces designated for video game sales, which, in the past, occupied larger sections in stores and have now been reduced to simple shelves filled with cards, accessories, and related products.
Physical format bids farewell to video games
Some reports have indicated that retailers like Best Buy and Walmart will no longer sell physical copies of movies, TV, and music, although it's unclear if the same applies to video games, but it is a fact that the physical game selection is minimal.
Simultaneously, there are companies pushing for digital format, such as Ubisoft, whose subscriptions director Philippe Tremblay noted the gaming industry's slow shift towards digital but considered it inevitable. Additionally, he urged players to move past the idea that games belong to them and embrace digital format for its ease of consumption.
While having digital games has its pros, it also has its downsides, as seen with the cult game Spec Ops: The Line, which disappeared from digital stores once the licenses for third-party content included in the title expired. Today, it is not possible to acquire it digitally, and the few physical copies are second-hand and subject to price speculation.
What are your thoughts on this shift from physical to digital format in video games?
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