Physical format is in free fall in different sectors, and video games are no exception. The digital era emerged in the 21st century, and the pandemic that began in 2020 accelerated the transition to new forms of consumption. This impacted sales of discs, be it CD, DVD, and Blu-ray, making it a risky bet. The change is here, and a major chain has started withdrawing the physical format from its stores.
Best Buy begins the removal of movies and series in physical format
According to various reports, the technology and entertainment retail chain Best Buy has begun removing the physical format from its stores. This follows their announcement in 2023 stating that starting this year, 2024, they would remove CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays from their stores, as the business in this format has collapsed, and there is no reason to continue selling works in that manner.
The news immediately caught the attention of the video game industry because the main fear is that Best Buy will gradually remove gaming titles as well, closing another option for a market niche that is falling apart.
Will Best Buy stop selling video games in physical format?
However, at the moment, there are no plans for this to happen regarding gaming. According to official information from Best Buy, the withdrawal of the physical format in its stores is related to entertainment sectors such as music, movies, and TV. Therefore, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays that have their days numbered and will be removed starting this year are related to movies and series, not video games.
So far, Best Buy has not updated details about its physical format withdrawal strategy, so it can be considered that it only applies to music, movies, and TV. The company stated that it was impossible to compete against the consumption of works via streaming, but at that time, it did not mention anything related to video games.
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