The video game industry is at a critical turning point, facing the possibility of abandoning physical formats in the next decade. Although this trend has been debated for years, the reality is that physical editions of video games have been progressively declining, which is considered bad news by many fans.
An excellent lineup of games
Recently, it was announced that some of the upcoming major Xbox releases, such as The Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Gears of War Reloaded, will only come with codes to redeem inside the box on Xbox Series X consoles. This contrasts with the PlayStation 5 versions, which will include physical editions with discs. This decision sparks a debate about Microsoft’s future direction and its approach to digital sales, as, according to Phil Spencer, most transactions on Xbox are digital, leading them to “follow customer trends.”
Additionally, it is suggested that the abandonment of physical format could accelerate due to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which adds economic pressure on the production costs of physical games. Although Xbox focuses on digital, the player experience, especially on consoles like PS5, still largely depends on disc content. Games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle have shown that only a minimal part of the game may be available on the disc, forcing users to download the remaining content, which resembles a model of “false physicals” today.
It remains to be seen how Microsoft will manage this change in the physical format, especially in comparison to its competition. The upcoming moves in this area could define the future of console entertainment, at a time when players continue to debate the value of owning a physical product versus the convenience of digital.
