The gaming industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, with the rise of digital distribution platforms, streaming services, and cloud gaming. As technology continues to advance, it's becoming increasingly likely that physical games will become a thing of the past. In this article, we'll explore the reasons why physical games might be gone in a few years.
Are you ready? This is a pretty long but interesting article. Let’s jump right in!
Still not convinced? Here are some past events:
- The VHS and VCD are now considered relics of the past. Nowadays, we consume content via streaming (YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, etc.), and the kids today don’t know these media anymore.
- PC gaming is fully digital now. In the previous years, we bought CD and DVD ROMs for our desktop. But these are now obsolete. If you are gaming on PC, you will notice that they don’t sell physical copies anymore.
- The rise of the gaming handhelds. The gaming handheld has dominated the market since its release. And now they are becoming the trend. These devices are also small, and they only support full digital games. The cartridge may be an option here because it may fit the device, but we don’t see the manufacturers of gaming handhelds leaning towards that direction.
- Nintendo Switch 2 is now offering game key cards where we download the full game after we purchase it. It only serves as authentication that you are the owner of the games.
The Decline of Physical Game Sales
Physical game sales have been declining steadily over the past decade. According to market research, digital game sales have been growing at a rapid pace, while physical game sales have been shrinking. This trend is expected to continue, with many predicting that digital games will soon become the dominant form of game distribution.
According to Metro, over 75% of all PlayStation game sales are digital. Although in other platforms and countries, physical is still strong. However, the rise of the digital isn’t stopping anytime soon.
The Rise of Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming has been gaining popularity in recent years. It allows players to access and play games on any device with an internet connection, eliminating the need for physical copies or downloads. As internet speeds continue to improve and cloud gaming technology advances, it's likely that more and more players will turn to cloud gaming as their preferred method of playing games.
As of writing the article today, the majority of gamers still prefer having physical copies or offline downloads of the full game because of the internet speed issues being experienced by other countries, like here in the Philippines. But steadily, it is slowly being replaced by cloud gaming.
The Benefits of Digital Games
Digital games offer a number of benefits over physical games, including
- Convenience: Digital games can be easily purchased, downloaded, and played without the need for physical storage space. You just need to have a secured internet connection and cash in order to buy. I do not recommend buying them on credit (let’s discuss this in a different article).
- Accessibility: Digital games can be downloaded and played on any device, making it easy to play games on the go. If you’re using Steam, you can play it on a PC, and you can also play it on a Steam Deck or other gaming handhelds supporting Steam. For PlayStation users, you can remote play using your PS Portal, and for Nintendo Switch… I believe we all know we can play anywhere, right? 😅
- Cost: Digital games are often cheaper than physical games, with many retailers offering discounts and promotions. Steam, Nintendo E-Shop, and PlayStation Store ALWAYS have deals. Yes, they always have deals, but there are times that the game you wish to buy is on sale. Just wait for a couple of months, and you will see that the game is on sale. My tip is to add the game you want to buy to a wishlist or favorites, so you will get notified when that game offers a discount!
- Physical Space: Digital games take up no physical space, eliminating the need for cluttered game shelves.
A few years ago, I was part of the physical team too. I collected many games in the past and played them to the point where my energy and schedule permitted, but eventually I had to let them go and switched to Team Digital. I still have a couple of PS4 and PS5 games on my shelf, but the majority of my library are now digital.
The Challenges of Physical Games
Physical games, on the other hand, come with a number of challenges, including:
- Storage: Physical games take up space, and many gamers struggle to keep their game collections organized.
- Maintenance: as time goes on, the wear and tear is taking its toll on both consoles and the games. You will notice that some games cannot be read anymore.
- Cost: Physical games are often more expensive than digital games, with higher production and distribution costs. Since it is a physical product, it will undergo different processes, which contributes to the cost of the game.
- Environmental Impact: The production and distribution of physical games have a significant environmental impact, with many games ending up in landfills or being shipped long distances.
Why I switched from physical to digital games
I also had my fair share of experience with this. In the past, I collected a few great and rare titles from the past because of nostalgia. However, I decided to switch to Team Digital because one day my old PS3 console stopped working. The deterioration of hardware is inevitable, and the cost of repairs is also expensive because the materials are getting hard to find.
I also realized that the games are being remastered and rebooted to the current-gen consoles, which means I can still play and relive those memories. Thanks to Steam because they have a huge library of old-school games that I can replay.
I still collect stuff about gaming… but not games anymore—it’s merchandise.
What I collect nowadays are figures, models, and other collectibles. Stuff that you can find in stores like the Big Bad Toy Store. These items become old as well, but since they’re not electronic devices, I won’t have to worry about not being able to power them on someday.
Since I have a small space at home, I only buy a few things here and there.
If you’re into collecting physical games, now’s the time!
Let’s also consider our fellow gamer peeps who are into collecting games or part of the team physical. Guys, NOW IS THE TIME to collect these games. Here’s why:
- Old games are dirt cheap! You can buy a decent game for 4 USD each in the marketplace. Take note, most of these games were 50-60 USD when they were released! Just check the Facebook marketplace for PS3 games, and you will find so many games that are in good condition but the selling price is so low. You may be able to grab a super good deal on your hundred bucks!
- The JRPG category will continue to rise in the upcoming years. As the physical copies continue to become rare, so does the price of it. So if you own a few JRPG games, the value of these will grow later. I don’t know why this genre appreciates over time, but take my suggestion, and you’ll thank me later! 😄
- Availability. The old consoles like PS1, PS2, and PS3 are still available in the marketplace, but I would suggest buying them with the expectation of collecting, not playing. Since these consoles are a decade or two old, the chances of them not working will be high. The good thing is the majority of these games are now ported to PC and are available on Steam.
So, if you have the space and the budget, then by all means, grab your favorite games now because in the next years, these games will be gone. Take note, not everyone can collect and will collect. So this is a perfect opportunity for you to do so!
The Future of Gaming
Going back to the main topic… As technology continues to advance, it's likely that physical games will become increasingly obsolete. Cloud gaming, digital distribution, and streaming services will continue to evolve and one day shape the gaming industry, making it easier and more convenient for players to access and play games.
There’s this circulating issue that we do not 100% own the games that we buy digitally, but that is reserved for another article. For now, I will stick to buying more digital games since that works for my setup.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the future of gaming is digital, and physical games will likely be gone in a few years or decades—this is a fact. The physical game is becoming obsolete; cloud gaming and digital games will replace it. While physical games may hold nostalgic value, the convenience, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of digital games make them the clear choice for the future of gaming.
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Recommended Reading:
Tips on How to Fully Enjoy Gaming & Experience Immersion
7 Practical Workarounds to Rising Video Game Prices
Gaming Vocabulary: What does OP mean for gamers?
