Harding-Rolls points out that GTA 6 is far from the first title to skip discs. "Having a code instead of a disc is becoming increasingly commonplace, so I think this just follows an existing trend, rather than necessarily prompting publishers to follow Rockstar's approach," he says. "Commercially, it just makes sense in terms of the cost of goods to go digital-code-only in a physical case. I'm sure that will be disappointing for some players, but it's possible there will be collector's editions to come nearer to launch." Piscatella agrees. "In any case, the decline of physical on PlayStation a
GTA 6: Will $80 be the new standard, and will more publishers start to skip physical releases?… As reported last week, Sony's decision to end disc production was "in response to shifting trends in consumer preference and the broader entertainment industry." "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media s… …
Sony will discontinue physical disc production for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles starting January 2028. The company stated the decision is "in response to shifting trends in consumer preference and the broader entertainment industry" as it transitions from physical to digital formats. …
… Regarding physical production, CFO Lin Tao stated there were "various reasons" for halting physical discs,, the main one "being that digitalisation of contents overall has been progressing." "It's not just for PlayStation, but for all kinds of content, digitalisation is progressing," she explained. …
… Take-Two deserves credit for moving the industry forward and out of physical product for good." He adds that skipping discs will also help when it comes to any last-minute changes to the game. …
… Nintendo outlined its plans in a blog post , confirming that from this summer, as it prepares for "upcoming changes in European battery regulations coming into effect in mid-February 2027, selected Nintendo products in Europe will begin to be replaced on a rolling basis by revisions that contain a … …
… Digital and physical premium games led with 29%, followed by live service 24% and free-to-play with in-game items 21% .
… Day-one purchases are becoming more difficult for retail, but the catalogue business is still extremely strong." The model is less about getting discs into shops at launch, and instead about following up a strong title with a physical version further down the line. …
… Digital storefronts keep games available long-term and allow them to hold their price points for far longer than they used to in physical retail stores. …
… A community naturally taking shape is a notable example, with Discord servers forming, guilds being planned, and server configurations being debated months before launch. …
… Another standout was Mine Mind , a mixed-reality video installation by Shoto Hayakawa where a solo player takes a seat at a table with a physical board game resembling a chunk of rock. …