Gamescom Attendees Lament Decline of Physical Game Discs

The shift from physical game discs to digital distribution has sparked strong reactions at Germany's Gamescom, with many players and developers lamenting the "end of an era." Sony's announcement to cease disc sales at the trade show from 2028 has led to calls for a boycott, as attendees express dismay over the decline of physical media.

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It's a bad decision. It's the end of an era. I wish it wasn't.

Industry analysts explain that this move is driven by economics. Professor Joost van Dreunen from New York University's Stern School of Business noted that digital distribution has been replacing physical carriers for the past decade. "Retail usually historically costs 20 to 30 percent of total margin on the sale of a single disc," he told AFP, explaining that companies save significant margins by distributing digitally.

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Digital distribution has been a replacement very much of physical carriers for the last 10 years.

Despite the industry's economic rationale, many attendees express concerns about losing physical copies. British developer Chris Bastin called Sony's decision "a bad decision" and "the end of an era." Others fear becoming dependent on service providers, who may not maintain digital accounts indefinitely. Clemens Istel, a spokesperson advocating for a boycott, stated, "They don't go digital to pass on savings to the consumer. They go digital to make more profit."

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Retail usually historically costs 20 to 30 percent of total margin on the sale of a single disc.

For some, the issue transcends economics, touching on sentimental value and the concept of ownership. Australian civil servant Scott Whiting shared his attachment to a "Collector's Edition" he bought as a teenager, still carrying its case after multiple moves. "It still means something to me," he said, highlighting the "emotional value, sentimental value" of physical copies. The inability to resell or lend digital games, a significant part of many game shop turnovers, also contributes to the backlash.

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They don't go digital to pass on savings to the consumer. They go digital to make more profit. And there is zero indication that the customer will benefit from this.