Between the controversy that Rockstar Games has sparked with GTA 6 only featuring digital download codes in "physical" copies and Sony's decision to end physical disc production for PlayStation consoles in 2028, both developers and gamers have had… thoughts.
That's putting it lightly. On the one hand, we've got game preservation experts arguing that this will all lead to more piracy. On the other hand, there are countless devs sharing their thoughts on the move away from physical media, like former Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra, who says "we can't live in a world of fear if our games will work in the future or not."
It all ties into the Stop Killing Games chatter as well – but there's also a financial aspect to consider.
Marek Tyminski, CEO behind Lords of the Fallen publisher CI Games, explores this thought in a new online thread over on Twitter, explaining why he feels Rockstar's choice to ship GTA 6 without an actual disc (and Sony's decision to axe discs altogether) is "unfair" to other developers.
"GTA 6 shipping with no disc feels unfair to studios still backing physical – and it's accelerating the shift," begins the studio lead.
"Sony ending physical support from 2028 could slash disc releases as early as 2027 or even sooner. Physical delivers far less revenue per unit to developers, longer lead times, and unnecessary costs in a demanding industry where many already lose money. We're still planning to release Lords of the Fallen 2 on disc, but business-wise, it's getting harder to justify when physical is way under 20% of sales, and considering recent events."
Although it's reassuring to hear that the Lords of the Fallen sequel will include a physical release with a disc, it's understandable that this comes at a cost.
Tyminski breaks it down a bit, too, detailing how it cuts into companies' earnings. "At $69.99, retail margin takes 25-35%, distributors another 10-20%, and physical production ~$10," he says. "That leaves studios with just over $26 per unit – compared to ~$49 on digital at highest margin."
He adds: "It only gets worse as prices drop. Large publishers sit on the better side of the equation, but even they make significantly more per digital sale. From a pure ROI standpoint, the choice is obvious."
It's concerning, to say the least, and it'll have an effect on retailers as well, as the CI Games head points out, worrying that "their incentive will be way different when they won't be able to offer software."
It's a difficult future to imagine, but I suppose shops like GameStop have already sort of been moving in that direction, selling tabletop card games, merchandise, etc.
Plus, even though folks in Tyminski's comments argue that opting to release physical discs is good for "PR," it's not that simple. As he states himself, "It looks like it won't be a meaningful option from 2028." Sadly, I'm inclined to agree there.
Between studios like Rockstar already opting to cut discs and bigger companies such as Sony planning to make them entirely obsolete, the future of physical media isn't looking so great. It's not just games, either – Blockbuster's been dead for quite some time now.
Rockstar Games reportedly has no plans to print GTA 6 discs at launch or in the months after
