The economics behind the most popular video games are, in a word, staggering. 

Case in point: Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated to be released later this year, and according to IGN, it made $260 MILLION dollars during the first week of pre-orders. Some analysts estimate that the game could rake in about 5 BILLION dollars during its launch week.

But don’t expect to have a hard copy to cherish for your collection – developer Rockstar Games announced last month that GTA 6 will only be available to download.  

Industry giant Sony says it too will soon be ditching discs. The company said earlier this month that it plans to discontinue physical game disc production for new PlayStation games starting in 2028. 

Sony says it’s reflecting a broader shift in consumer preference toward digital downloads.

And this shift has consequences for local small businesses: With no discs to sell and trade, stores, especially ones that sell used games, will reap less revenue.  

Adam David owns Big Red’s Retro Games in Silverdale. He says he’s not surprised by these decisions:

“Your newer, younger consumer doesn’t care about a physical disc. Your next generation of game players, they've grown up on digital, and at the same time they're too young to see the ramifications down the road of having just a digital library and the fact that, you know, it can be taken away from you”

What are the ramifications and ripple effects when an industry changes the way we buy its products?

It’s something Seattle-area journalist Jacob Robbins has been pondering – he wrote about the disappearance of physical media in games for his new Substack newsletter entitled “Side Quests.” 

GUEST: Jacob Robbins

RELATED LINKS: 
It’s Going to Be the Biggest Video Game Launch Ever. These Seattle Game Stores Aren’t Happy.
GTA 6 Predicted to Make Up to $5.2 Billion in Sales by End of Launch Week After Securing an Estimated $260 Million via Preorders
'Commercially It Just Makes Sense' - No GTA 6 Disc Decision Explained

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go todonate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The economics behind the most popular video games are, in a word, staggering.&nbsp;
Case in point: Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated to be released later this year, and according to IGN, it made $260 MILLION dollars during the first week of pre-orders. Some analysts estimate that the game could rake in about 5 BILLION dollars during its launch week.
But don&rsquo;t expect to have a hard copy to cherish for your collection &ndash; developer Rockstar Games <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/grand-theft-auto-vi-digital-only-no-disc-rip-physical-media-1236629695/">announced last month</a> that GTA 6 will only be available to download. &nbsp;
Industry giant Sony says it too will soon be ditching discs. The company said earlier this month that it plans to discontinue physical game disc production for new PlayStation games starting in 2028.&nbsp;
Sony says it&rsquo;s reflecting a broader shift in consumer preference toward digital downloads.
And this shift has consequences for local small businesses: With no discs to sell and trade, stores, especially ones that sell used games, will reap less revenue. &nbsp;
Adam David owns <a href="https://bigredsretrogames.com/">Big Red&rsquo;s Retro Games</a> in Silverdale. He says he&rsquo;s not surprised by these decisions:
&ldquo;Your newer, younger consumer doesn&rsquo;t care about a physical disc. Your next generation of game players, they've grown up on digital, and at the same time they're too young to see the ramifications down the road of having just a digital library and the fact that, you know, it can be taken away from you&rdquo;
What are the ramifications and ripple effects when an industry changes the way we buy its products?
It&rsquo;s something Seattle-area journalist Jacob Robbins has been pondering &ndash; he wrote about the disappearance of physical media in games for his new Substack newsletter entitled &ldquo;<a href="https://sidequestsbeyond.substack.com/">Side Quests</a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;
GUEST: Jacob Robbins
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://sidequestsbeyond.substack.com/p/its-going-to-be-the-biggest-video">It&rsquo;s Going to Be the Biggest Video Game Launch Ever. These Seattle Game Stores Aren&rsquo;t Happy.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/gta-6-predicted-to-make-up-to-52-billion-in-sales-by-end-of-launch-week-after-securing-an-estimated-260-million-via-preorders">GTA 6 Predicted to Make Up to $5.2 Billion in Sales by End of Launch Week After Securing an Estimated $260 Million via Preorders</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/no-gta-6-disc-decision-will-make-some-gamers-angry-but-analysts-say-commercially-it-just-makes-sense">'Commercially It Just Makes Sense' - No GTA 6 Disc Decision Explained</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">donate.kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a> Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated to be one of the biggest game releases in history, but it won't be sold on a physical disc. What does this shift away from physical media mean for the gamers who only download a game, and the used game stores who rely on trade-ins and the resale market?