The gaming world is slowly moving away from physical copies. As the gaming industry progresses, players have been preferring digital copies rather than going to a shop and collecting a physical disc. Primarily the shift is about convenience, but the Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has a different opinion about the entire scenario.
In his recent interview, he spoke about this shift, and according to him, ‘It may not be the end’ for physical media. He stated that physical discs will always have a place in the market, though their share will become less as digital gaming grows. In reference, he stated that their business is also 98% digital.
Zelnick’s comments show that the future of gaming won’t be completely digital. Players can buy and download the game; still, physical copies have a separate fanbase. Some gamers like keeping their games on shelves, collecting special editions, and having something they can hold. According to Zelnick, these players will help keep physical games alive, even if they become less common.
There’s always a big difference between buying a physical game and a digital copy. When players buy a disc, they get a physical item that they can keep, sell, lend, or trade. Digital purchases only give them a license to play the game through the account that they have used to get it. They do not own the game in the same way they own a disc.
Also Read: PlayStation’s First Post Since Physical Disc News Reignites Fan Outrage
Digital gaming is growing for sure, but physical copies still offer things that online downloads can’t. For many players, collecting games is part of the fun. Special editions, game covers, and discs hold value for fans who enjoy owning a piece of their favorite titles.
To be precise, physical games seem to be part of the industry in the coming years, without any doubt. Even if the number of players buying it goes down, physical copies never vanish completely from the market.