This section gathers reporting on shifts in game distribution, including platform transitions away from disc formats and the resulting consumer reactions. It also covers global gaming revenue analysis and incidents involving early retail copies leaking ahead of release.
38 articles
Video Games Plus has announced it will not carry Grand Theft Auto VI following news that its physical retail release will only include a digital download code instead of a disc.
During discussions on game preservation, the ESA claimed Minecraft community servers are illegal, sparking backlash from fans who pointed out Mojang explicitly allows them.
The EU states it cannot block Sony's move to end physical discs citing commercial freedom, though other countries are pushing for consumer protection.
A Battlefield player received a Steam refund despite logging over 470 hours of playtime after EA quietly removed the popular Rush mode from Quick Play.
Hacker group Cyberleek claims they leaked GTA 6 details and gameplay to protest Take-Two's controversial decision not to sell physical disc copies of the game.
Rockstar confirms Grand Theft Auto VI will still receive a physical disc release in December, following initial code-in-box sales designed to prevent early leaks.
Alanah Pearce revealed that Sony expected fierce gamer backlash over ending physical media and imposed strict social media rules to stop employees from commenting.
Scalpers suffer heavy losses after Shueisha provides extra One Piece promo cards for digital readers, sending resale card prices crashing down.
Boxed physical editions of Grand Theft Auto VI in Japan will contain digital redemption codes that expire just 170 days after issuance, according to Rockstar Games Support FAQ.
Circana director Mat Piscatella revealed that only seven PS5 games sold over 100,000 physical copies in 2026, highlighting the sharp decline of physical game media.
Indie developer Eat Pant Games found their new game trailer targeted by angry PlayStation fans protesting rumors of ending physical media.
A clever Reddit user repurposed cheap 128GB SSDs with custom 3D-printed cases and scripts to create plug-and-play physical cartridges for Steam games.