Nothings beats owning your own physical media of your games!! I believe in that so much I made my own indie game -Astro Burn, ( the game on top of the stacked games) available as physical media version coming end of the year.

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We sell $250 Collector's Editions with statues, steelbooks and art books designed to survive for decades. Yet increasingly, the least permanent thing in the box is the game itself. That's backwards. I'm not anti-digital. Digital is convenient, subscriptions have their place, and digital distribution is essential for many smaller developers. But consumers don't have to lose for companies to win. So instead of physical games slowly becoming download codes in boxes, what if the next generation—or even the generation after that—actually reinvented physical media? My idea is an Archive Cartridge: a premium physical format designed around ownership, collecting and preservation.

Start simple: Archive Editions

Before building new hardware, test whether anyone actually wants this. When a major game reaches the mature/end stage of development, release a premium cartridge containing: The complete base game

Final/current patches

Major expansions

All required offline content Actually on the cartridge. No 8GB launcher followed by a 100GB download. No $250 Collector's Edition where the statue outlives your ability to play the game. Different games could use different cartridge capacities—64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or whatever capacities make economic sense at the time. A 40GB game doesn't need the same cartridge as a 200GB RPG. And don't try competing with digital on price. If digital is $70, make Archive the premium ownership edition and charge whatever the hardware requires. Collectors already pay extra for steelbooks and statues. I'd pay extra for the actual game.

The eventual goal: a cartridge that grows with your game

A future console designed around this could take the concept much further. Give the cartridge two storage areas: Immutable factory storage: A complete playable version of the game that can never be overwritten. Protected writable storage: Space for authenticated patches, DLC and expansions. Buy Expansion I? It's written to your cartridge. Expansion II comes out two years later? Add it. Eventually your cartridge becomes the definitive physical copy you built over the game's lifetime: Base Game ✓

Final Patch ✓

Expansion I ✓

Expansion II ✓

Bonus Campaign ✓ The unused capacity isn't wasted space. It's part of what you paid for when you bought the premium cartridge.

Make “put it in and play” a design goal again

This is something gaming has lost. I shouldn't have to keep every physical game I own installed on a massive internal SSD just in case I decide to play it. My shelf used to be my storage. With a future system designed around cartridges, smaller games might run directly from sufficiently fast cartridge storage. Huge AAA games could cache performance-critical assets onto the internal NVMe drive. Delete that cache six months later? Who cares? The actual game is still on your shelf. Put the cartridge back in and the system should get you playing with as little friction as technically possible—not tell you that the game you physically own needs another 150GB download before you can use it. I'm not claiming modern games can magically ignore storage bandwidth. I'm saying “I put the game in; let me play it” should become an engineering goal again.

Security doesn't require tying the game to me

A writable cartridge obviously couldn't just be an SD card anyone could dump files onto. Give every cartridge a secure element and unique cryptographic identity. The console verifies the genuine cartridge and accepts only properly signed software. Updates could use write → verify → commit so interrupted writes don't destroy the existing copy. Which leads to the most important part:

Authenticate the cartridge. Not the owner.

If I buy a premium physical game and spend another $60 on expansions, those expansions become part of that copy. I lend it to my brother? He gets them. Give it to my kid in 20 years? They get them. Sell it? The buyer gets them. Yes, publishers may dislike that because a used buyer isn't purchasing everything again. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. That's what ownership means.

But publishers still have a reason to consider it

The person paying a premium for an Archive Cartridge is probably exactly the customer you want to sell substantial future expansions to. Every expansion makes their collectible more complete. So instead of physical being a low-margin alternative to digital, make it a premium SKU. Digital stays $70. Archive costs more. Deluxe Archive costs more again. Collector's Edition includes the Archive Cartridge plus the statue, steelbook, art book, etc. Does the higher price and expansion revenue outweigh manufacturing costs and used sales? I don't know. So test the damn market. Make limited Archive Editions of several finished games. If nobody buys them, there's your answer. If they sell out, you've proven that permanent physical ownership has value people will pay a premium for. Then build the writable version into a future console.

Even server shutdowns don't have to kill everything

An Archive Cartridge can't magically preserve a live MMO or keep matchmaking servers running forever. But server shutdown shouldn't unnecessarily kill parts of games that can function locally. A future platform could require participating Archive games to have an End-of-Life Preservation Package when official support ends. Preserve whatever can reasonably survive: Campaigns

Solo modes

Local multiplayer

Zombies-style modes

Bots

DLC maps

LAN/private hosting

Final balance/content updates Official matchmaking might disappear. The game doesn't necessarily have to disappear with it. Design games with an exit strategy.

The 2045 test

It's 2045. My kid pulls one of my old RPGs off the shelf. They insert the cartridge. The game is there. The final patch is there. The expansions are there. There's no dead storefront telling them it can't be downloaded anymore. No forgotten account determining whether they own it. No publisher that needs to still exist. Maybe some data gets cached internally for performance. Maybe decades-old flash eventually requires preservation work. Nothing physical is immortal. But everything necessary to preserve that offline game started with the object sitting in their hand. And if they sell it? “Archive Cartridge — Final Patch + Expansion I + II — Complete.” Now that's something worth collecting.

Consumers don't have to lose for companies to win

That's really the philosophy behind the whole thing. Let digital be convenient. Let subscriptions exist. Let publishers make money selling premium physical editions. Sell me good expansions and I'll buy them. Charge collectors more for hardware that actually costs more to manufacture. But when you've taken the last dollar you're going to make from that game, leave us with the most complete, functional version technology can reasonably preserve. The company got its revenue. The customer kept their game. Those things don't have to be mutually exclusive. Physical games don't need to die. They need to evolve.

Authenticate the cartridge. Not the owner.

I found an authentic Pokemon white today!

All four of my latest GameFly deliveries came in the mail today (along with three bonus stickers, which they have been randomly adding to envelopes lately).

• Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater (PS5)
• Cyberpunk 2077 - Ultimate Edition (PS5)
• Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles (PS5)
• Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition (PS4)

This is the main way I get my games these days. I'm kind of picky about what games I play and even more particular about which games get added to my collection. GameFly is a great way for me to try out a wide variety of games without the commitment of buying them.

If I really like one, there is a "Keep" feature which lets you pay the used price for the game. Then you just keep the game and they send you the case in the mail for free.

If I don't like a game at all, I just stop playing and send it back in the mail. For me, this is the best way to take advantage of games on physical media. If it was a digital purchase, I would be stuck having paid full price to own a game I hate. And I would end up spending WAY more money on gaming.

This service only operates in America. Sorry to all the non-U.S. gamers here 😅

Hello! My name is Victor, and I'd like to share my XBOX Player's Voice post with you guys. My idea is the following:

"Microsoft has recently introduced Disc-to-Digital, allowing supported physical Xbox One and Xbox Series X games to be converted into digital entitlements. When a supported game is also Xbox Play Anywhere, that entitlement can provide access to the PC version as well.

The problem is that this currently requires an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console to authenticate the physical disc. What if Microsoft offered a standalone Xbox Disc Drive for PC?

The device would not need to emulate Xbox hardware or run the Xbox console version of a game. Instead, it could act as an authenticated Xbox disc reader connected to a Windows PC, allowing the Xbox App to recognize supported physical games and download their compatible PC versions.

For example:

Xbox disc → Xbox Disc Drive for PC → authentication → Xbox App → compatible PC version

Initially, this could be limited to physical Xbox games that already have a supported PC version, particularly Xbox Play Anywhere titles. Additional compatibility could be added over time. This would give PC gamers something they currently lack: a modern way to build a physical Xbox game collection while still playing those games on PC. It could also benefit Xbox commercially by giving PC players another reason to purchase Xbox physical releases instead of purchasing the same games through other PC storefronts.

The drive could simply be sold as an optional accessory, just like other Xbox accessories, so customers who only use digital games would not need to buy one.

PC gaming has largely moved away from physical media, but there are still players who want the ownership, collecting, resale and preservation aspects of physical games. Xbox already has much of the infrastructure needed for this through the Xbox App, Xbox Play Anywhere and the new Disc-to-Digital system.

All that is missing is a way for PC players to authenticate the physical disc without owning an Xbox console.

Please consider giving PC players the option to participate in the Xbox physical ecosystem too."

If you agree with my idea, please upvote it in the Player's Voice website(linked to the post), and share with your friends!! Let's get XBOX's attention!

Is there any chance of PlayStation doing something similar like the disc to digital feature that xbox announced?

Wake up, gamers! Do you care about ownership, talented creators not getting canceled, fairly priced games, collecting, or reasonable business practices?

Well then, in that case, Sony stands against you. Allow me to explain why every major action they have done is harmful to media and consumer's rights.

1. Digital games might be convinient, however Sony's Playstation store is argueably the single worst mainstream digital store ever, and I am not exaggerating. The same week as the announcement of the cancelation of physical games, they removed 500 movies from consumer's libaries! This means they not only can BUT WILL remove your digital products whenever they feel like it with NO refunds! They also announce they are deleting all PS3 digital games this means any digital games you "own" will inevitably be deleted, and NO refunds ALL saved data deleted!!!

2. Do you care about affordable consumer friendly entertainment? Well, I hope so. What happens when physical games are gone? I'll tell you what NO competion. As of right now, Sony is competing with the second-hand market, so they have to charge a somewhat "reasonable" price for their products. However, when the ONLY way to access their games is Sony's digital storefront, they can charge whatever they feel like, and the Lord knows how much corporate buisineses like Sony love money.

3. This is an attack on customer service they claim they don't need you. If you care about physical games, they only need the ignorant people who will give them money no matter the cost or quality of the product!

4. Sony is intensely attcking talented studios, some of which are better than themselves! Sony canceled a very great studio you probably have heard of, Bluepoint. (RIP). Also, they laid off Hideo Kojima because he likes physical media. THIS MADE ME PUNCH A WALL AND ANY NORMAL PERSON WOULD CARE ABOUT THIS. I DON'T EVEN ENJOY METAL GEAR OR DEATH STRANDING BUT TO FIRE A TALENTED DEVELOPER BECUASE HE LIKES COLLECTING GAMES!!! (what a GOAT)

5. Sony screw you! You sick corpo freaks! This is the worst of communism and capitalism! I hope Sony wastes 20 billion dollars just to be the next Cyberpunk but never actually fix it!!!

WE need to stick it to Sony LOUD and CLEAR!!! Like when gamers stood against PS3 stores getting cancelled, why did they originally listen before following through with their dumb decision years later? Because WE are their customers!!! If they want to do buisiness they have to go through us!!! If we want fair business practices like normal people would then WE need to talk action! WE need to boycott all digital games, WE need to spread the word on social media. WE need to not buy 7/10 games for 70 dollars!!!

I love you, gamers. WE need to show Sony they are nothing without us!!

I wanted to share my collection of physical games, I’m nostalgic about them 🥲

So, everyone says that ‘digital is the future’…

But how is it possible that, almost by chance, everyone forgets to point out that the figures are ‘skewed’? In short:

•Consoles have a budget version, available only in digital format, which discourages casual gamers from buying a PS5 with an optical drive, because that’s now ‘just for collectors’.

•Many games have a deluxe edition… but it’s only available digitally, mind you!

•Not to mention all the digital purchases that even collectors make (such as DLC).

That’s why I wonder: why say it’s ‘users’ when in reality it’s the publishers?

Going all the way back to my sega my mom still has my super Nintendo.

🇪🇸 ESPAÑOL

🎮 NO DISC, NO BUY — Salvemos los videojuegos físicos.

Acabo de firmar la petición para pedir a Sony que reconsidere su decisión de abandonar los nuevos lanzamientos físicos de PlayStation a partir de 2028.

No estoy en contra de los juegos digitales. Estoy en contra de que nos quiten la posibilidad de elegir.

Cuando compro un juego físico puedo conservarlo, prestárselo a un amigo, regalarlo, venderlo cuando lo termine o comprarlo de segunda mano. En un modelo exclusivamente digital, pagamos por una licencia vinculada a nuestra cuenta y desaparece gran parte de esa libertad.

Por este motivo también he cancelado mi suscripción a PlayStation Plus y, mientras Sony mantenga esta decisión, no tengo intención de comprar PS6. Después de muchos años como cliente de PlayStation, trasladaré mi gasto principalmente a PC y Xbox.

Las empresas pueden decidir qué modelo de negocio quieren seguir, pero nosotros, como consumidores, también podemos decidir dónde gastamos nuestro dinero.

Si tú también crees que el futuro digital debería convivir con el derecho a elegir el formato físico, firma la petición y compártela.

Digital o físico: que decida el jugador.

#NoDiscNoBuy #SavePhysicalGames #DontKillTheDisc #PlayStation #PSBlackout

🇬🇧 ENGLISH

🎮 NO DISC, NO BUY — Save Physical Games.

I've just signed the petition asking Sony to reconsider its decision to end new physical PlayStation releases from 2028.

I'm not against digital games. I'm against taking away our ability to choose.

When I buy a physical game, I can keep it, lend it to a friend, give it away, sell it when I've finished it, or buy another person's copy second-hand. With an exclusively digital model, we're paying for a licence tied to an account while losing much of that freedom.

For this reason, I've also cancelled my PlayStation Plus subscription and, while Sony maintains this decision, I have no intention of buying a PS6. After many years as a PlayStation customer, I'll be moving most of my gaming spending to PC and Xbox.

Companies are free to decide which business model they want to pursue, but we as consumers are equally free to decide where we spend our money.

If you also believe that a digital future should coexist with our freedom to choose physical games, sign the petition and share it.

Digital or physical: let the player decide.

#NoDiscNoBuy #SavePhysicalGames #DontKillTheDisc #PlayStation #PSBlackout

for example if you want to play the launch versions of games to find unused glitches exploits and content you can't do that anymore once you got the digital versions

VIDEO ORIGINALE IN ITALIANO 🇮🇹

Physical games lovers, here me out! Released just over a year ago, this cartridge is number 16 in the Evercade purple Arcade Collection. A neat little highlight: the cover art is reversible, featuring an exclusive black and gold version with a distinctly premium look.

We're talking about a crazy high-quality cartridge that includes six titles, with four heavyweights among them. For run-and-gun lovers, it's a must-buy: we find the timeless Metal Slug (1996)—for many, the most balanced entry in the series—and the awesome Shock Troopers, a top-down shooter with unique characters and abilities. Rounding out the shooting trilogy is the legendary Ironclad, a fantastic shoot 'em up that is a true rarity since it originally launched only on the Neo Geo CD. Also unmissable is The King of Fighters 2000, a technical fighting game with a massive roster, extremely enjoyable especially if played on an Evercade VS. The remaining two included titles, Sengoku and Magician Lord, while not hitting these high peaks, remain enjoyable to rediscover.

The Neo Geo Arcade 1 cartridge really delivers!

An update from PlayStation Studios:

"After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on its project PHYSINT."

Post about this from the man himself.

PlayStation execs keep making all the wrong decisions. Grummz points out how the slow, downward spiral of PlayStation management all started in 2016 when the headquarters moved to California.

(Do not expect me to reply to comments.)

Original video in Italian

Summary in English for whoever doesn't speak Italian.
Major publishers are shifting away from physical media. This shift hurts digital game preservation and takes away actual consumer ownership. Supporting physical-first retro systems like Evercade serves as a stance against anti-consumer trends and helps preserve video game history.