Whether you own a PlayStation or not, you’ve likely heard about the news that Sony plans to discontinue releasing video games in physical format on their platform, effective 2028. There has been a significant outcry from fans, industry veterans, and influencers against this push to an all-digital age. I could go on about all the reasons why having consumer choice in owning physical games is important, but chances are if you are reading this article, you already know those reasons.

While it is unlikely Sony will reverse their decision, this does not mean there is nothing we can do to safeguard the future of physical video games. We, the humble consumer, can still do much to slow down and prevent the trajectory to an all-digital future. Whether you do it to battle against anti-consumerism, safeguard your rightful ownership of goods you pay for, or protect the ability to share and sell games to others, here are these small ways that can make a big difference!

1) For PlayStation Fans: Sign the “Don’t Kill the Disc” Petition

As of July 7th, there are just under 200,000 signatures in a petition to Sony to reverse their decision to go digital-only in 2028. It is a simple and low-effort thing you can do to show Sony your support for physical discs.

“The irony is hard to miss. At E3 2013, Sony won over a generation of players by promising that when you buy a PlayStation game, you can trade it in, sell it, lend it to a friend, or “keep it forever,” and famously mocked the competition for trying to restrict exactly that. Thirteen years later, Sony is the one taking it away.” -Don’t Kill the Disc: Tell Sony to Keep Physical PlayStation Games

Whether this will cause Sony to reverse their direction is yet to be seen; however, there is little reason not to show your support. If it does not result in the desired outcome, it likely will still cause a ripple-effect in spreading the word on how important physical media is. Like in most advocacy issues, the issue is dead only when people stop talking about it.

2) Support 3rd Party Physical Video Game Publishers and/or Distributors

There are several third-party publishers that bring video games to physical format, including on the PlayStation. There are also some wonderful companies that specialize in distributing physical games. Show your support buy purchasing physicals from these companies so they can remain in business well into 2028, even if Sony does not reverse their decision:

• Limited Run Games
  • Examples: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (Switch 2); Lake (PlayStation 5), Yakuza 4 Remastered (PlayStation 4, Xbox, PC)
• Lost in Cult
  • Examples: Animal Well (PlayStation 5, Switch), Immortality (PlayStation 5)
• PM Studios
  • Examples: The Wolf Among Us 2 (PlayStation 5, Xbox), Black Myth Wukong (PlayStation 5)
• PNP Games: Distributes physical games; CEO initiated petition seen in #1!
• Serenity Forge:
  • Examples: Doki Doki Literature Club (Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Mobile), Coffee Talk (Switch, PlayStation), Slay the Princess (Switch, PlayStation)
• Super Rare Games
  • Examples: Shovel Knight Dig (Switch, PlayStation 5), Dungeons of Hinterberg (PlayStation 5)
• VGNYsoft
  • Examples: Risk System (PlayStation 4, Switch), Rick Henderson (PlayStation 5, Switch)
• Video Games Plus: Distributes physical games

3) Resist Purchasing Digital Games

While convenient, purchasing video games digitally will continue to contribute to a statistic that company executives lean on to push for a digital-only future.

4) Write to Your State Representative

Video game preservation faces a new challenge in an all-digital future. Digital Trends reports that there is no legal pathway currently available to preserve digital-only games. Click HERE to read more how you can go about this

5) Support by Donating to Video Game Preservation

The Video Game History Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the history of video games. If you feel uncomfortable writing to a State Representative or would rather support the cause in another way, why no support this foundation?

6) Keep Talking About it!

Last but not least, keep the conversation going. News cycles tend to turn over quickly for the sake of clicks; however, hold your ground. As mentioned in #1, the issue only vanishes once people stop talking about it. Share your thoughts with family and friends, online and in person.

Do you have any other thoughts or ideas to share about preserving physical video games? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.

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