COMMENTARY - Physical games should be protected while we celebrate an abundance of choice

Plenty of plates in the platter.

By Jonathan Garrett
30/06/25

Amongst the redundant corners of internet console war discourse is the irresistible urge for hyprocrisy. New IP are denounced as being unsustainable while the push for remakes and sequels are equally derided. Approaches to monetisation and publisher pricing continues to be a variable and hotly debated issue. And of course, game ownership and preservation is muddier than ever with legal battles over digital licensing, the popularisation of subscription services, and codes in a box sending fanboys into a tailspin. 

Given the scope of social media outrage whenever any of the above is dared to be discussed, lets focus on one aspect that could be a saving grace: the abundance of choice. Never before have there been more viable places to purchase, stream, download and play games. Dedicated console hardware, PC, Cloud, handhelds, mobile, even TV's are getting in on the action. This is a generation defined by a saturation of options, where publishers scramble to support the latest service in a bid to get more eyeballs on their products.

 Titles with scalable pricing and a smorgasbord of delivery methods are a given now the market is busier than ever before, and traditional console hardware growth has stagnated. The digital shift has seen companies like Limited Run Games rise to prominance, as they carve a niche for themselves in the physical market in much the same way HMV has catered for the resurgance of vinyl. While publishers and developers of all shapes have felt the budgetary pinch, we the consumer are left in a position of strength and choice like never before.

Unless you're Nintendo, every other platform is awash with sales and promotion. Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and GeForce Now are providing a lower barrier to entry for those wanting to dip in and experiment. We're gaming at a time where choice is central to our experience, and where voting with our wallets and waiting for discounts is just as viable an approach as day 1 full price purchases or a wacky special edition. That's not to say that choice equals value; there have been plenty of recent examples of big promises failing to land (MindsEye), questionable pricing (Mario Kart World), and poor messaging (Splitgate 2) that continue to befuddle and frustrate.

One thing remains in abundance. As the barriers between platforms continues to erode, and digital downloads and streaming become the rule instead of the exception, we are standing upon the precipice of a choice driven future as the next generation of gaming revs up. There should always be a place for physical media, but having the scope to choose how to access and consume this rapidly evolving medium puts us on a path to meaningful sustainability.