More Than Nostalgia: The Case For Physical Media- Why It Still Matters
06 July, 2026By now, you’d have all heard of Sony’s recent announcement that starting in 2028, it would cease production of physical PlayStation game discs. This follows the news of the upcoming most-anticipated-game-of-the-decade, Grand Theft Auto VI, not releasing on disc. Whilst these can hardly be seen as much of a shock, it’s another landmark moment in entertainment's steady march towards an all-digital future. Digital downloads and subscriptions have been a mainstay of our consumption for years now, with many making it their preferred method whether for convenience, or accessibility (or lack thereof).
The shift away from physical media is part of a much larger ongoing conversation that's been unfolding across music, film and television for years now; people spend a monthly fee on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and the abundance of streaming services available at our fingertips. Spotify dominates music consumption with all of us eagerly awaiting our Spotify Wrapped at the end of each year. CDs have become a niche product rather than the default.
Yet despite countless predictions of their demise, physical formats refuse to disappear. In fact, many are thriving in unexpected ways. In 2023, UK vinyl sales reached their highest since 1990. Boutique Blu-ray labels like Arrow Video and 88 Films have cultivated passionate communities, and collectors still seek out deluxe editions that offer things that digital simply can't.
But physical media has never really been just about the disc itself. It's about what it means to own what you purchase- what it ultimately represents. One of the biggest conversations and obvious downsides about digital entertainment is that buying something digitally is simply not the same as owning it physically.
When you buy a Blu-ray, a CD or a vinyl record, you're purchasing an object that belongs to you. You can lend it to a friend, sell it years later, display it proudly on a shelf or revisit it decades down the line. It doesn't depend on an internet connection or a company's licensing agreement. On that, PlayStation also recently announced that they will be removing any and all StudioCanal titles from their movie library due to said licensing agreements- highlighting in real time the main issue with losing our ability to purchase physical media- instead purchasing a licence to access it, and no control over how we’re allowed to consume it.
Streaming services are built around constant rotation. New content arrives every month, while older titles quietly leave. Music releases are updated, films receive altered versions, and games evolve through patches that can dramatically change the original experience.
There's nothing wrong with progress, and it can enrich the content in many ways, but it also means that the original can get lost in the process. Many of us still own VHS tapes with a movie still intact in its original form, and unless your parent decided to tape over it with the football or the latest episode of Gilmore Girls, that movie remains untouched by censoring, modernisation or unnecessary alteration. For those of us who are or have been hoarders refusing to throw away our old stuff just because it’s “old”, are now relishing in our little pieces of history. “Running out of shelf space”? No, we’re building cultural archives.
Furthermore, there’s nothing that can match unwrapping, opening and discovering all of the little bits and pieces that you get alongside your disc in a limited or collector’s edition- exploring every pouch and every fold like Christmas morning all in the palm of your hand. Physical media isn’t just about “watching movies”- it’s part of the experience.
A gatefold vinyl sleeve invites you to pore over its artwork while the record plays. A Blu-ray often includes director's commentaries, documentaries and deleted scenes that deepen your appreciation of a film. CD booklets contain lyrics, photography and liner notes that streaming platforms rarely replicate.
How many times have you gone to somebody’s house and had your eye caught by shelves full of movies, CDs or a collection of vinyl on display by a turntable. It’s part of somebody’s identity, what makes a living space unique, what sparks conversations and friendships that, just like physical media, can last a lifetime.
Not to mention that physical media also offers flexibility that digital purchases simply can't. A film you've finished watching can be traded in, a game can be sold to fund your next purchase and a record can become a treasured collectable or be passed on to someone else. Digital purchases cannot be shared or passed around in that way. They cannot retain that kind of value.
Ironically, despite eliminating manufacturing and distribution costs, digital editions- especially when it comes to gaming- can often be significantly more expensive than their physical counterparts. Sometimes they remain that way long after physical copies have dropped in price.
None of this, however, is to say that streaming or digital downloads are the enemy, or suggest that they shouldn’t have a place in how we consume entertainment; streaming has made discovering new artists easier than ever. Digital game downloads eliminate lengthy trips to the shop. Entire film libraries are available at the touch of a button. Streaming absolutely has its place, but it should be alongside physical- not in replacement of. Look at books. Books didn’t get replaced because eBooks arrived. The two formats complement each other, so why can’t the same happen with everything else?
Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation game discs may well reflect the direction the wider industry is heading. Consumer habits have changed, and digital distribution isn't going away. But in a world where so much entertainment is rented, streamed or stored in the cloud, holding something in your hands still means something. It’s a connection to the things we love.
Every few years someone declares physical media dead, yet vinyl keeps spinning, premium Blu-rays keep selling out, and collectors keep making room for "just one more" on the shelf. Because long after a licence expires, a server shuts down or a subscription ends, that shelf in the corner is still there. And that's worth far more.
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