Nintendo May Be Last Major Console Maker to Stick with Physical Games

Nintendo is likely to become the last major console manufacturer to continue producing physical game media, according to an analysis by Circana's Matt Piscatella. This projection comes as Sony is reportedly set to cease physical game production for new titles around 2028, signalling a significant shift in the video game industry.

Piscatella noted that sales of physical game versions have been declining annually since the 2000s, making the end of physical discs an eventual certainty, though he expressed surprise at the timing of Sony's announcement. He anticipates that future consoles, such as the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox, will likely be digital-only.

While Nintendo and Microsoft have not officially commented on their long-term physical media strategies, Piscatella believes Nintendo will maintain its distinct approach. He suggests that even if Nintendo adopts more 'key card' models for future releases, they will remain committed to physical game production longer than their competitors.

Piscatella highlighted Nintendo's strong retail distribution network. He stated that distributors have increasingly favored Nintendo in recent years, a trend likely to continue. Consequently, while physical game packaging may evolve to include download codes more frequently, alongside merchandise and special editions, physical retail presence is expected to persist with Nintendo longer than with other platforms.