Video Games – Discs, game cards or downloads?

Hello Fizzers! On July 1, 2026, coincidentally on Canada Day, Sony announced that it would discontinue sales of new PlayStation disc-based games in January 2028, moving exclusively to digital distribution. This move led to a lot of backlash so far this month, with most gamers calling for disc-based games and systems to stay around as an option.

There is an increasing push of digital-only systems over the years. The original PS5 could be purchased with or without a disc drive, while the Slim and Pro systems have the disc drive as an add-on that can be purchased separately. Microsoft has pushed digital-only further with its Xbox One S All-Digital Edition in April 2019, plus the discless Xbox Series S in November 2020. At first, all Series X consoles had a disc drive, but on October 15, 2024, a white "All-Digital" Series X came out. I know some stores that only sell discless Xbox systems, and unlike Sony, Microsoft does not sell disc drives separately. What a pity!

Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch uses game cards, which almost always include the full game on a flash-based cartridge that works on any Switch or Switch 2 systems. Some games offer updates when connected online, but on offline systems, game cards work perfectly. It's just the "download code" game boxes that omit a game card. With the Nintendo Switch 2, however, many games are using a Game-Key Card (GKC) instead of a proper Switch 2 game card. While a normal Switch 2 game card works offline, GKCs require the Internet and Switch 2 storage (internal or microSD Express) to work. Otherwise, no game for you! There are also games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 that only include a demo on the card, with a download required for the full game. Needless to say, GKCs face a lot of backlash.

With all of that said, I'm wondering what you think about Sony's announcement, Nintendo's GKCs being confused with real cards, and Microsoft's stubbornness. Which format do you prefer for your games? Discs, game cards or downloads? I'd also like to hear why you prefer one format over another. Personally, I prefer game cards that include the full game, but I also enjoy discs. I would like to see more stores sell them, as they often have good sales on games. Plus, it's fun to browse the shelves IRL to see which games are available, and to buy one that I like.