After the end of PS5 discs: Nintendo could be the last console manufacturer to stick to physical games
The video game industry is undergoing rapid change as many gamers consider the future of physical games and their retail presence. Just days after Sony announced it would no longer produce physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in 2028, many gamers are turning their attention to other console manufacturers like Xbox and Nintendo and their possible response.
Xbox and Nintendo have not yet officially commented, but noted Circana analyst Matt Piscatella spoke to VGC about the future of physical video games. According to Piscatella, Nintendo could be the last console maker to stick with physical media, even if that includes digital game key cards.
To put things into perspective, Matt Piscatella is Executive Director at Circana and has been analyzing the video game industry for many years. Speaking to VGC, he pointed to the long-term trend in video game sales, stating: “Sales of new physical video games have declined every year since the late 2000s.”
He then weighed in on Sony’s recent announcement about the end of physical disc production, saying: “It was bound to happen at some point. I didn’t think there would be an announcement today, but hey, it’s 2026 and things happen all the time, right?”
In the interview he also touched on the next generation of consoles, including the PlayStation 6 and Project Helix. He believes this shift will lead to lower sales of video game software at retail, making it increasingly likely that both the PlayStation 6 and Project Helix will become digital-only devices.
On Nintendo, Piscatella predicts: “My gut feeling is that Nintendo is doing what Nintendo wants to do, and I don’t see the company changing its plans based on what Sony or Microsoft do or say. Nintendo is still Nintendo, for better or worse.”
Nintendo can currently rely on strong support in retail. Piscatella added: “Retail has become more Nintendo-centric in recent years, so that could continue to grow. It’s not like boxes on shelves will completely disappear with this change. There will be more codes in boxes, more merchandise and maybe more special editions with add-ons, things like that, but the change is also likely to cause retail spending on physical games to continue to decline.”
I am a UAE-based tech writer who likes to build and benchmark PCs both professionally and as a hobby. I contribute to multiple tech publications, including TechRadar and Notebookcheck, as well as Game Rant, where I focus primarily on news, commerce, and buying guides. When I’m not scouring the internet for the latest in tech stories, you will find me playing a game of Civilization or DotA with friends and frenemies alike while dropping recommendations for Apple TV+’s Foundation to everyone I come across.
The technology bug infected me at a young age when I took my first steps in the PC sector back in the Pentium II era. Since then, modding, overclocking and meticulously maintaining my hardware have been a part of my life. During my time as a student, I also developed a special interest in mobile technologies, which can make stressful everyday study life much easier. After I found my love for creating web content while working in marketing, I am now an editor at Notebookcheck in search of the most exciting topics from the fascinating world of technology. Outside of the office, I have a particular passion for motorsports and mountain biking.
