Physical video games seem to be a dying breed. Every year, it seems more people are getting rid of their physical video game collection and switching over to digital downloads or streaming. Many gamers don't see a reason to buy physical games when most are readily available on Steam or other digital platforms. But although downloading games is becoming the new normal, it shouldn't completely abolish physical games.
Some people still prefer buying physical games over downloading them. To them, digital downloads simply cannot match the satisfying feeling of holding and brand new game and opening the packaging. This is especially true for collectors. However, the continued existence of physical game releases is also an important part of the preservation and accessibility of games.
Game collecting is bigger now than ever before, and while many focus on retro games, there are still plenty who seek out hard copies of modern games. These collectors often buy the limited or collector's editions of major releases, meaning that if physical games vanish, these editions will go with them.
The little trinkets and collectables included tend to become pretty sought once these special editions sell out. The Dark Souls III Prestige Edition, Halo 3 Legendary Edition and The Last of Us Post-Pandemic Edition are all extremely sought after despite being relatively modern games. Gamers enjoy picking up the art books and statues found in most collector's editions, and even non-collectors might want some of the included knick-knacks as decorations to spice up their gaming space. To hardcore fans, these editions hold sentimental value and further the player's connection to a certain game even after they stop playing it.
Then, there's the historical importance of physical games. Physical copies all but guarantee the preservation of a game in a way that buying digital copies simply does not. Game are sometimes taken off of digital stores for licensing reasons, which causes problems for someone who, for example, purchases a new system and needs to redownload all of their games. If the game isn't available on the platform anymore, this usually means you cannot redownload the game even if you paid for it previously. Both Sony and Microsoft state as much in their terms of service.
A good example of this is the P.T. fiasco. Gamers couldn't get enough of the Silent Hills demo P.T, but the demo was only available for a short time before Sony took it off the PlayStation Store. Some fans deleted the download with the intention of redownloading it later on, but once Sony removed it, nothing could be done. This lead to PlayStation 4 consoles with P.T. still downloaded onto them to skyrocket in value. Some people were spending $800 or more on a PS4 just to play P.T. A similar thing happened with DuckTales: Remastered before the game was reuploaded to digital stores. None of these problems exist with physical games, as no corporate decision or licensing dispute can take away your physical copy.
There's nothing inherently wrong with digital downloads, and it makes sense why some people favor them. It is convenient to have the games you want in one place without having to switch out discs or cartridges and finding a place to store them. However, this doesn't mean they should completely replace physical copies. For many gamers, the feeling of growing and holding onto a physical collection is unmatched and, beyond that, hard copies ensure that the games we love will be continue to be playable for years to come. Until the time comes that a digital download can come with the same guarantee of longevity that an old NES cartridge has, the gaming world will still need physical games.