Latest Multi-platform Game News & Updates
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🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformGoodbye Discs: Digital Game Sales Continue To Grow At PlayStation, As Well As Many Other Big Players
Sony has confirmed that it will no longer support physical discs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-sony-is-killing-disc-based-playstation-games-and-the-implications-for-ps6-and-beyond/) for PlayStation games--for first- and third-party games--starting in January 2028. Many are wondering why, and it likely has to do with steep declines in physical software sales at the gaming giant. And it's not just Sony that's seeing major declines in physical, disc-based games--many other publishers are as well. It's part of a wider trend of people increasingly buying games digitally, for convenience and other reasons. Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad has reminded people that while physical software is not a dead market--almost 70 million new disc-based PlayStation games were sold in 2025--but the shift toward digital keeps growing. "Having a retail presence is still important for many publishers, but it's clear that doesn't always need to a disc, and won't be going forward," he said.(https://x.com/ZhugeEX/status/2072310853051777502) "So as much as rising digital share is a market trend, the decision to stop physical disc production at this point is entirely a platform led decision that is designed to cut costs for Sony, eliminate resale / used markets, and drive 100% of revenue through the PlayStation Store," he added. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PS658a386.jpg?w=1024) No more discs for PlayStation games. 80% digital at PlayStation When the PS4 launched, less than 10% of game sales were digital. For the latest fiscal year, it rose to about 80% of full-game sales being digital for PlayStation. 93% digital at Capcom Earlier this year, Japanese publisher Capcom--known for Resident Evil and Monster Hunter--reported that a whopping 93% of its game sales were digital.(https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/data/pdf/explanation/2025/full/explanation2025full01.pdf) That compares to 75% just a few years prior. Capcom said it predicts that its percentage of digital sales will grow in next year. Electronic Arts is seeing a big shift, too E Electronic Arts, one of the biggest publishers of games in the world, is seeing increased share for digital game sales compared to physical. For EA's latest reporting period(https://ir.ea.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/Electronic-Arts-Reports-Q4-and-FY26-Results/default.aspx), full-game downloads amounted to $528 million, compared to $81 million for "packaged goods." Nintendo is selling more digital games For Nintendo's latest fiscal year, the company said(https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/260508e.pdf) digital game sales were up 25% year-over-year, "mainly due to an increase in sales of downloadable versions of packaged software." Digital sales grew by 1.1 points(https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/2605085e.pdf) to make up 54.6% of total software sales for the fiscal year. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-01-at-11.51.00-AM.png) A peek at Nintendo's digital sales split. "Watershed moment" Sony's decision to kill physical discs on PlayStation is a "watershed moment"(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-sony-is-killing-disc-based-playstation-games-and-the-implications-for-ps6-and-beyond/) for the games industry, an analyst said. It also has implications for the PS6, with experts saying this news almost guarantees a PS6 launch in 2028 at the soonest(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-sony-is-killing-disc-based-playstation-games-and-the-implications-for-ps6-and-beyond/). The announcement from Sony about PlayStation discs came not long after Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 will not be released on a disc(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-is-not-releasing-with-a-disc-and-that-just-makes-sense-in-2026/). Sony killing off physical discs for PlayStation games might make business sense, but it's also a big bummer for many who wanted to keep buying physical games. It also has sparked game-preservation concerns. Sony's official explanation is that it's doing this "in response to shifting trends in consumer preference." "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs," the company said. "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."
🍄 Nintendo Switch, Multi-platformSurprise Mario Kart World Update Ends A Drought Of New Content
Despite being the Switch 2's leading launch game, Mario Kart World hasn't gotten much in terms of proper new content. But update 1.7.0(https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/aid/68580/~/how-to-update-mario-kart-world?gl=117yhvnbgclauMjg1MTM5NTAyLjE3ODIyMjc1NjU.gaOTkxNjczNzM2LjE3MDA1MzA3Njg.gaF6ERC4HMNZczE3ODI5MTIzNTAkbzEyOSRnMSR0MTc4MjkxMjQ3MyRqNjAkbDEkaDEzMzk4MzQ0MjA.) just dropped for the game, and it adds two Knockout Tour routes for players to burn rubber on. The Drill Rally starts at Wario Shipyard and ends in Bowser's Castle, while the Boomerang Rally extends from Salty Salty Speedway to Whistlestop Summit. Nintendo's website(https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/mario-kart-world-update-adds-two-new-routes-to-knockout-tour-and-more/) mentions that additional routes will be added in future updates, and the game's menu indicates that six more are on the way. Mind you, there aren't any new tracks or expansions to the open world included in this new update, but the addition of new Knockout Tour routes signals that Nintendo isn't done with the game yet. https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/2072228720501240314?s=20 As a bonus, Mario Kart World's photo mode now lets you add stickers to your pictures, with touchscreen and mouse support sure to make sticker placement even easier. Other changes in version 1.7.0 include changes to item rates(https://x.com/Mankalor/status/2072281683563286855) and other gameplay adjustments. Previous Mario Kart World updates include the addition of Bob-omb Blast(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/explosive-update-for-mario-kart-world-adds-a-fan-favorite-mode-and-nerfs-a-pesky-item/1100-6539117/), but this is probably the most substantial content drop for the Switch 2's best-selling game(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/nintendos-top-selling-switch-2-games-of-all-time/2900-7694/6) yet. The Mario Kart World community on Reddit(https://www.reddit.com/r/MarioKartWorld/comments/1ukcabo/mariokartworldupdateaddstwonewroutesto/) appears quite excited to have received anything, to be frank. Fans were convinced last year that DLC based on Donkey Kong Bananza(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-why-nintendo-fans-think-that-mario-kart-world-dlc-news-is-incoming/1100-6536722/) was inevitable, but there's been no hint of such an update. At least with this patch for Mario Kart World, hope for more tracks, costumes, and such can race on. Let’s Rank What Matters Most In Mario Kart World: The Food !4525222-copyofqas(12).png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1639/16394322/4525222-copyofqas(12).png?w=1024) !4525194-pancakes.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1748/17481584/4525194-pancakes.jpg?w=1024) !4525202-bakedham.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1748/17481584/4525202-bakedham.jpg?w=1024) !4525208-thaliandnaan.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1748/17481584/4525208-thaliandnaan.jpg?w=1024) !4525209-donuts.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1748/17481584/4525209-donuts.jpg?w=1024) !4525200-burger.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1748/17481584/4525200-burger.jpg?w=1024) !4525210-fruitsalad.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1748/17481584/4525210-fruitsalad.jpg?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/lets-rank-what-matters-most-in-mario-kart-world-the-food/2900-6730/)
🎮 Multi-platformStranger Things Star Millie Bobby Brown Loves GTA, But Plays Differently Than Most
Stranger Things and Enola Holmes actor Millie Bobby Brown has called out Grand Theft Auto as being her favorite video game series. She said in an interview that she's very excited for GTA 6, and she also shared some insight into how she plays GTA games--it's probably not how you play them. "I follow the rules in GTA," she said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nSsBQxwQaU). "I don't break the rules. I stop at red lights. I never run anyone over." !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MountKalagaNationalPark01.jpg?w=1024) Millie Bobby Brown is excited for GTA 6. She said her husband, Jake Bongiovi, asked her why she plays GTA like The Sims. Her response? "I'm going to go to the strip club, but I am not going to get drunk." This isn't the first time Brown has discussed her gaming habits. She previously called out games like The Sims 4 and Fortnite as some of her favorites, according to Screen Rant(https://screenrant.com/millie-bobby-brown-favorite-video-games-sims-fortnite/). GTA 6 is the next entry in the series, and it arrives this November on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Preorders are open now for the $80 and $100 editions(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/prewrite-preorders-are-live-for-grand-theft-auto-vi/1100-6539953/) of the open-world crime game. Preorders come with an auto-renewing GTA+ membership(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-preorders-include-auto-renewing-membership-to-something-you-might-not-actually-want/).
🎮 Multi-platformStar Ocean changed the game for RPGs, 30 years ago this month
We shouldn't forget how the genre was changed by one really great idea at the right time.
🎮 Multi-platformLove and Deepspace fans are begging the developer to bring back Valko
The romance gacha game from the Infinity Nikki developer has a divided player base when it comes to werewolf heartthrob, Valko
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformThe PlayStation Stores On PlayStation 3 And Vita Are Being Shut Down
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/01/35609ac6/playstation-store-logo.jpg.webp) In addition to announcing plans to end the production of physical discs(https://gameinformer.com/2026/07/01/playstation-will-cease-production-of-physical-discs-for-new-games-in-january-2028) for new PlayStation-released games in January 2028, Sony is also planning to shut down two digital storefronts. The PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita will be closed in select markets starting later this year and continuing into 2027. Once the PS3 and Vita stores are closed, owners of those platforms will no longer be able to make new digital purchases. Sony has provided the following timeline for when the PS3 and Vita stores will be closed: - Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua – PlayStation Store on PS3 will close starting August 2026. - Additional Latin American and Middle Eastern countries – PlayStation Store on PS3 will close starting late 2026. - In all other countries, PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita will close in July 2027. Sony writes in its PlayStation Blog post(https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-on-playstation-store-for-ps3-and-ps-vita/), “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming. PS3 and PS Vita represent an important era in our PlayStation history, so this was not an easy decision for us to make. As we continue to expand the PlayStation experience on newer devices that most of our users are playing on today, we need to focus more resources on delivering the best gaming experiences on these platforms as we look ahead towards the future.” The PlayStation 3 was the first platform to host the PlayStation Store, which first launched in 2006. This marks the end of a 20-year run of the storefront on that platform. It's also the first time Sony has closed a digital storefront for its legacy platforms, a move that Nintendo and Xbox have already executed for the Wii U/3DS(https://gameinformer.com/2022/02/16/nintendo-will-end-eshop-purchases-for-wii-u-and-3ds-next-year) and Xbox 360(https://gameinformer.com/2023/08/17/the-xbox-360-store-is-shutting-down) stores, respectively, in recent years. In other PlayStation news, Sony announced plans to remove hundreds of purchased movies and TV shows(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/29/playstation-will-remove-hundreds-of-purchased-movies-and-tv-shows-from-user-libraries-in) by Studio Canal from their digital libraries due to expiring content licensing agreements.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformThe PlayStation Stores On PlayStation 3 And Vita Are Shutting Down
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/01/35609ac6/playstation-store-logo.jpg.webp) In addition to announcing plans to end the production of physical discs(https://gameinformer.com/2026/07/01/playstation-will-cease-production-of-physical-discs-for-new-games-in-january-2028) for new PlayStation-released games in January 2028, Sony is also planning to shut down two digital storefronts. The PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita will be closed in select markets starting later this year and continuing into 2027. Once the PS3 and Vita stores are closed, owners of those platforms will no longer be able to make new digital purchases. Sony has provided the following timeline for when the PS3 and Vita stores will be closed: - Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua – PlayStation Store on PS3 will close starting August 2026. - Additional Latin American and Middle Eastern countries – PlayStation Store on PS3 will close starting late 2026. - In all other countries, PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita will close in July 2027. Sony writes in its PlayStation Blog post(https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-on-playstation-store-for-ps3-and-ps-vita/), “We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming. PS3 and PS Vita represent an important era in our PlayStation history, so this was not an easy decision for us to make. As we continue to expand the PlayStation experience on newer devices that most of our users are playing on today, we need to focus more resources on delivering the best gaming experiences on these platforms as we look ahead towards the future.” The PlayStation 3 was the first platform to host the PlayStation Store, which first launched in 2006. This marks the end of a 20-year run of the storefront on that platform. It's also the first time Sony has closed a digital storefront for its legacy platforms, a move Nintendo and Xbox have already executed for the Wii U/3DS(https://gameinformer.com/2022/02/16/nintendo-will-end-eshop-purchases-for-wii-u-and-3ds-next-year) and Xbox 360(https://gameinformer.com/2023/08/17/the-xbox-360-store-is-shutting-down) stores, respectively, in recent years. In other PlayStation news, Sony announced plans to remove hundreds of purchased movies and TV shows(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/29/playstation-will-remove-hundreds-of-purchased-movies-and-tv-shows-from-user-libraries-in) by Studio Canal from their digital libraries due to expiring content licensing agreements.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformSony shutting down PlayStation Store on PS3, Vita by 2027
PlayStation Store support on PlayStation 3 and PS Vita will end completely by July 2027, but some countries will be cut off much sooner, Sony confirms
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformPlayStation Will Cease Production Of Physical Discs For New Games In January 2028
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/01/57cdca07/playstation%20logo%20black.jpg.webp) Sony has announced plans to end production of physical discs for new games starting in January 2028. Following that date, new PlayStation games will only be available to purchase digitally on the PlayStation Store and at retailers. In a short PlayStation Blog post(https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/), Sony states that it is making this move in response to “shifting trends in consumer preference” favoring digital media, which the company says “significantly outpaces physical discs.” The transition will have no impact on physical games already released or scheduled for release before January 2028. Here is Sony’s full message: As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. This transition has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format. This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today. We’ll continue to prioritize our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store. We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans and we thank you for your continued support. In a separate post(https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-on-playstation-store-for-ps3-and-ps-vita/), Sony also announced that it will shut down the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. The announcement comes days after PlayStation sparked concerns from physical media advocates by notifying certain users that it was removing hundreds of purchased movies and TV shows(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/29/playstation-will-remove-hundreds-of-purchased-movies-and-tv-shows-from-user-libraries-in) by Studio Canal from their digital libraries due to expiring content licensing agreements. It also comes after the recent news that Grand Theft Auto VI will be a digital-only title(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/24/grand-theft-auto-vi-price-and-ultimate-edition-revealed-physical-version-will-not), which has caused an uproar amongst some players. Though entertainment media has trended in this direction for years, it's still surreal to see one of the three major console manufacturers and publishers finally make the full transition to digital games. What do you think of this seismic announcement? Let us know in the comments.
🎮 Multi-platformHow do Minions reproduce? Minions & Monsters director answers 3 extremely specific questions
Minions & Monsters director Pierre Coffin, who also voices the Minions, answers how they reproduce, if they can die, and what they did during WWII
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformSony Is Killing Disc-Based PlayStation Games And That Means PS6 Likely Won’t Have A Disc Drive And Could Launch In 2028
Sony's announcement that it will stop releasing games on discs beginning in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) will have implications for the PlayStation 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-6-everything-we-know-about-sonys-next-generation-console/1100-6533561/), according to one industry expert. Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis said the decision to stop having PlayStation's first-party games, along with titles from third-parties, printed on discs, "pretty much guarantees that PS6 won't arrive until 2028 at the soonest." He said this in an interview with Game File(https://www.gamefile.news/p/sony-drops-playstation-discs-2028-ps3-vita-stores-closing), in which he also predicted that "the base version of a PS6 will not include a physical media drive." "Ampere’s current expectation is that the console will launch at the end of 2028," he said of the PS6 (via VGC(https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-6-2028-release/)). “Sony will be looking for all the ways it can reduce the cost of its next-gen console, and this is an easy win,” he added. “It’s possible that an add-on disc drive could be made available to play older PS4 and PS5 games on disc.” !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PS6081810.jpg?w=1024) No more discs for PlayStation games, starting in 2028. Sony's official announcement today about abandoning discs included no official details about the implications for the PS6. To be sure, Sony has not even officially announced the PS6 yet, and the system's timeline could be impacted by the AI-fueled RAMageddon situation(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps6-plans-reportedly-thrown-into-uncertainty-by-ai-hardware-demand/1100-6538201/). But why is Sony abandoning discs? Game sales at Sony and other major game companies have been trending toward digital for years already. Sony's latest sales data showed a record-breaking high figure for digital game sales(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-just-reported-a-new-record-breaking-high-figure-but-its-unsurprising/1100-6539856/). According to Harding-Rolls, Sony going all-digital--for both first- and third-party games--will help "streamline the business of games retail" and help mitigate margin pressures to help improve the overall health and stability of PlayStation. Printing discs and sharing revenue with physical retailers are costs that Sony and other companies bear. Going all digital "will help offset pressures on margins from other directions--development and staffing costs, for example," Harding-Rolls said. When the PS4 launched in 2013, the digital share of PlayStation games sold was estimated to be about 13%(https://x.com/PiersHR/status/2072289632138469875). In 2025, it was 80%, and that number is growing. Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad said(https://x.com/ZhugeEX/status/2072312852195549525) the announcement was "entirely a platform led decision that is designed to cut costs for Sony, eliminate resale / used markets, and drive 100% of revenue through the PlayStation Store." The writing had been on the wall for this announcement. Both Sony and Microsoft released versions of their flagship consoles in 2020 that did not include a disc drive, and Sony’s PS5 Pro doesn’t ship with one by default--it can still be added via a modular attachment. Nintendo, meanwhile, launched a new Game-Key Card system with the Switch 2 in 2025 that put a download code in a box. Some Switch 2 cartridges include the full game, but not Game-Key Card titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Resident Evil Village, among numerous others. Sony's explanation Sony's official word is that it's going all digital starting in 2028 in response to "shifting trends in consumer preference." "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs," it said. "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today. " GTA 6 also won't be on a disc Sony's announcement came not long after Rockstar Games and Take-Two announced that GTA 6 will not be available on a disc. People can buy the game physically, but they will get a code in the box, not a disc. Neither Rockstar nor Take-Two have offered an explanation or defense for this decision, but it's likely to do with the biggest reason of all: cutting costs to make more money(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-is-not-releasing-with-a-disc-and-that-just-makes-sense-in-2026/). Will Microsoft follow suit? Microsoft has its own fair share of problems with Xbox at the moment(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-could-cancel-marvels-blade-and-close-its-developer/), and many are wondering if Xbox will follow PlayStation and ditch disc-based games in the future. That remains to be seen, but it wouldn't be surprising. People still want and support disc-based games Many people still buy disc-based games and prefer physical media. The news about GTA 6 going all-digital and now Sony's decision to kill disc-based games is sure to be controversial, especially through the lens of game preservation. Sony is not killing off discs because players stopped buying them--they still do. Almost 70 million PlayStation discs were sold last year(https://x.com/ZhugeEX/status/2072310853051777502), but that number has dropped off dramatically. Sony's statement said the decision was about cutting costs and improving profit margins. Gaming is a business, after all, but that doesn't make the news any less difficult to stomach for those who prefer physical media. https://twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/2072310853051777502 "Inevitably there will be concerns from PlayStation gamers around various aspects of this announcement including choice, accessing older physical games on new consoles, the ability to collect physical games, and game preservation, however the purchasing trends of gamers are clear," Harding-Rolls added(https://x.com/PiersHR/status/2072289632138469875). "This is a watershed moment for the industry." Sony coupled the disc news with another painful announcement: it will close the PlayStation Stores for PS3 and PS Vita.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformSony is closing the PS3 and Vita digital stores
It's the end of an era for the PlayStation store on PS3 and PS Vita, with Sony now planning to shut down its digital distribution service on both consoles. The PlayStation store on PS3 will close in select markets later this year, including Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua starting in August, with "additional Latin American and &8230;