Best Buy appears to be on the verge of bidding farewell to physical media, including DVDs, Blu-Ray, and 4K Ultra HD discs, for good.
According to The Digital Bits, the consumer electronics retailer is planning to exit the physical media business, with this transition potentially taking place as early as the first quarter of 2024. This move reflects the shifting landscape in which consumers are increasingly turning to streaming services with their vast content libraries and digital downloads, causing the relevance of physical media to diminish.
Notably, one of the major distributors of DVDs and Blu-Rays, Ingram Entertainment, has already announced its exit from the business. Additionally, Walmart is seeking to assume control of Studio Distribution Services (SDS), a company responsible for the distribution of physical media, as the industry undergoes significant changes. Disney, too, has ceased the sale of physical media in Australia.
Walmart remains a substantial source of physical media sales
Best Buy has been gradually phasing out DVDs from its brick-and-mortar stores. However, The Digital Bits report suggests that Best Buy is planning to discontinue the offering of physical media on its website as well, signaling a comprehensive departure from physical media.
The report further highlights that some studios have redirected their inventories of Blu-Ray and 4K Steelbook titles toward Amazon. Walmart remains a substantial source of physical media sales, suggesting that physical media may not disappear entirely in the near future. While Disney ceased physical media sales in Australia, it recently released Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD discs for Disney+ originals like “Loki” and “The Mandalorian.”
It is worth noting that while this report indicates a potential shift by Best Buy away from physical media, the retailer has not officially commented on the matter. Therefore, it’s advisable to await an official confirmation. Nevertheless, this news has already sparked frustration among some video game enthusiasts.
Is Best Buy Done With Blu-ray/DVD? | Physical Media is Changing
Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo may have incentives to transition away from physical media
The forecast of the decline of physical media has been circulating for several years. The rise of streaming services has significantly impacted the sales of DVDs, Blu-Rays, and 4K discs, and digital releases have encroached on physical game sales. This trend has been amplified by companies like Sony and Microsoft, which have introduced all-digital versions of their gaming consoles. However, there remains a substantial number of individuals, particularly gamers, who continue to favor physical media. Digital releases have certain advantages, but they also come with drawbacks, such as the inability to resell a digital game or access it when digital storefronts go offline.
Companies like Limited Run Games and Super Rare Games have fought against the growing digital trend by offering limited print physical releases for games that might not otherwise receive them. These initiatives have found success among gamers, with some of these limited releases gaining significant value in the secondary market. While companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo may have incentives to transition away from physical media, many gamers have reasons to resist an all-digital future.
