Over the past few weeks, few topics have sparked as much passionate debate across the gaming community as the industry’s aggressive push toward an all-digital future.
When PlayStation surprisingly announced that it plans to sunset physical disc production entirely by 2028, it sent shockwaves through the industry, reigniting fierce discussions about digital ownership, game preservation, and physical collecting. The decision has sparked reactions from all corners of the community – including the creative minds behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sandfall Interactive‘s 2025 Game of the Year winner and the most awarded title in history.
The Loss of Tangible Art and Ownership
In a recent interview for AUTOMATON, key members of the Expedition 33 development team sat down to reflect on PlayStation’s drastic shift and share how their own love for physical media shaped their decision to release boxed copies of their record-breaking RPG last year.
For creative director Guillaume Broche, for instance, Sony’s decision to phase out physical discs hits at something deeper than just supply chain logistics, but it actually strikes at the artistic soul of the medium.
“Personally, I find it super sad because I really like video game stores,” Broche shared during the talk. “Even if…
