The Era of Physical Game Discs Is Ending
After decades of accumulating physical games, the industry is moving toward a digital future—Sony plans to end PlayStation disc production, and Microsoft continues digitizing games.
In the latest episode of The Vergecast, the hosts discuss the impending end of physical game discs. For decades, gamers were accustomed to collecting consoles, controllers, and game discs, but now Sony is planning to halt production of PlayStation discs, while Microsoft is pushing forward with its digital game strategy. These changes are partly driven by business logic—companies are desperately seeking anything that makes financial sense—but they may fundamentally change how games are bought, shared, and consumed. Plus, it's just less fun.
Beyond gaming, the hosts also cover other tech news, including OpenAI's upcoming gadget launch and rumors about the iPhone 18 Pro. They examine the state of the iPhone lineup and whether anyone will actually replace the keyboard anytime soon. Finally, in the lightning round, topics include the Hype Desk, Brendan Carr, breaking SpaceX phone news, and the strangest BMW headlights you've ever seen.
Earlier this week, The Verge also launched a vibe coding challenge, checked in on the future of InfoWars, and explained why the R2 matters so much to Rivian. Listeners are encouraged to share their thoughts by calling the Vergecast hotline or sending an email.
