Key information
Published on October 2, 2026, Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, discussed the future of physical media in an interview with RadioTimesGaming. Hamaguchi stated that the physical format will likely continue to exist for a long time, though potentially in a different form consisting of boxes containing only a download code.
This topic gains further relevance given upcoming distribution changes prepared by PlayStation starting in January 2028. Hamaguchi noted that consoles could follow a path similar to the PC market where digital sales have dominated for years, with physical boxes surviving without actual discs.
Hamaguchi shared that he personally grew up buying physical games and still prefers physical editions for titles holding special meaning, noting that the physical object allows for signed copies from industry colleagues. He also expressed understanding for players supporting the No Disc No Buy movement, acknowledging that the physical disc remains an important part of the traditional buying experience.
Comparing this shift to the music industry where vinyl found a strong place in collecting alongside streaming, Hamaguchi suggests physical game packaging may become increasingly symbolic rather than functional. High-profile releases could further test public acceptance of box-only code distribution.
