Digital Shift Leaves Physical Game Shops as Final Stand for Ownership

Customers at Rampage Games in Phoenix are booking hotel rooms specifically to walk into the store and buy used video games. Ramiro, one of the shop’s owners, noted that some patrons stay at hotels closer to the location so they can visit the inventory.

The store is filled with used games from floor to ceiling. Alex, Ramiro’s business partner, explained that collectors want to hold the items and display them on shelves. They want the ability to play the game whenever they choose without relying on a connection.

One customer described the frustration of digital platforms. They said the app would not work or their payment card would not go through. The customer preferred to pay cash and take home a disc to end the transaction.

The industry is moving toward digital distribution. Jordan Minor of CNET stated that physical items have limited data capacity. He added that creating a cartridge capable of holding 100 gigs of data would be expensive for manufacturers.

Grand Theft Auto 6 will release exclusively in digital format. PlayStation plans to phase out all physical copies by January 2028. Xbox has introduced a feature that creates a digital version from discs a user already owns.

Chris Mawson, founder of Power Up Gaming, described the current market as a crossroads. He said buying a game now grants a license to play rather than permanent ownership. He noted that even physical discs act as license keys for the console to read.

Congressman Ritchie Torres of New York is proposing the Power to the Players Act. The bill would give consumers ownership of games instead of a license. It would also require online games to include an offline mode before support servers shut down. Torres has not yet introduced the plan.