The bright promise of streaming and digital stores has given way to a darker reality: we rarely have ownership over the art we love, and much is getting lost in the process. Only a fraction of movies released over the last century are available on streaming services, while a staggering 90 percent of classic video games are considered “critically endangered” by archivists. As these platforms continue to dominate the media landscape, a whole lot of cultural history is being abandoned.
Physical media week
Exploring the importance of discs and cartridges in an increasingly digital age.
Cath Virginia / The Verge | Photos by Amelia Holowaty Krales and Getty Images
In this special issue, The Verge will explore how physical media factors into this and its importance in keeping art alive and accessible. That could mean boutique publishers releasing beautiful special editions of games and movies, foundations dedicated to preserving the physical history of video games, or musicians releasing their latest albums on floppy discs. We’ll also be looking at some cautionary tales in the shift to subscription services and offering tips on building bookshelf-worthy collections.
Cartridges and discs have been hurtling toward obsolescence — but it turns out, they may be more important than ever.
All you need are NFC stickers, a reader, a MiSTer, and a lot of patience to add a physical touch to ROMs.
Christopher Grant
Floppy disks are facing extinction, but musicians are still pumping out DIY music projects.
Alexis Ong
The Video Game History Foundation is turning its expansive collection into something you can browse from home.
Ash Parrish
With Christopher Nolan praising the benefits of 4K Blu-ray, is now the time to revisit physical media?
Jon Porter
The nerd haven isn’t what it once was, but its importance is arguably greater than ever.
Sam Byford
Physical media might seem like it’s on its deathbed, but the anime DVD and Blu-ray industry couldn’t be more alive.
Charles Pulliam-Moore
In countries like Argentina, where physical games are exorbitantly expensive, services like Game Pass present a more affordable — but flawed — alternative.
Diego Nicolás Argüello
CEO Josh Fairhurst believes that people will still care about physical media, even if the future looks bleak.
Jay Peters
After spending too much time and money on streaming services, DVDs have officially reentered my life.
Emma Roth
All you need are NFC stickers, a reader, a MiSTer, and a lot of patience to add a physical touch to ROMs.
Christopher Grant
Floppy disks are facing extinction, but musicians are still pumping out DIY music projects.
Alexis Ong
The Video Game History Foundation is turning its expansive collection into something you can browse from home.
Ash Parrish
With Christopher Nolan praising the benefits of 4K Blu-ray, is now the time to revisit physical media?
Jon Porter
The nerd haven isn’t what it once was, but its importance is arguably greater than ever.
Sam Byford
Physical media might seem like it’s on its deathbed, but the anime DVD and Blu-ray industry couldn’t be more alive.
Charles Pulliam-Moore
In countries like Argentina, where physical games are exorbitantly expensive, services like Game Pass present a more affordable — but flawed — alternative.
Diego Nicolás Argüello
CEO Josh Fairhurst believes that people will still care about physical media, even if the future looks bleak.
Jay Peters
After spending too much time and money on streaming services, DVDs have officially reentered my life.
Emma Roth