The supply chain for disc drive components is collapsing as assembly lines move away from them, according to Windows Central's Jez Corden, who cited his own sources. This development gives Sony and Microsoft further incentive to go all-digital, as sales of physical games have been declining for years while more customers opt for digital purchases.
Disc drives becoming obsolete
The decline is not limited to video games, as movies and TV shows are increasingly consumed via streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime or through digital purchases. Some movies and shows do not even receive physical releases, specifically to encourage viewers to sign up for streaming services. Most laptops stopped having built-in disc drives years ago, requiring separate purchases.
Xbox's disc-to-digital scheme
Microsoft's new disc-to-digital scheme allows players to convert physical games into digital ones, which some see as a win over Sony. However, it also signals that Xbox will follow PlayStation's example and abandon physical games altogether. Xbox has avoided confirming whether Project Helix will include a disc drive, but given the difficulty of manufacturing disc drives and the cost savings of excluding one, the console is expected to be digital-only.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma told the BBC, 'I know players love physical media, and I know there’s a lot of benefits in digital media, and I want to make sure people have a choice.'
PlayStation's all-digital future
PlayStation fans face a different situation, as the PlayStation 6 is all but guaranteed to lack a disc drive, even if it is backwards compatible. Sony has not offered a similar disc-to-digital service. While a separate disc drive add-on has been suggested, the reported supply chain collapse could make such an add-on very expensive or lead Sony to skip it altogether. Given the expected high cost of the PlayStation 6, few may invest in both for the sole purpose of playing old games on newer hardware.
