Are Physical Cartridges Becoming a Thing of the Past?

Remember the thrill of cracking open a game case, flipping through a paper manual, and popping that shiny new cartridge into your console? Yeah… good times. But in 2025, those enjoyable things may be going the way of the dodo bird.

With studios increasingly choosing digital-only releases, and rumors swirling that Nintendo’s next-gen console might slim down its physical offerings, gamers are facing a big question: Are physical games officially on their last life?

The Physical vs. Digital Showdown

Physical games still have their die-hard fans—and for good reason:

1. You own what you buy (no risk of servers pulling the plug)
2. Resale value is real (and sometimes ridiculously lucrative)
3. Collectors get something tangible for their shelf-shrines

But digital has undeniable appeal:

1. Instant downloads (no lines, no shipping)
2. No clutter (Marie Kondo would approve)
3. Cloud saves, updates, and patches make managing your library smoother than ever

As storage expands and download speeds increase, digital keeps winning convenience points—especially with handhelds like the Steam Deck and Switch Lite.

If you’re a collector, now might be the time to start preserving your favorites—because tomorrow’s hits might only exist as download codes.
If you’re a budget-conscious buyer, resale options are vanishing. You can’t flip your digital copy of Tears of the Kingdom, no matter how gently you played it.
If you’re a casual gamer, you’ll probably just keep doing what you’re doing—but expect larger downloads and possibly pricier memory cards in your future.

Physical in Decline: The Signs Are Everywhere

Let’s face it: the signs aren’t subtle.

• Sony’s digital-only PS5 is a best-seller
• Alan Wake II, Hi-Fi Rush, and other major titles have launched with no physical editions
• The Nintendo eShop is now home to massive exclusives you can’t find in-store
• And if the Switch 2 really is ditching cartridges in favor of hybrid/digital models? That’s the biggest boss battle yet for Team Physical.

Meanwhile, brick-and-mortar stores like GameStop have become glorified Funko Pop warehouses, with actual game discs and cartridges feeling more like novelty items than necessities.

Like vinyl records and Blu-rays, physical games probably won’t completely vanish. But they are becoming a niche—cherished by enthusiasts, ignored by convenience-first players, and slowly phased out by publishers eager to cut production costs.

So whether you’re Team Cartridge or Team Cloud, one thing’s clear: the way we own and play games is changing. And fast.