DoesItPlay Finds 27% of Physical Games Require Downloads

Research from the game preservation group DoesItPlay reveals that 27% of 3,511 tested physical console games require internet downloads to fix game-breaking bugs or provide core content. The findings highlight a growing dependency on digital patches, with 34% of PlayStation 5 discs and 50% of Xbox Series X releases not fully playable as intended without a download.

Clemens Itsel, head admin of DoesItPlay, claims that companies are deliberately undermining the value of physical media by treating releases as licensing rather than true ownership. This research emerges as Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to end physical game production by 2028. Additionally, reports indicate that Microsoft is testing a disc-to-digital service, further shifting the industry away from standalone physical media.