Target will soon stop selling DVDs in stores, but games will remain

The future of physical media suffered another blow as Target confirmed previously reported plans to discontinue offerings physical DVDs in-store and transitioning to only offering a select number of films at brick-and-mortar locations during certain, limited times. However, the retail giant said games will not be affected by this change for now.

Over the past two years, there have been increasing signs that the era of physical media may be coming to an end. In 2023 Alan Wake II became one of the first AAA games Skip a physical release, and it can only be purchased digitally. In 2024, Microsoft confirmed this Senua’s Saga: Hellbade II would also forego a physical release. We learned it at the beginning of the year too that Best Buy is ending support for physical media in its stores and online. When I checked the retailer’s website today, I couldn’t find any films for sale. (Physical video games are still available.) Even in 2024 Disney is closed his long-time DVD/Bluray film club. So if you like buying and owning movies and games, you might be nervous. And there’s more bad news here.

On April 18th IGN reported A Target spokesperson told the outlet that the retailer is moving “the limited selection of DVDs” currently available in some stores to its website and is now encouraging customers to purchase physical media online.

DVDs will be Sometimes be available at Target

However, physical movies and TV shows could come back to stores during the holidays if Target says people are more likely to buy a DVD.

“Based on our guests’ shopping habits and broader industry trends, we are transitioning the limited DVD selection we carry in our stores to Target.com, where guests will continue to find thousands of titles,” the spokesperson said IGN. “Going forward, we will offer select DVDs in stores when they are newly released or at key times of the year when they are more popular, such as holiday gift giving.”

IGN It was announced that this new shift to physical media does not apply to video games that continue to be sold in stores.

While that sounds like good news, the reality is this: If Target is willing to remove DVDs from its stores, it may one day decide to remove physical games as well. And if enough retailers do that, publishers might become less interested in spending money on printing physical media. This could lead us to a future where most major games are only offered digitally. That wouldn’t be so bad if Digital shop windows have not been closed And Old games were not routinely deleted from publishers after deciding they were no longer profitable. We’re entering a new era and it’s scary, folks. Keep a tight grip on your PS2 and Xbox 360 games.

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