The end of physical media & dedicated hardware: Inevitable?

[Dikdikvandik]

I'm lucky to have broadband, places in the south still have to rely on dial up or their phones for internet.

So yeah if we're the best....how is a digital future even possible?

[isiolia]

Well, figure, it’s anticipated that smartphone users will top 2.5 billion this year. Basically entirely digital platforms with a built in internet connection. Or, again, things like electricity aren’t available at every location on the planet. It doesn’t keep devices reliant on it from selling.
Plus, as mentioned, the more of a necessity broadband is seen as, the more of an investment will be made in building it out.

[MrPopo]

And some people will be left behind during the transition, if the cost savings of not doing physical releases (which includes things like dealing with production batch requirements and the logistics of getting it into retailers' hands) outweighs the money lost from people with shit internet.

[Gunstar Green]

It's also not going to just be a sudden transition. DVDs and blu-rays are still on the shelves even though their sales have tanked, there's still enough of a market to keep making them.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I am curious if different companies will pull different ways- Nintendo games can top the NPDs on physical alone, so I imagine they will stick with it for a while.

[Nintendork666]

I do feel blessed to have Wow! Internet available where I live.

$45 per month 100Mbps
$55 per month 200Mbps
$65 per month 500Mbps
$85 per month 1Gbps

No data caps.

So convenient and reliable. No flakey outages like I experienced w/ Xfinity or AT&T.

[Anapan]

Fiber optic is finally available in most places that are near military bases in Canada (yay, not across the pond and desolate). I'm so happy that I finally have no cap, and the best available, but I remember that being far from where I was even a couple of years ago. Still I don't think that physical media will abruptly end. The success of Amiibo, Disney Infinity and Skylanders even tho those have mostly tanked still alludes to a new physical analog being marketed and not dying right away.

[Gunstar Green]

I do feel blessed to have Wow! Internet available where I live.

$45 per month 100Mbps
$55 per month 200Mbps
$65 per month 500Mbps
$85 per month 1Gbps

No data caps.

So convenient and reliable. No flakey outages like I experienced w/ Xfinity or AT&T.

I'm absurdly jealous right now.

[marurun]

WoW really is the best.

[Nintendork666]

WoW really is the best.

I can't help but wonder if they're publicly traded. Maybe it's a smart time to invest.