Physical Video Game Discs Face Growing Download Requirements

A recent analysis by preservation group DoesItPlay examined thousands of boxed video games to determine how often they rely on additional downloads. The study found that roughly 94% of tested titles can be played offline, but 13% require significant online content such as multiplayer modes, campaign data or patches. About 14% have minor or conditional download needs, while 73% work without any extra download. An extreme case is the PlayStation 5 edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, where the disc contains only a small fraction of the game and large downloads are needed for core modes.

A consumer guide highlights that, despite the shift toward digital purchases, physical games still offer economic benefits. Physical copies can be resold, traded or lent, allowing players to recoup part of the purchase price—something not possible with most digital licences tied to a user account. Physical editions also avoid large upfront download sizes, which can be advantageous where internet bandwidth is limited. However, buyers must consider whether a title will require post‑purchase downloads, as this can affect the convenience and offline accessibility of the disc.