One of the largest concerns for Xbox’s future is the apparent diminishing support for physical content. It does not support its case when leaked documents reveal a new flagship console not equipped with a disc drive or any form of media reader. However, the evidence further points to this fate after retailers are starting to abandon Xbox as well. In Wal-Mart locations, the retailer is pulling select games from its shelves already.
Additionally, Best Buy is facing a similar approach as well. But, the brick & mortar retailer is applying this to all forms of media in-store; not exclusively to Xbox. But what paints a bad picture is the internal restructuring at Microsoft. According to Windows Central Gaming’s Jez Corden, he told the division responsible for its physical releases was shuttered amid the recent mass layoff wave at the company.
But with the announcement for Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded going multiplatform, things are reshaping for physical games. In that, both Pentiment & Hi-Fi Rush are planned to face physical support for respected platforms. This comes from announcements by Limited Run Games that will be responsible for production.
Step into an illustrated world where Europe is at a crossroads of great religious and political change…
— Limited Run Games (@LimitedRunGames) February 21, 2024
Limited Run is proud to announce that the physical edition of Pentiment will be available to pre-order tomorrow on Xbox, Switch & PS5. Wishlist now: https://t.co/jaJhXzAGde pic.twitter.com/UNI35spg4q
We're feeling the beat! Limited Run will have more news to share about the physical edition soon! Tune in! 🎸 https://t.co/cyClxp2vEs
— Limited Run Games (@LimitedRunGames) February 21, 2024
Starting tomorrow, February 22nd, pre-orders for Pentiment for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch will go live until March 24th. However, Hi-Fi Rush although establishing a physical release is coming did not disclose when fans can pre-purchase or expect when the game will release on that behalf.
In an email asking on the state of Limited Run Games with Xbox Game Studios, an email to Rectify Gaming says: “We have made several physical Xbox games and will continue to do so. If we make an Xbox physical it’s dependent on demand as the physical Xbox tends to sell less than all other platforms. We plan to continue support as long as there’s viable demand.”
Noted, there are new releases on the horizon that are also without physical support. Already, Grounded is one nearing example. Not to mention the previous GhostWire Tokyo. And, the May-scheduled Hellblade II: Senau’s Saga is to arrive with no physical version either. It could be in the hands of third-party companies to handle Xbox releases moving forward if the demand is there.
What are you most interested about physical releases for Pentiment or Hi-Fi Rush?