Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:31:15 -0700WeeblySat, 04 Jul 2026 17:31:12 GMThttp://www.stephaniekatoauthor.com/blog/the-end-of-physical-gamesHello, my fellow gamers. I have some unfortunate news and most of you probably know about it already. PlayStation is discontinuing physical games in January of 2028. It might not be a big deal for many players because the majority purchase their games digitally. The announcement was sad for a collector like me, but bigger problems are inevitable. I genuinely believe many issues will follow the demise of physical media. 

Ownership Goes Away
After physical discs aren’t on the market, it means you won’t own games anymore. You only have a license to play them. What could possibly go wrong? PlayStation could remove your games after you buy them. They already removed a ton of movies on PlayStation systems. It could happen to games someday. If you don’t own games, PlayStation could change the landscape. For example, they might lease consoles and games. You might not own the PlayStation 6. It might have a monthly payment for the entire duration you have the console, like $50 or more each month. They could also implement a subscription plan for playing your games. You pay $70 to download a game and another $20 to play the games on the console each month. I hope that’s not the plan, but nothing is stopping PlayStation from implementing something like this. Furthermore, you can’t buy games as a gift for anyone, share games with friends, or resell them. 

Price Gouging
Everybody complains about the $70 standard. That won’t last. The standard could shift between $80 and $100. What if you can’t afford that type of price? Too bad. PlayStation will gladly leave you behind because the market has plenty of rich people who can afford it. Basically, gaming will only be accessible to high income people and streamers who receive their game codes for free. I’m sorry, but people voted with their wallets. The public chose digital media as the more popular option. You’ll find out how expensive it could become. 

Say Goodbye to Video Game Preservation
This part makes me feel sad. PlayStation could eliminate classic franchises in the blink of an eye. I don’t know if preservation on a historical level matters to PlayStation. Theoretically, they could delete everything from the earlier PlayStation generations, including the beloved PS4 franchises at some point. More likely, they’ll gradually eliminate less relevant games and franchises in the future, so the company can focus on whatever sells the best right now. It’s just another way for PlayStation to have ultimate control. They want to determine what types of games you play and enjoy. Player choice goes out the window. 

A Decline in Indie and AA Games
For a while, smaller developers were more popular than ever. Games like Expedition 33, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cult of the Lamb, Balatro, Power Wash Simulator, and Little Kitty Big City have gigantic followings. That type of competition is a threat to the PlayStation economy and eliminating physical media is a great way to make sure power stays in their favor. Physical media was just another way to make indie and AA games more visible to the public. The inevitable price gouging will eliminate the audience for smaller games. Independent studios will close down. These issues go beyond PlayStation. Xbox is no better. They sold Undead Labs and Ninew Theory. Compulsion Games and Double Fine went independent because it was better than closing down. Arkane’s fate is still up in the air. Basically, Xbox sold or severed ties with studios that made smaller games in favor of the AAA market. Even though AAA games were proven to be unsustainable, it seems like PlayStation and Xbox are focusing their time and money on these projects. So, it’s just a toxic situation in the entire video game industry. 

A Full Blown Monopoly
What happens when PlayStation has ultimate control in the gaming industry? I don’t even want to think about it. In the near future, PlayStation can make what they want, charge what they want, censor what they want, take away what they want, etc. This circles back to the price gauging problem. How expensive could the PlayStation 6 become? I’ll bet the base level PS6 will be at least $1,000. That’s only the beginning. You’ll probably have to buy all the components separately, such as a controller, SSD storage space, cables, and whatnot. I’m sure the next console generation won’t have disc drives. It’s hard to say if they’ll allow gamers to purchase a disc drives separately. I’m sure it won’t be cheap if they have the option. Additionally, there could be a fee to convert your physical games to digital. Be prepared to spend $2,500 for the PlayStation 6 just to run the system. It means a lot of people won’t have the money to buy it. Again, PlayStation won’t care because the one percenters will keep them in business. 

Sorry if this post is all doom and gloom, but it doesn’t look like the immediate future of gaming is very good. I think the tides will shift for the better when PlayStation gets into serous financial trouble and tries to please their fanbases again, but that won’t happen for several years. It’s going to be a very pricy, frustrating, and ugly ride for the next 4 to 6 years. On that note, please enjoy the rest of your Summer break. I am planning to review Spider-Noir in the near future. The outlining and drafting continues for my horror anthology as well. It’s a packed Summer. Party safely, have fun, and I’ll see you again next week. ]]>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:15:42 GMThttp://www.stephaniekatoauthor.com/blog/bite-size-update-for-july-2026Good morning! I’m going to keep this post short today. This year, Independence Day is actually on a Saturday. Awesome! I have a 3 day weekend and it’s the perfect opportunity to accomplish more writing. Right now, I have a basic draft of 5 stories and I’m planning 10 in the first volume. I’m restructuring some parts of my collection, so changes are underway. It’s a good thing. Now that I’ve written half of the stories in Volume I, it’s giving me some clarity about the thematic material, structure, genre choice, “monster of the week,” and more. The writing process can be complex. 

A 3 day weekend also means I can enjoy some festivities for the Independence Day holiday. Good times! 

Later this month, I will probably give you some writing updates. I also have more games and streaming shows to review. Fear not because plenty of content is on the horizon. On a more dower note, I’m disappointed because PlayStation is going to stop releasing physical games in 2028. That definitely sounds like another post in the near future. 

Let’s move away from the volatile gaming market and end with positivity. I hope all of you enjoy the Independence Day weekend. Have fun with your barbecues, parties, trips, and anything else you planned. Be safe and I’ll see you again for the next post. ]]>