Remember when you bought a DVD or a game disc, and it was yours to keep forever? You didn’t need to worry about whether the content would suddenly disappear from your collection, or if the company could erase it. That’s the kind of ownership we used to enjoy. But fast forward to today, and that security has been replaced by a constant battle with digital rights and licensing agreements.
In recent years, companies like Sony and LG have stopped supporting physical formats. Sony phased out recordable Blu-ray discs in 2021, and by 2022, LG stopped making Blu-ray players. The PS5 Pro even ditched the disc drive entirely. These changes mark a stark shift in how we consume media, especially when compared to the old days of owning a physical copy that never went out of style.
While physical media may be on the decline, streaming services and digital stores have stepped in to fill the gap. But there’s a catch: with streaming services, you’re not actually buying content. Instead, you're paying for access—essentially a license to view or play media as long as it’s available.
Take Sony's decision in 2023 to remove Discovery-owned TV shows from PlayStation libraries, or Steam’s terms that remind users they’re buying a license, not the game itself. It’s a harsh reality for those who thought they were purchasing content to keep.
While digital platforms like Amazon, Disney+, and Microsoft are convenient, they also limit your control over your content. Your library is only as permanent as the terms of service and can be revoked or altered at any time. This is in stark contrast to the days of owning a DVD or a physical game disc, which was yours to keep, share, and resell at will.
If you’re still holding onto your old DVDs and game discs, you’re in a good position. Not only do you have physical proof of your ownership, but these items are likely to remain usable long after digital platforms have changed or removed your content. The bottom line is clear: physical media offered something that digital content can never match—true ownership.
