Physical media is the best. Maybe it’s the fact that the internet has taken over our lives and is now swiftly being enshittified. Maybe it’s the nostalgia factor. Maybe it’s the fact that streaming offers reduced quality and no actual ownership. Maybe it’s the fun and the community that comes with collecting. Or, maybe it’s just nice to have a beautifully packaged product sitting on your shelf. Whatever it is, one thing’s for sure: Whether you’re into Blu-rays, vinyl records, VHS tapes, or a cartridge of your favorite ‘90s video game, physical media is just plain fun.
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The physical media market is at an interesting juncture right now. For years, intense but concentrated interest has consistently driven sales for a slew of boutique media labels that specialize in resurrecting old music and movies. At the same time, mass consumption of physical media has plummeted in recent decades and the opportunity to buy at big box stores is swiftly declining. Yet while the convenience of digital delivery has been enough for most consumers to ditch their physical players, a resurgent interest in physical products also appears to be in the works. So, is physical media doing well or not? It’s hard to say. One thing is certain: For the people who do appreciate a hard copy, there can be intense loyalty to a brand or a medium—enough to convince them to shell out exorbitant sums of cash. And remember if you own it on digital, you don’t really own it.
In that spirit, here are some of the coolest physical media releases we’ve seen lately, some of which are recent while others are coming soon.
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