physical media Archives

Winsage

October 18, 2025

Optical drive demand surges amid Windows 10 retirement — Japanese users switching to Windows 11 are buying up Blu-ray drives | Tom’s Hardware

Microsoft has officially concluded support for Windows 10, leading to a surge in demand for Windows 11, particularly in Japan's Akihabara district. This increase in interest in Windows 11 has coincided with a revival in the popularity of optical drives, as consumers seek to retain access to their physical media collections. There is a notable scarcity of internal Blu-ray drives (BD-R) in the market due to this demand. A representative from Dospara Akihabara Main Shop noted that many consumers prefer internal drives for their writing speed, despite modern PC designs often not accommodating them.

AppWizard

September 2, 2025

Distributor Curveball moves into games publishing

Welsh distributor Curveball Leisure is launching a games publishing arm called Curveball Games, led by Ed Gregory as senior publishing manager. Located in Cardiff, Wales, Curveball Games will provide comprehensive publishing support, including funding for indie and mid-tier game developers. Gregory emphasizes the need for a fresh approach in the gaming industry, aiming to champion developers and nurture creativity. Andrew Nauton, COO of Curveball, notes the company's evolution over two decades and views the launch of Curveball Games as a natural progression to broaden their reach and enhance their brand.

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

7 in 10 German game purchases are now digital downloads

Digital downloads represent 70% of all video game purchases in the German market, according to a report from the German Games Industry Association (game) released on July 29. The share of digital downloads increased by 8% in 2024, rising from 60% to 68%, while physical media accounts for 32% of purchases. Nearly all PC games (99%) were acquired digitally in 2024, and digital purchases of console games increased from 40% in 2023 to 44% in 2024. Physical media still holds 56% of the console market. Individuals aged 20 to 29 purchase 77% of their games as downloads, while those aged 50 and above account for 47% of all physical purchases. The German games industry is facing a downturn, with a 4% decline in the number of game companies in 2025 and a 6% decrease in total sales revenue from 2023 to 2024. There was a 17% decrease in purchases across mobile, PC, and console games, and a 10% drop in hardware sales, although revenue from online gaming services increased by 12% since 2023.