Ubisoft, the gaming giant, has recently chimed in on the ongoing debate about the future of physical media in gaming, by stating physical sales of games will likely decrease with time.

This news comes in the wake of recent moves made by Microsoft and Sony, hinting at a future dominated by digital gaming platforms.

Microsoft's leaked plans to introduce a digital-only version for a mid-generation refresh of their Xbox Series X and S stirred up the conversation. Sony also contributed to this discourse with their announcement of a revamped PlayStation 5 miniaturized model, which includes a detachable disc-drive.

Adding fuel to this digital transition, Ubisoft has secured the cloud gaming rights for all Activision Blizzard games, thanks to Microsoft's huge $69 billion acquisition of the Call of Duty creator. In a recent blog post featuring an interview with Chris Early, Ubisoft's SVP of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, he discussed his predictions for physical game media's future.

According to Chris Early, a market will always exist for collector's editions, and some gamers will prefer to own physical discs. Despite expecting a decrease in physical sales over time, he believes they will never completely disappear.

While Early's response sparks little hope for fans of physical games, it implies that discs will gradually become a niche product for collectors as the era of digital gaming continues to rise.

Major analysts reacting to Sony's PS5 slim announcement believe this shift toward digital platforms is set to speed up. Analysts like Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners and Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere hypothesize that the rise of digital sales through console-specific storefronts could significantly boost profits for companies like Sony.

The debate on the future of physical media in gaming is far from over, but the current climate does point to a more digitally-focused gaming future.