The Case for Physical Media Ownership

Source: https://dervis.de/physical/

Digital Purchases Often Mean Licensed Access

- drm A digital "purchase" is often a revocable license, not ownership of a file. [[1]](https://www.globallawtoday.com/law/case-law/2025/08/you-dont-really-own-that-movie-you-bought-class-action-challenges-amazons-digital-licensing/)

- drm A Blu-ray, cartridge, or printed book can be kept, lent, sold, archived, and used offline.

- removal If a store shuts down or loses rights, a digital purchase can disappear from an account.

- drm Digital libraries depend on the store, account, and terms staying available.

- drm In **2013**, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One would require 24-hour online check-ins and would block used game sales. The backlash prompted Microsoft to reverse every restriction before launch. [[1]](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jun/19/xbox-one-drm-second-hand-restrictions-abandoned)

- drm In **2018**, a US appeals court ruled that ReDigi could not resell "used" iTunes tracks under the first-sale doctrine. Digital resale is not treated like physical resale. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca2/16-2321/16-2321-2018-12-12.html)

- drm Amazon has faced lawsuits over Prime Video's "Buy" button, with plaintiffs arguing that customers were buying revocable licenses rather than owned copies. [[1]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/prime-video-lawsuit-movie-license-ownership-1236353127/)[[2]](https://tushnet.com/2024/03/21/another-buy-button-lawsuit-over-digital-licenses-continues/)[[3]](https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/amazon-class-action-lawsuit-and-settlement-news/judge-dismisses-amazon-class-action-lawsuit-over-video-ownership/)

- pricing Physical media can be resold or traded. Digital licenses are usually locked to one account.

- drm A disc, book, or record needs no account login, password, or updated Terms of Service.

Content Can Be Removed

- removal Between **2023 and 2025**, Disney+ removed dozens of originals. In **2023**, Disney took a **$1.5 billion** impairment charge after removing over 50 titles from Disney+ and Hulu. [[1]](https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/disney-1-5-billion-content-write-off-charge-streaming-1235631877/)[[2]](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/disney-plus/its-less-than-2-of-our-total-titles-disney-responds-to-fan-ire-over-axing-of-highly-rated-disney-plus-shows-and-movies-including-a-small-light-and-togo)

- removal Warner Bros. Discovery removed **87 titles** from HBO Max in **2022 and 2023**, including finished films and animated series. [[1]](https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/removed-hbo-max-movies-shows-warner-bros-discovery-merger-list/)

- removal In **2023**, Sony planned to remove **1,318 seasons** of purchased Discovery content from PlayStation libraries, then reversed the decision after criticism. [[1]](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psvideocontent/)[[2]](https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/12/playstation-is-erasing-1318-seasons-of-discovery-shows-from-customer-libraries/)

- removal In **June 2026**, Sony told UK PlayStation users that purchased Studio Canal titles would leave their video libraries on **September 1, 2026**, with no refunds announced. [[1]](https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2026/06/26/purchased-studio-canal-content-removed-playstation-library/)

- removal Konami removed the _P.T._ demo from the PlayStation Store in **2015**. Later, even users who had downloaded it could not reinstall it. [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/2015/5/5/8557807/pt-silent-hills-demo-pulled/)

- removal _Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game_ disappeared from Xbox and PlayStation stores in **December 2014** when a license expired. Players campaigned for years before a remastered edition arrived in **2021**. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/20181224210908/https://hardcoregamer.com/2014/12/30/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-the-game-delisted-from-xbox-live-and-psn/126681/)[[2]](https://screenrant.com/scott-pilgrim-world-video-game-release-date-delisted/)

- removal Activision's _Deadpool_ game was delisted in **December 2013** when its Marvel license expired, returned in **July 2015** alongside the film, and was delisted again in **November 2017** when the license expired a second time. [[1]](https://www.siliconera.com/deadpool-being-delisted-again/)

- removal When Telltale Games collapsed in **2018**, many of its titles were removed from sale. Some were later restored, while others remain unavailable because of licensing issues. [[1]](https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/telltale-games-liquidation-1203029187/)

- removal In **October 2021**, Rockstar removed the original PC versions of _GTA III_, _Vice City_, and _San Andreas_ ahead of the remaster. They later returned only through Rockstar's own launcher. [[1]](https://delistedgames.com/new-grand-theft-auto-trilogy-announced-existing-versions-to-be-delisted-starting-next-week/)

- removal On **June 23, 2023**, Paramount+ canceled and removed _Star Trek: Prodigy_. Netflix later picked up the series, but Paramount+ subscribers lost access to the original streaming home and their viewing history. [[1]](https://trekmovie.com/2023/06/23/breaking-star-trek-prodigy-has-been-canceled/)[[2]](https://www.slashfilm.com/1323531/why-star-trek-prodigy-was-canceled/)

- removal Amazon Prime Video has removed purchased films and TV shows from user libraries when licensing agreements expired, including for customers who received purchase confirmation emails. The "Buy" button on Prime Video refers to a revocable license tied to rights agreements. [[1]](https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/amazon-prime-customers-sue-say-purchased-movies-can-disappear/)

- removal In **December 2023**, Apple removed movie and TV purchases from the iTunes Store app on iPhone and iPad, moving sales into other Apple apps. [[1]](https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/11/ios-17-2-itunes-store-tv-movie-removed/)

- removal Digital stores often delist original releases when remasters launch. _Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition_ was removed from Steam when the _Remastered_ version launched in **2018**. Players who preferred the original's multiplayer or mod compatibility had to buy the new version or locate a physical copy. [[1]](https://www.siliconera.com/dark-souls-prepare-die-edition-delisted-ahead-dark-souls-remastereds-launch/)

- removal In **January 2024**, _Spec Ops: The Line_ disappeared from digital stores after licensing agreements expired. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/story/spec-ops-the-line-disappeared-cultural-touchstone-gone)

- removal pricing _Forza Horizon 4_ was delisted from the Microsoft Store and Steam on **December 15, 2024** because of partner licensing agreements. [[1]](https://forza.net/news/forza-horizon-4-delisting)

- removal Netflix has removed over **250** titles marketed as Originals, including shows that had been available for years. [[1]](https://www.slashfilm.com/1631796/every-netflix-original-series-no-longer-on-netflix/)

- removal censorship In **September 2024**, a SESAC licensing dispute temporarily blocked many songs and music videos on YouTube and YouTube Music in the US. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/24257157/youtube-sesac-music-licensing-streaming)

- removal Epic Games notified customers that _Dark and Darker_ would be removed from their Epic Games Store libraries on **November 1, 2025**. As of that date, the platform no longer launched the game for affected users. [[1]](https://www.howtogeek.com/epic-games-removes-dark-and-darker-from-libraries/)

Digital Stores Can Shut Down

- removal servers Microsoft shut down its ebook store in **July 2019**, removing purchased ebooks from users' libraries and issuing refunds. In **2025**, Microsoft stopped selling movies and TV shows through its store, though previously purchased content remained accessible. [[1]](https://www.npr.org/2019/07/07/739316746/microsoft-closes-the-book-on-its-e-library-erasing-all-user-content)

- removal servers Google Play Music shut down in **December 2020** and was replaced by YouTube Music. Not all user libraries survived the transition intact. [[1]](https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/11/google-cuts-back-on-its-free-storage-get-ready-to-pay-up/)

- removal servers Nintendo closed the 3DS and Wii U eShop for new purchases on **March 27, 2023**. Around **1,000 digital-only games** can no longer be bought there. [[1]](https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847)

- removal servers Microsoft closed the Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace on **July 29, 2024**, ending new purchases of Xbox 360 games, DLC, TV shows, and movies from that store. [[1]](https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/)

- removal servers pricing Sony says new PlayStation games will be digital-only from **January 2028**. Without discs, buyers lose used sales, lending, trade-ins, and clearance-bin competition, giving Sony and publishers more pricing control. It also plans to close PS3 stores in select markets from **2026** and PS3/PS Vita stores globally in **July 2027**. [[1]](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/)[[2]](https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-on-playstation-store-for-ps3-and-ps-vita/)

- removal servers The Wii Shop Channel shut down on **January 30, 2019**, ending new access to hundreds of WiiWare and Virtual Console titles. [[1]](https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27560/)

- removal servers Google Stadia shut down in **January 2023**, just over three years after launch. The cloud-only games stopped working, though Google issued refunds. [[1]](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/stadia/message-on-stadia-streaming-strategy/)

- removal servers In **2024**, Redbox's streaming apps stopped working after its parent company's bankruptcy moved to Chapter 7 liquidation. Customers were locked out of purchased movies and TV shows. [[1]](https://cordcuttersnews.com/redbox-officially-shuts-down-its-roku-app-locking-customers-out-of-their-movies-tv-shows/)

- removal servers Amazon ended Android support for the Amazon Appstore on **August 20, 2025** and discontinued Amazon Coins. Apps from the store were no longer guaranteed to work on Android devices. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/news/616646/amazon-appstore-ending-android-support)

- removal servers Ultraviolet, a cloud movie locker, shut down on **July 31, 2019**. Users had a limited window to move libraries to Movies Anywhere. [[1]](https://www.macrumors.com/2019/01/31/ultraviolet-will-close/)

- removal servers In **April 2024**, Sony shut down Funimation. Digital copies bundled with Blu-rays did not carry over to Crunchyroll. [[1]](https://arstechnica.com/culture/2024/02/funimation-dvds-included-forever-available-digital-copies-forever-ends-april-2/)

- drm removal Microsoft shut down PlaysForSure DRM authorization servers in **2008** and the Zune marketplace in **2015**, leaving some DRM-locked purchases hard or impossible to authenticate. [[1]](https://www.pcworld.com/article/424406/microsoft-turns-off-the-lights-on-zune-services.html)

- removal When a digital service shuts down, consumers generally receive an announcement and a deadline. Bankruptcy or shutdown processes rarely preserve access to digital purchases.

Subscriptions Can Become More Expensive

- pricing Netflix has raised prices repeatedly. Its Standard plan went from **$9.99** in 2015 to **$15.49** in **January 2022**. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/14/22884263/netflix-price-increases-2021-us-canada-all-plans-hd-4k)

- pricing A household subscribing to several streaming services can exceed **$80 per month**. [[1]](https://www.dailymail.com/yourmoney/consumer/article-12916481/streaming-services-price-cost-month-netflix-hulu.html)

- pricing Adobe's Creative Cloud All Apps plan launched at **$49.99** per month in **2012**. In **June 2025**, Adobe moved subscribers to a **$69.99** "Creative Cloud Pro" tier unless they changed plans. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/2012/5/11/3013636/adobe-creative-cloud-launch-priced-49-99-per-month)[[2]](https://blog.livingstone-tech.com/en/knowledge/adobes-creative-cloud-price-hike-what-you-need-to-know)

- pricing A subscription requires ongoing payment. A disc has no recurring access fee after purchase.

- pricing Streaming services can end grandfathered prices. Discs have no plan tier after purchase.

- removal pricing Streaming content can be removed because of licensing or service-policy changes, and subscribers typically receive no refund or backup copy.

Streaming and Disc Quality Differ

- quality Netflix "4K" streams typically use **15 to 30 Mbps**. A 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray can use **50 to 128 Mbps**, carrying more picture data. [[1]](https://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#legend-7)

- quality Lossy compression can cause banding, macroblocking, and smeared detail. Blu-ray encodes usually allocate more data to the image. [[1]](https://codecs.multimedia.cx/)

- quality Streaming audio is commonly compressed as Dolby Digital Plus or AAC. A Blu-ray can carry lossless Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, or uncompressed PCM. On capable equipment, that can produce an audible difference. [[1]](https://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#legend-7)

- quality Streaming quality can fluctuate with internet connection, router congestion, and network management. A physical disc plays at a fixed local bitrate, with no buffering or adaptive resolution changes.

- quality censorship Streaming encoders may alter film grain to save bandwidth. A Blu-ray preserves the grain and texture of that specific release. [[1]](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/netflix-explains-how-its-quietly-upgraded-the-image-quality-of-your-favorite-movies-and-tv-shows-and-its-all-about-film-grain)

Alteration and Remote Deletion

- censorship removal In **July 2009**, Amazon remotely removed purchased copies of George Orwell's _1984_ and _Animal Farm_ from Kindles and issued refunds. [[1]](https://www.npr.org/2009/07/24/106989048/amazons-1984-deletion-from-kindle-examined)

- censorship Digital releases can be edited after launch. Disney+ versions of the original _Star Wars_ trilogy include later changes, not the original theatrical cuts. [[1]](https://www.gamesradar.com/star-wars-disney-plus-changes-greedo/)

- censorship removal _GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition_ omitted licensed tracks and removed features. Rockstar had already delisted the originals. [[1]](https://delistedgames.com/new-grand-theft-auto-trilogy-announced-existing-versions-to-be-delisted-starting-next-week/)

- censorship In **2023**, Puffin released edited Roald Dahl books. Older physical copies still preserve the previous text. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/feb/20/roald-dahl-books-rewrites-criticism-language-altered)

- censorship Physical media preserves the version pressed at the time. A Blu-ray pressed in **2015** still has the same cut, color, and audio mix in 2035. It is not changed by later remote updates.

- censorship drm Digital platforms can restrict access by region or device type. A disc can be used in a compatible player without requiring an internet connection, account login, or acceptance of updated terms.

Cloud Storage Depends on Providers

- drm censorship A Google account ban can lock users out of Gmail, Drive, Photos, YouTube, Play Store purchases, and documents at once. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/16/24090357/google-account-bans-lock-users-out-of-drive-photos-youtube)

- pricing servers Google Photos ended its unlimited compressed-photo storage in **June 2021**. New uploads now count against the shared Google account storage cap. [[1]](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/photos/4-things-know-about-google-photos-storage-policy-change/)

- censorship Cloud providers can scan files and suspend accounts. In **2022**, Google locked a father's account after medical photos were flagged, and later refused to restore it after police cleared him. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html)

- censorship removal In **2020**, Twitch DMCA notices pushed many creators to delete years of clips and VODs to avoid account strikes. [[1]](https://kotaku.com/after-massive-dmca-takedown-twitch-streamers-are-delet-1843954430)

- servers Dropbox exposed **68 million** account credentials in a **2012** breach and did not disclose the full scale until **2016**. [[1]](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37232635)

- censorship removal The same principle applies to creator platforms. Twitch, YouTube, and similar services can remove or demonetize content based on automated claims, algorithmic flags, or rights holder requests, sometimes before creators have a meaningful opportunity to respond.

- drm censorship Cloud storage terms allow providers to scan files, remove content, and terminate accounts for policy violations. [[1]](https://policies.google.com/terms)

- removal servers Adobe discontinued Creative Cloud Synced Files, ending cloud sync and removing cloud-stored copies while leaving local files intact. [[1]](https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/eol-creative-cloud-synced-files.html)

- pricing External hard drives, NAS systems, and Blu-ray backups have no monthly fee and do not scan files or change access terms. They can still be affected by hardware failure, theft, or user error, but they are not tied to provider account status.

- removal servers In **December 2023**, Google began deleting inactive accounts and their Gmail, Drive, Photos, and YouTube contents after two years of inactivity. [[1]](https://apnews.com/article/google-deletes-inactive-accounts-save-data-edfc98aa9db0607e78c826f4e3918637)

- drm Netflix tracks viewing behavior, including pauses, rewinds, device use, and watch time. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/20250604143707/https://help.netflix.com/en/node/100628)

- drm Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and similar services collect gameplay and account data that can shape recommendations and advertising profiles. [[1]](https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/account-profile/manage-account/targeted-ads)[[2]](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/privacy-security-safety/)

- drm Streaming services have faced lawsuits over sharing viewing data. Offline Blu-ray playback creates no viewing record with a streaming provider. [[1]](https://www.reuters.com/world/netflix-sued-by-texas-allegedly-spying-consumers-2026-05-11/)

- removal servers Cloud data remains available only while the provider, account, and policy allow it.

Books and Music Face Similar Risks

- removal In 2019, Myspace lost about **50 million songs** uploaded between 2003 and 2015 during a server migration. [[1]](https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/03/19/1229/myspace-has-lost-all-the-music-uploaded-during-its-first-12-years/)

- removal In **May 2023**, Spotify removed tens of thousands of Boomy-generated tracks over suspected artificial streaming. [[1]](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/05/09/spotify-removes-tens-of-thousands-of-ai-generated-songs-heres-why/)

- removal In **March 2021**, Spotify removed music from Kakao Entertainment during a licensing dispute. Listeners lost access to affected artists until the companies reached a new agreement days later. [[1]](https://www.nme.com/news/music/spotify-kakao-k-pop-licensing-dispute-agreement-2898099)

- removal In **January 2022**, Neil Young removed his catalog from Spotify. It returned in **2024**. [[1]](https://www.npr.org/2022/01/26/1075904939/neil-young-spotify-joe-rogan)

- removal In **2025**, artists including King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Hotline TNT removed catalogs from Spotify and other streaming platforms. [[1]](https://pitchfork.com/news/king-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-leave-spotify/)

- drm Library ebooks through OverDrive and Libby use DRM and expire automatically at the end of the loan period. [[1]](https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/0854.html)[[2]](https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/0694.html)

- pricing When Apple Music launched in **2015**, Taylor Swift refused to put her album _1989_ on the service because Apple wasn't paying artists during the free trial. Apple reversed the policy the following day. [[1]](https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33220189)

- pricing Streaming pays artists by platform rules. A direct album sale, physical or DRM-free, gives the artist clearer revenue and gives the buyer a copy to keep. [[1]](https://artists.spotify.com/royalties-guide)[[2]](https://orphiq.com/resources/bandcamp-vs-spotify-payouts)

- drm removal Yahoo closed its music store and DRM licensing servers in **2008**. Purchased songs could keep playing on already-authorized devices, but could not be authorized on new computers after the shutdown. [[1]](https://www.wired.com/2008/07/yahoo-to-reimbu/)

- drm Audible locks purchases to Amazon's app with proprietary DRM. [[1]](https://www.audible.de/legal/conditions-of-use)

- quality drm A CD, vinyl record, or printed book does not require server authentication. DRM-free downloads are easier to back up than most store purchases.

Game Preservation Is Uneven

- removal A 2023 study found that **87% of games released in the US before 2010** are no longer for sale through normal channels. [[1]](https://gamehistory.org/87percent/)

- removal servers When _City of Heroes_ shut down in **2012**, players lost access to characters and a persistent world they had used for years. [[1]](https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a403184/city-of-heroes-closed-down-by-ncsoft/)

- servers EA's _Darkspore_ became unplayable in **2016** when its always-online servers were shut down. Owners of the physical disc were unable to launch the game. [[1]](https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/darkspore-servers-shut-down)

- censorship In **2024**, Nintendo sued the Yuzu emulator team and the project shut down. Citra, a 3DS emulator by the same developers, went offline too. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/4/24090357/nintendo-yuzu-emulator-lawsuit-settlement)

- drm The DMCA restricts bypassing DRM for preservation. In **2024**, the U.S. Copyright Office rejected a broader game-preservation exemption. [[1]](https://gamehistory.org/episode-128-dmca-2024-copyright-ruling/)

- removal The Flashpoint Archive has collected over 150,000 Flash apps to preserve them after Adobe's shutdown. The Internet Archive emulates thousands of retro games. [[1]](https://flashpointarchive.org/)

- removal Limited Run Games, Special Reserve Games, and Strictly Limited make physical cartridges and discs for games that were first released digitally. [[1]](https://limitedrungames.com/)

- censorship Nintendo won a **$2.4 million** Yuzu settlement in **2024** and a **$2.1 million** RomUniverse judgment in **2021**. [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/24090351/nintendo-2-4-million-yuzu-switch-emulator-settlement-lawsuit/)

- removal In **March 2025**, Nintendo confirmed that _Super Formation Soccer_ would leave the Nintendo Switch Online retro library. [[1]](https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendo-confirms-switch-online-retro-game-removal-in-us-and-europe/)

- removal In **1983**, Atari disposed of about **728,000** unsold cartridges in a New Mexico landfill, a symbol of how physical game history can also be lost. [[1]](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1983-atari-buried-et-cartridges-landfill-180951870/)

- drm removal The Internet Archive preserves many out-of-print works, but video game preservation still faces DRM and copyright barriers. [[1]](https://archive.org/about/)

- removal Some games that were never commercially released survive only in fragments: forum discussions, magazine screenshots, and the recollections of those who encountered them. Each functional physical copy preserves a piece of gaming history that might otherwise become inaccessible.

Server Shutdowns Can End Access

- removal servers In **March 2024**, Ubisoft shut down _The Crew_ servers and removed access from libraries, including for disc owners. [[1]](https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-reportedly-revoking-the-crew-from-owners-libraries-following-server-shutdown)

- servers _SimCity_ launched in **2013** with mandatory online access. Server failures made even single-player unavailable until EA later added offline mode. [[1]](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/clogged-streets-simcity-launch-plagued-by-server-problems/)

- servers By **2021**, _Titanfall_ had become largely unplayable online because of unpatched server attacks. [[1]](https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/dec/09/game-on-titanfall-is-removed-from-storefronts-afte/)

- removal servers _Guitar Hero Live_'s streaming "Guitar Hero TV" mode shut down on **December 1, 2018**, removing its main song library. [[1]](https://support.activision.com/articles/guitar-hero-live-ghtv-sunset/)

- removal servers Microsoft delisted _Forza Motorsport 7_ from the Xbox Store on **September 15, 2021**. _Forza Horizon 1_ and _2_ had their online servers shut down on **August 22, 2023**. [[1]](https://forza.net/news/forza-horizon-online-services-closure)

- servers In **January 2022**, Microsoft ended online services for Xbox 360 _Halo_ games: _Halo 3_, _Halo Reach_, and _Halo 4_, ending long-running multiplayer services for those releases. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://support.halowaypoint.com/hc/en-us/articles/360054131591-Xbox-360-Only-Online-Services-Were-Reduced-or-Disabled-for-Halo-360-Games-on-January-13-2022)

- removal servers Sony Online Entertainment shut down _Star Wars Galaxies_ on **December 15, 2011**, ending years of player homes, characters, and progress. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/24/star-wars-galaxies-shutting-down)

- removal servers Sony shut down _PlayStation Home_ in **2015**, _MAG_ in **2014**, and _LittleBigPlanet_ servers across **2021-2024**. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/01/playstation-home-shuts-down-for-good)

- removal servers _Battleborn_ shut down in **2021**. _Knockout City_ shut down in **2023**. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/25/battleborn-servers-shutdown-shut-down-gearbox-2k-date-2021-2020)

- removal servers Amazon's _Crucible_ shut down five months after launch. Epic shut down _Paragon_ and removed it from all platforms. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.ign.com/articles/amazons-crucible-is-shutting-down-in-november-2020)

- servers On **May 20, 2014**, Nintendo shut down Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, ending online play for many DS and Wii games. [[1]](https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/6026/~/service-discontinuation%3A-nintendo-wi-fi-connection-service)

- servers EA routinely ends online services for annual sports games. When servers close, online modes and Ultimate Team purchases stop working. [[1]](https://www.ea.com/news/fifa-14-will-leave-ea-access-on-october-18)

- removal servers PlayStation launched _Concord_ in **August 2024**, then removed it from sale and shut down its servers about two weeks later. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.ign.com/articles/concords-initial-development-deal-was-200-million-but-it-wound-up-costing-sony-much-more-report)

- removal servers _Anthem_ servers were discontinued on **January 12, 2026**. Because the game required online access, discs and digital purchases became unplayable. [[1]](https://www.ea.com/news/anthem-game-update)

- removal pricing Microtransactions live on publisher servers. When a service ends, skins, battle passes, and in-game currency can vanish with it. [[1]](https://www.mashable.com/article/marvel-heroes-shut-down-disney)

- drm servers Some physical discs are only license keys. _Anthem_ and _The Crew_ still needed server access to function. [[1]](https://www.digitalcitizen.life/anthem-server-shutdown-unplayable/)

- servers _Diablo III_ required online access for solo play at launch in **2012**, and server failures kept many players out. [[1]](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/05/17/blizzard-apologizes-for-diablo-3-launch-debacle/)

- pricing servers Live-service games often sell temporary seasons, passes, and currencies that depend on ongoing servers.

- removal servers Electronic Arts listed online service shutdowns for **23 games** in **2025**, with more scheduled for **2026**. [[1]](https://gamingpromax.com/ea-games-shut-down-2025-complete-list/)

Steam Still Uses Licensed Access

- drm Steam has useful features, but its Subscriber Agreement still says users buy licenses, not ownership of the content itself. [[1]](https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement)

- drm VAC bans and account bans can restrict access. Steam libraries still depend on account status and enforcement decisions. [[1]](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/647C-5CC1-7EA9-3C29)

- removal censorship In **December 2014**, Valve removed _Hatred_ from Steam Greenlight, citing its extreme violence as the reason it would not be published. Following public criticism, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell issued a personal apology to the developers and restored the game to the platform. [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/2014/12/16/7406713/hatred-returns-to-steam-greenlight-valve/)

- censorship Valve has removed or threatened adult games over sexual content, including _House Party_ in **2017** and several anime-style games in **2018**. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/05/19/valve-threatens-popular-erotic-games-on-steam-with-take-down-warnings-unless-adult-content-is-censored)

- censorship In **December 2020**, Valve blocked adult games in Germany after a regulator complained. In **2025**, after pressure from banks and payment processors, Valve removed over 100 mature-rated games from Steam. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-pulls-adult-only-games-from-steam-as-it-tightens-rules-to-appease-payment-partners)

- censorship In **2021**, Chinese users reported access issues with Steam's international site. Valve also operates a separate Steam China store with a limited catalog. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2025/https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2021/12/25/steam-store-blocked-banned-china-firewall/)

- drm Publishers can revoke Steam product keys, removing games from user libraries when keys are treated as invalid or unauthorized. [[1]](https://techraptor.net/gaming/guides/steamwatch-steam-key-revoking-system-is-problem)

- censorship Since **2021**, Valve has banned all games incorporating blockchain technology or NFTs from Steam. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/15/22728425/valve-steam-blockchain-nft-crypto-ban-games-age-of-rust)

- censorship drm Steam region and activation rules can limit keys or purchases after a country change. Digital libraries carry conditions that many physical copies do not. [[1]](https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement)[[2]](https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/58D3-B80D-2943-3CC6)

Art, Culture, and Preservation

- removal When Disney removes a film as part of a write-off or cost-reduction strategy, the work can become unavailable to the public. [[1]](https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/19/23729642/disney-plus-hulu-remove-pull-shows-willow-streaming-bob-iger)[[2]](https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/28/media/hbo-max-questions/)

- removal The Library of Congress, National Film Registry, and university archives still preserve cultural works on physical film and disc. [[1]](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/about-this-program/)

- removal When a streaming service removes a film, game, or album, access is not the only loss. Context is also diminished. Future historians, critics, and filmmakers have fewer opportunities to study and build upon that work.

- quality Physical media can include liner notes, commentary, artwork, essays, and packaging that document the work's context.

- removal Each preserved disc, cartridge, and book helps future generations experience the work as it was originally released.

Collecting and Tangible Value

- quality Physical media is a designed object: boxes, covers, steelbooks, sleeves, and printed inserts matter.

- pricing Vinyl sales have grown for years. In **2022**, vinyl outsold CDs in the US for the first time since **1987**. [[1]](https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022-Year-End-Music-Industry-Revenue-Report.pdf)

- pricing Some sealed games have sold for high auction prices, including _Super Mario 64_ for **$1.56 million** in **2021**. [[1]](https://intelligentcollector.com/super-mario-64-record-1560000/)[[2]](https://www.polygon.com/2014/2/5/5380924/nintendo-world-championships-cartridge-sells-for-100k-on-ebay/)

- drm A physical collection can document personal taste and history. A streaming queue is maintained inside a platform account and recommendation system.

- quality Physical media changes how a work is encountered. Cases, sleeves, liner notes, and printed materials are part of the experience.

- quality Box sets and special editions can include essays, restoration notes, interviews, and archival material.

- pricing Record Store Day, held since **2008**, shows how physical collecting still supports independent shops and collectors. [[1]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/record-store-day-sees-banner-181072/)

- pricing Video game grading and auctions expanded in the 2010s, adding structure to the physical game market. [[1]](https://web.archive.org/web/2024/https://www.watagames.com/)

- quality Flea markets, record fairs, used bookstores, and game swaps create discovery outside recommendation algorithms.

Summary

- Streaming services provide access while terms and licenses remain in place. Physical media provides a separately held copy.

- Physical media can be given away, inherited, resold, or found decades later. A digital license can disappear with an account or store.

- These examples represent documented cases, not an exhaustive record. Similar incidents continue to occur.

- Ownership is clearest when the copy remains under the buyer's control.