Huh, this is great news for me. I have been staying out of the game stores for a while now cause everything has been too expensive. Maybe it’s time for me to venture back in.
I'm glad you addressed this. It feels like a normal market correction to me. If you're in for the long run, you can't adjust your behavior too much when buying or selling to keep up with trends. Just stay the course!
^ same here. I'm 30 and my lil' sister's husband who is like 25-26 asked me why I still bouht physical games for my switch. I told him... because nintendo games tend to hold their value unlike xbox / playstation games.
Game collecting has hit its peak already. What we are going to see in the coming years is more people getting rid of their collections has the new generations of gamers aren't going to be interested as much with physical media. We are going to see smaller pockets of collectors. Those collectors are then going to be paying cheaper prices as demand is going to trend down. I just don't see a bright future for the numerous retro gaming stores. I hope I am wrong.
Ian from the CU Podcast said that if prices fall gradually then game stores can probably survive and adjust if they're careful, but if it was a rapid fall they're screwed. Either way I just hope the prices fall. If the stores fail, new ones will presumably rise from the ashes.
It's over mate. Let it die. I sold off my game collection in 2020 at the hype of prices. I put that money into new experiences now. Honestly, it wouldn't be a bad thing if collectors downsized & sold off their collections because then atleast the people who want it won't have to sell a kidney to afford it. There is only so much time on earth and we aren't immortal. You can't experience everything anyways.
We went into our local GameStop on Friday to see if they had any copies of Grand Blue fantasy relink and of course they didn't. They only get the amount they need for pre-orders and no more and when I told her that was very disappointing. She said unless it's a AAA title, they no longer send us extra because they sent on the shelf and we have to send them back. This is really concerning to me. Now I'm left to try to figure out where to get the game and if I'll even be able to get it. I don't want a digitally. There's just no value in a digital game, period
Woah! That’s wild! Definitely insane to think about. Especially with things going forward. But that’s what I’ve been hearing and seeing around here too!
I dont think this is the case. The problem with gsmestop is they lie. Theubare told to push used software and also theu are cracking down on the employees to sell equipment protection. They lie and tell you they have no copies and you had to ore order it because theu don't want the new game and no equipment protection to affect thier sales stats. I have caught gsmestop lying to me many times ofnthe exact same thing. They have vwrybstrict sales targets and employees get dinged for no equipment protection and new/used gsme sales ratios.
@@dsidebotham honestly that wouldn't surprise me either and it's something I thought about as well. Next time I'm just going to flat out ask them and see if they flinch.
I have been seeing this in my surrounding communities as well. As for my small town I live in we just have a Walmart and they are not getting any new releases in at all. Appears in my town physical games are dying and are not even on life support. Gaming aisles have been reduced, even including shelf real estate for digital download cards, this is never a good sign. I am reduced to driving 30 minutes away to just hit up a GameStop where I find no new inventory or even retro games. When asked about retro games they inform me that all retro games that are traded in get sent to their Mall Of America store and this is a common practice that all stores do. Get the games locally and then send them off to a better store. This is a tell tale sign of smaller located GameStops are not adapting to the changing market and will soon close.
There are gamestops and best buys that just have fucking nothing on the shelf or just the most bare bones stuff with no used games, which is like one of the big draws of gamestop. Some locations have plenty of games though, it's very inconsistent.
Collecting wouldnt be dying if these "vendors" werent all jusy ebay scalpers. Mf's are buying up bulk lots and charging a hundred dollars for a game they got for 12. Like we dont know how they got it. Not to mention get off your ass and be of service. Guys are at these conventions always shoving food in their faces and sitting there. I see anyone doing that Im not even looking at your table.
Really insightful stuff, as a 90s kid - this is so sad man ... I love collecting physical media (really started to pick up towards late 2017, almost feel like it's getting too late) // yep the shift is noticeable here in NZ as well - most gamers & collectors are now reverting to game emulations / even modding some of their consoles - also I guess to ensure longevity but yea - this is a sad reality! ;(
Yea I know for myself I modded my OG Xbox. I'm still trying to buy my games and use DVD2XBOX but some of the games are getting harder and harder to find. I did the same for my PS vita, PS3, and my 3DS.
Most of the best deals I get are online , unfortunately a lot of mom and pop shop while I appreciate them their prices are usually higher or on eBay lvl prices .
I never understood why any game stores allow people to trade in cheap or junk games/shovelware to use as trade in credit towards their good selling games. Its a bad business model. If i owned a gamestore I would only accept specific things.
I went into a gamestore that had thousands of games but when I looked through them, and this is not and exaggeration, it seemed that maybe 1/4th of the entire store was sports games no one wanted. I saw rows and rows of Madden taking up almost an entire shelf.
@@joeyisabsb1 exactly and then places wonder why they go out of business…when you accept junk that doesn’t sell and then let customers use that towards trade to good sellers or even give them cash you will not last long as a business
The market will always fluctuate. Yes there was a boom and it's calming down, doesn't necessarily mean collecting is in trouble or anything. Next gen stuff going all digital, yeah that sucks. It's coming but as far as current gen and prior, collecting will always be a thing. If anything, I think the interest on certain generations will shift as you and I get older and younger people start getting more into collecting. I have a ton of nostalgia for the NES, I was born in 91. Someone half my age (so like 16) though might be remembering the Wii by now and be nostalgic for that. As for game stores shutting down, yes that would suck but if they cannot adapt to the market then..welp. Sorry. It is what it is. This should have been expected. I for one am all for prices on stuff plummeting a bit because some games that are absolutely *NOT* rare/uncommon are laughable when it comes to their price right now.
Yes it’s definitely insane to see! I’m just curious where things will end up. Definitely will see a shift into which systems are “desirable” depending on who grew up with the system.
The problem with digital is that the games are not yours and eventually the digital stores will close when the consoles gets older, is this continue i will move to pc there no point on having only digital console
I seen this coming a long time ago... Been into emulation since 1996, and I saw that this and digital were going to be the future. Ugh, and when we actually get into the inevitable digital future, physical games prices are going to skyrocket.
@@rbgamingnetwork1 Yup, plus there is a new demand for emulator handhelds. Playing roms on handhelds that are powerful enough to play PS2 and Gsmecube titles.
If you take say the Uk where food has typically gone up by at least 30-35%, gas and electric the same not to mention pretty much everything else has gone up sharply, people simply haven’t got the cash to spend on luxury items as much. Factor in the scalpers driving up the cost of collecting and the cheap pi5 and android boxes full of thousands of retro games, it’s not surprising the computer shops selling these physical games are struggling. It’s a shame as online downloading game services could start fixing prices higher when physical media is not readily available in the shops anymore.
Video games aren't in trouble, the whole world is in trouble.... Everyone is broke and just don't have the luxury of extra spending anymore. This is seen/felt across all hobbies and stores..... When and if the economy ever recovers, then you'll see these beloved flames rekindled.
Acouple of my local stores are no longer taking trade ins but also raising the prices above market value and when asked why the answer i have been given is "physical media is dying so it will all go up" the future of collecting scares me
I don’t think video game collecting will die off but it’s certainly going to keep changing. And unfortunately if you are into the latest and greatest modern releases you will be stuck with digital only. I personally feel like this may be my last console generation for that reason. The good news is there are lots of older games on older consoles. 🤙🏻
What you experience now is what movie collector experience since 2 - 3 years. EXTREMELY limited availability in stores, price go really up for a single edition movie, price as double, triple since Covid 19. I live in Montreal, Canada and ALL stores have only few movies in 4K or not at all. At least in U.S., the consumer have plenty of stores and website to chop. Here, the stores are empty and the only remaining website to buy my movies is Amazon Canada or else, I must import from Amazon U.S. or boutiques around the globe which cost the double of the same movie I would buy in a local store. This is VERY sad.
Store credit literally double the store money. They bought it from someone for cheap, then also “sells” it to you for your store credit but it’s all their own money lol
The retro game market had a perfect storm with the covid situation. Everyone stuck at home, lots of people thinking about the good times and what used to make them happy and now had time to play games again. The demand for retro games just went insane. Next people were out of work or looking for extra cash and now everyone is an online resaler. Next up limited print game companies got into action and now you can order from over seas like play asia easier than ever. Then finally we have to chip shortage and the gap between last gen and current gen consoles is just not that great; ps4 games are still being made and people are talking about the ps6 already lol. Normally beyond sports titles and just dance usually last generation not supported much over a year. I think the digital age is here to stay but the physical market will always stay strong. People will always want to own their stuff and eventually they will get sick of companies pulling away stuff whenever they please or a license runs out. I would have never thought people would want records, vhs, and cassette tapes but people are loving them. Right now most walmarts have more vinyl records than video games on shelves. It will really be who can withstand the lulls business wise. Also during covid lots of people were getting in fluxed with stimulus money and most of that's gone now, there was a lot of spending and people not so much worried about bills. And I can not forget social media which I think will always carry the collector's market to an extant. So I think it will go through a lull and come back out the other side more stable. And as long as Nintendo seems willing to stay in physical I think things will be fine also. What I really think is troubling right now is brick and mortar game stores. I think gamestop could come out like kings if they can survive being gamestop. They have potential to be the controlling retail chain that does retro games, I kind of look at CEX in the UK, seems like the model they should adopt. The mom and pop shops are in trouble cause of two things imo, its so easy for the average person to sell to mass people now, and the other is the over head. One of the local towns I live near has 3 retro game stores and they all function differently. One is friendly with a decent stock and ok selection but their prices are in with price charting and ebay which is perfect imo. Next shop has awesome selection but prices are usually 50% higher on ebay on average and I am not rich by any means I have no issues going to ebay to save over $50 to $100 or something. Next place you only go into when its black friday or something cause they look up everything on ebay and usually they over shoot that price by alot. Personally i support then friendly one with good prices every chance I get. These days game stores have to remember like a friend of mine that owns a landscaping business said to me is basically anyone with a lawn mower is his competition. So you either do it cheaper or deliver a far superior product. So to cap off my rambling. Game collecting will go no where. It will go through some changes but will still ultimately be the same. And I like knowing the value of things and I am just excited as anyone to see all my 360 shoot up in value right now but game collecting, or any kind of collecting should be a passion. If you doing it as an investment you probably will end up disappointed in the long run.
Great video! I believe in supporting mom/pop video games stores first. Game conventions will probably be the main way to collect in the future. Also, what I'm about to say may be unpopular, but if GameStop goes completely under, then it will be an even sadder day for us collectors. You can still find great deals at major retailers, but Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are getting emptier by the day.....
Totally agree! I love supporting stores and gaming conventions. They definitely help this community of us! Sad to see these stores clearing out bins and shelves. I hope GameStop sticks around. I couldn’t imagine a world without it even with all of the hate that it gets.
I'm conflicted on this trend of digital and people having to mark down their games cheap to get rid of them. I'm a collector, and have been for a while with over 1500 games physically on my shelf. I'm happy that the prices are dropping back down so I can add some of those more expensive games into my collection finally. HOWEVER, I really, really hate this all digital future that we're seeing. I'll continue supporting these video games as long as they keep releasing them physically but once they go full digital, I probably won't get too many of them (except for maybe some of the first party Nintendo titles that I've grown up with would probably be it) so I hope that these companies continue to release physical copies for a while. While digital and emulation is easy and convenient, there is something special about finding that rare NES game you've been looking for for months, or pulling a game off the shelf, look at the box art or case art for a minute before popping the cartridge or disc in the console, holding that unique controller made specifically for that console.
It’s scary times for sure. Glad to see you discussing this, I hate seeing stores vanish and it scares me to know we are losing physical media in the future. Great video and conversation!
I think, whether we like it or not, we're heading to an all digital future. It won't be today, or tomorrow, but it will happen. I don't like the idea, but that just seems to be where we're going. And I will say, gaming conventions are going to become much more important to collectors and I'd be willing to bet those holding conventions will see a big boom over the next few years since you can usually find the more unique items and potentially get good deals depending on the vendor.
I agree! Definitely how the future is looking. I’m super thankful that we have conventions all over though and glad we can have this community along side us!
I just fear that all the money I put in my games that are on discs, are gone in like 10 years or less as the disc gets destroyed by time. Discs do not hold that long. So, reselling when you have to in one or two decades, might not be happening.
Anything that's bad for the collecting market is, I'm guessing very good for the people more concerned with actually playing games than amassing huge collections of them.
83% of console games sold in 2023 were digital GameStop will close a distribution center and 500 stores later this year PlayStation stopped manufacturing optical discs in US like 3 years ago, because of the decline in sales, (PS4/PS5 games are made in Austria) Xbox is phasing out physical game releases, that will really hurt the mexican pressing plant, it's the last big plant in America, and the only one capable to manufacture UHD Blu-Rays (or 4K Blu-Rays) It's inevitable, consumers spoke with their wallets, but it's scary, many people thought this will happen in the next 10 years, it's happening right now.
I always wondered why there were barely any PS5 games for sale in physical stores, even before pushing the initiative for digital-only. Every new release was just PS4
I have that same shirt as a matter of fact I have two and in Ohio where I am for some reason you can't find anything on clearance but they are giving less when you sale for cash thanks for the info ahmer
It's the same problem that affected coins in the 80s and comics and sports cards in the 90s. You got too many speculative investors and money launderers jacking prices up that is screwing over normal people from getting into the hobby. People who bought in early and sell are lucky if they want to make a profit and don't care about owning a physical collection. People who FOMO because of fear mongering from e-celebs get stuck holding a bag and then the bubble bursts and people try to liquid their stuff before it loses value. The market is honestly overdue for a correction. I have a copy of Pokémon Emerald with a damaged label and I don't see how it's worth $150 when the game was mass produced to the tune of millions of copies nearly 20 years ago. It's not a rare game it's all a speculative investing driving this bs.
It’s crazy but you are correct. I mostly collect Nintendo switch and 3ds games. Full games on cartridges is a thing of the past. But emulation is going to be king of the mountain for some time
I’ve seen the same to a point in my area but I think it will be the fall of major retailers and scalpers having a market and the rise of more mom and pop shops growing in the long term the smaller developer making physical games for older systems even . As for prices we all agree it’s been inflated like many things today so it is time for prices to come back down to pre pandemic prices at the least. Collectors will continue to collect and hopefully for cheaper. For those who buy and sell they will always find a way to make it work.
Very true! I’m definitely hoping things can be a little more reasonable to collect for price wise. I’m always looking for those deals though! And definitely some great points.
At times it feels like the market is dead, other times like this week i bought 12 games, mostly wii and ps4. Here in the Netherlands it pays to check the local market place (website) frequently to get deals. For me even if physical game selling would come to a halt it would not be that big a problem. I sure would mis the hunt but i build a collection of almost 4900 games so i am good. It sad for the next generation to.
I have gone fully digital. While yes, it is possible that they could just turn off my games, however these game companies can't go into my ROM collection I've acquired for well over 2 decades and just delete them so I'm safe there. I do think that this is a market correction. There are too many resellers buying up all of the good games leaving actual gamers frustrated and not wanting to buy their expensive overpriced games. Consequences of actions and all that
we are so heading for another video game crash. The market is saturated in low quality games just like before. Many a time I get my pay cheque, try to go on a network store and buy a game but I can't find it, mixed in with all the garbage. I end up not spending anything and turning it off.
Great video very true information. times are changing and I don't think the new all digital age is a really a good solution just wipes out collecting and owning anything 😕
Great video! Very true. I have been seeing alot of clearance lately at walmart. I dont think collecting is dead or dying off, it's just the larger department chain stores and their overhead. Doesnt make a ton of sense to carry alot of this stuff because so many have gone digital. As big as the gaming community is to us, we are a minority. I dont think it will affect collectors because i think its not as often that collectors go to department stores to buy anyway.
That’s very true! Definitely some great points. Just crazy to see where things will end up. Only time will tell. And exactly! Some clearance is great prices and other clearance is barely even a deal. Just depends on the Walmart.
A disc does not even really equal a physical release anymore. Modern AAA games even if you get a disc are not really on the disc (there are some assets on the disc yes, but the games are so large they really are glorified installers). So in that sense many modern AAA games are really not physical. If your system crashes and the game is no longer stored on servers then the physical disc is worthless. I don't play a lot of AAA games, but I don't know if I would buy one physical AAA today - instead I'd much rather for those huge AAA's I am probably only going to play through once anyway, have access through gamepass or some such option.
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but prices of old video games are inflated. It's heading to normal rate. People are heading back to work. No one should be at home waiting for the government to help. Video game is like every other entertainment, it's for fun. It's an option and not guaranteed as income. When 9/11 hit, most tourist attractions spots get a hit. This is what great for being human. We adjust and adapt. Whoever is left behind better put on hiking shoe to adjust to the new era. I love getting physical games too but it's mainly act as a backup in case the internet doesn't work. So far, my internet has shut down twice in 1 month. And so, I went back to play my ps2 games.
Definitely some great points. Hoping the future of new games doesn’t completely turn to digital. Hoping the newer generation can appreciate where we came from in the gaming industry! Just the whole debate on not really owning your games if they are digital only. When a server goes down and they take them away then that’s all she wrote!
Great video i have nearly 500 Xbox 360 games and it's all i play. With the cost of living being so high monies tight right now. So collecting has been put on hold , some titles i want are heavy hitters and their out of my financial league. But the community of collectors is helping me stay positive.
It's not in trouble in your lifetime for the stuff you collect not in the bubble. It was just a short term bubble for unrealistic spiked prices. People who bought at the highs just like the coin bubble in the 80's lost money, period. It's normal and was manufactured by the same people who started the coin bubble back then. Herritage auctions. They will try it with vinyl records eventually too. It's what they do cycling through whats hot in the moment stuff.
The game store I work at here locally in Michigan is doing great business is booming we just recently our 3rd location and we’re always taking trade ins(even games we have multiple of the same titles) for cash and or store credit customers choice. Odd…
In my area there's only 1 shop that sells retro games are the games are in sealed bags so you don't even know what your buying has anything missing or can check the condition of game disc or cartridge I don't like it so I don't buy from them anymore
Yeah in upstate NY they stopped the cash thing 4 years ago no bullshit,my son loves game stop, I also heard you won't be able to buy physical Media soon just buying the game from there the app stores
@@GamerAhmer I appreciate your collection and how you go about collecting. I don't know what these kids are going to physically collect when they get to our age?
I don't think collecting and physical media is dead but there's a transition in the works that will affect it Companies will slowly emphasize digital media in their selling strategy as they see it more advantageous to lower the rate of theft in stores plus they know more people would rather shop online in the name of convenience I personally think if these companies could digitize every product they sell in their corporate stores they would The ideology of what being a consumer is changing rapidly no matter what niche you are in and I personally think it's a ploy to take ownership away from people and give people the illusion that they do Collectors may soon have to sell off their prized collections if they want to salvage any profitable investment but it all depends on what your intention on collecting is
Exactly! Some great points here. I’m curious to see how companies will do all of this. Only time will tell. And I’m hoping it doesn’t completely stop and only become digital.
Well I can see it going either way. Modern physical games are on their way out for sure. I feel like we are headed for another video game crash, but on a brighter note this could be beneficial for the indie scene and other small developers, and perhaps for the true honest collectors who just want these games to preserve history and to play, but I do get the concern for the smaller local retro shops. As far as I know the ones near me aren’t having this issue but I live in a city with a very large population of gamers. Time will tell
Inflation is insane in America right now no thanks to both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Businesses closing for an entire year during COVID didn't make anything better.
Looks like the days of modern gaming are nearing an end for me. I refuse to buy games digitally. One of my biggest regrets was going digital with my music in the early 2000's. I got rid of all my CD's. I saw how draconian Apple was with my music. It's part of the reason I started collecting physical media.
I think this will be a conversation for a long time. I think physical will still go on, just not at the level we are used to. And if his "license rental" starts to become more of a thing, peoole are going to want physical games of at least their favorites im sure.
This is exactly what I needed.. everything just piled up over the years collecting dust making my place look like a Walmart. Time to get rid of it all... I only use game pass now.
It will come back like vinyl. You are one of the people that already knows this that’s what the collecting is for. I collect for all the personal games I couldn’t get as a kid cause are parents couldn’t afford em like most of are parents.
Physical video games will never go away. There's something special about ripping the plastic off and holding the game in your hand and inserting the game and playing it whenever. Other physical collectibles like trading cards and Funko pops will never go away ,either.Many people like holding, touching and smelling the collectibles that you can't do with digital ones.
I think the boom is over and prices are starting to correct to the true market value. Everyone was thinking the prices would only go up and never level off or go down. That is not the way this kind of market works. Historically there is a 15 year price increase Nostalgia wave that makes game values jump and then fall a little, but the lockdowns put gaming into a price spike that was very abnormal. The stores and companies that overinvested in the inflated prices thinking the trend would continue are going to hurt for a while, some may not recover, but there will be a slight dip in the gaming market because games became too expensive for your average gamer. The product became too expensive for the customer. As for an all Digital future... nope I will not be on board for that unless the laws change.
Exactly! It’s crazy to think about this all digital future but I’m sure only time will tell with it all. Just always curious what others think about it. And yes! I’m curious on how they will implement digital and what laws will be in place. Etc.
A digital purchase for me starts at half price. That’s only if I really want it. Usually digital for me means I’ll pay 10-20% of physical retail. The all digital gaming era will not last more than 2 or so console generations before companies realize they aren’t selling as many games. Subscription gaming is a bit harder to predict consumer opinions. If the service is cheap enough and provides a good value, then I’m worried.
I don't think game collecting is dying at all but there's definitely a post-COVID deflation kicking into gear, people were stuck inside and and had more time for hobbies and more money with stimulus checks, maybe some people over collected and bought things they weren't super into and now they're getting rid of some of it. With modern consoles physical just sucks now becuase it takes up real world and drive space, it's like the worst of both worlds, I only buy it that way just out of wanting to physically have the game sometimes, to buy used, and to sell a game if I don't like it. I honestly doubt it will still be here next gen. Game stores dying out I feel more happened along the early-mid 2010s like Play N Trade (a retro gamestop basically) went from 277 stores down to like 22 now, I think there was such a boom that perhaps some stores couldn't keep up with the demand because they gave weak trade in prices, it left the stores empty and so they died.
I understand from a business standpoint why digital is more profitable than physical. It sucks for us collectors but if you remember vcrs and VHS tapes? People collected those and then dvds took over. Unfortunately I think we will just have to accept it because if physical isn't made anymore you're not going to be able to get it. I've personally been trying to scoop up as much as I can in the meantime
It depends on where your from because up in Canada in the GTA? we get more Mom Pop stores opening up. I just went to a new on 2weeks ago. I think its slowed in certain area's overall, but its still doing fine. What I think is going on? Its transition period. The Kids from 360/PS3 days are all older now and nostalgia for those systems are going to kick in soon. If anything they have started slowly a lot of games from the 6th and 7th seemed to be trending up. It goes in phases.
Very true! Definitely will see a shift as those games become nostalgic for many people. I’ve definitely noticed an uptick in prices so far on those systems. Definitely curious to see where things end up.
I don't buy much modern mostly because of having incomplete games in the box. It seems like there are always updates needed. Digitally it really needs to hit the right price point to make it worth picking it up without owning the game. Hopefully, retro collecting will just get more reasonable.
They are trying to phase out physical games because the big game companies don’t want to be paying a middle business their share of the profit as well as they don’t want used games being out there because these big game companies don’t make money off any used games. Also without used games I can certainly see digital sale prices also slow down or not go on sale as low as they used to. Might see 20% off instead of 80% off for a 10 year old title, that’s if they didn’t even pull that game off the servers if any licensing in the game hasn’t expired. I am Canadian and the most recent Like a Dragon game I couldn’t even get a pre order of a physical copy of it and I usually like to pre order it to ensure my copy if I want the game right away. On Amazon the game didn’t even go up for sale at all, yet third party sellers were already selling the game for over $120 from $90 on Amazon. On Walmart Online I did see the game go up for pre order but I decided to wait since I mostly order off Amazon because Walmart Online usually ships with a different shipping company where what I order tends to go missing. When I went back to Walmart Online the day the game was released it was already sold out so couldn’t get it there. I have also been keeping an eye on Best Buy and again the game didn’t come up for pre order at all. Luckily however the game did get posted for sale the day of release so I quickly ordered it, and still waiting for that game to show up in the mail cause unfortunately they also use the same shipper as Walmart and it also ground shipped from over half of the country away from me. They are certainly making it harder and harder to buy physical games. I even wanted to check out that new Baulers Gate game after it got game of the year. I haven’t played any in the series. Then I noticed it’s a digital only title so I won’t be getting it. I heard they are doing a physical release of the game so I will wait for that, that’s if the physical game even shows up in my country.
Those are some great points. It’s sad to see that games are digital only or you have to pay premiums for the physical versions. Even having to wait for physical media is frustrating. Definitely crazy to see where things will end up ultimately. I’m concerned for some of these stores too. Only time will tell
The Nintendo Switch is the worst offender when it comes to physical releases that only gives you a code without any actual physical media. Those games are basically only good to use as replacement cases once you used the code.
I disagree about the collectors editions. I don't want toys, i just want the physical game. I actually don't like collectors edition games. Takes up too much room also
I will only buy physical games. I don’t buy digital. Stores used to have more sales on games. The price is too high, most people will only buy a handful of games and have to save there money up to get them. Now a days you go to the store hoping for a game to be more affordable only to find out they no longer stock that game. I remember when I was a kid , my whole childhood I could only afford to buy a handful of games, none which were at full retail or I would have only had one game. Games are not sold as a fun game to play, instead there sold as a limited quantity to create the mental state of missing out. The digital content that is an additional cost now a days wasn’t an issue back in the day because the game was made fun from the start. There were your special circumstances of sending in a mail in offer to receive something special, which as a kid I didn’t really know anything about but some lucky few were able to participate. With stores buying at a higher price and not wanting to lower even when prices have dropped. Thats a factor they need to consider along with condition. Its collectors that are looking to buy cib but there not going to pay full price for your faded copy,at that point loose is better. I could go on more. There are so many things going on since the pandemic. Prices skyrocketed and now I have been seeing them drop. I will continue to add to my collection but also will be I little more selective.
Definitely some great points here. I’m definitely curious on how things will continue to pan out. It’s definitely insane to see how things have been going since the boom.
Ya it's horrible i am a physical collector i been collecting for 2 to 3 years first Xbox 360 now Xbox one and soon i will be collecting for xbox series x then Playstation
Well when TH-cam makes you rich you shouldn't have any problem at all collecting. For regular people like myself, its something ill never fully accomplish.
I wish! But the reality is that TH-cam doesn’t pay much of anything. At least to me. My last short only made like $0.04. 😂 I have to work a normal job like anyone else and budget to collect.
@@GamerAhmer well I make $15 an hour working outside in the rain and hot and cold and you make way more than I'll ever make just by playing video games
@@blackenedheart9592 I work a middle class job and that’s what pays for this hobby. For 4 years I never made a dime from TH-cam. Hard work and dedication is what I try to do.
In the UK there is 1 or 2 shops in big cities and everywhere else has nothing. Over here it's amazon killing the stores, people are buying the games just not from stores. Why would they? To sell its on ebay. My town is a ghost town everywhere is boarded up and closed. Sounds like Biden economics bit hard I heard bread is 4 bucks. 🙁😮. You cannot expect to pay for deals on everything and sell higher to everyone online forever. Sounds like you are doing OK your young and have 5000 plus items of which many are premium items.
Yea online sales have definitely changed the game along with digital content. Definitely crazy to think about. And I’m lucky to have started before the insane prices started and lucky to find deals still.
@@GamerAhmer deals are lost on me. Deals are for people with lots of time treasure hunting. It's fine if you have nothing better else to do or a hobby in itself. Besides if every game I bought was for 1 cent each, that's my benefit, not my audiences. Never understood the whole "i got a great deal" mentality. You don't see Elon musk, Jeff bezoz or Bill gates creating TH-cam channels about what a great deal they got. I like your channel don't get me wrong, I just skip over game room reconfiguration, great deals etc. To me, your channel is about exposing titles I haven't seen yet for which I am grateful. All that stuff channels do to keep themselves busy for an excuse to make another video, yeah lost on me.
Too many collectors not enough sellers = no stock , no profits and doors closing when it comes to games and streamers don’t buy physical media only people who like to own things instead of owning nothing 😂
Are we heading for another "Video Game Crash" in the US again? Microsoft rumors flying that they will leave the hardware business after this generation will kill the competition and raise prices in the digital market place. I need another monthly service fee like I need another hole in the head. As a physical game collector I truly hate all of this. Nintendo supporting "Bait & SWITCH" digital games hidden in physical form on the store shelves and on Amazon with altered box art hiding the fact that downloads and MicroSD cards are required are going to hurt the small business game store owners. I am wondering if game convention prices will go up this year with all of this news? Will the entry price, hotel costs, and travel costs hurt the convention scene if it is no longer financially beneficial to the retro collector? This all sucks. We really need to get back to cartridges that contain the whole FINISHED game and treat them as purchased property and not like a rentals. Make games that are great and ready to play. No game play stopping bugs nor required updates. Just games ready to play and enjoy. Thanks for the great content Gamer Ahmer!
Exactly! It makes you think. I’m definitely curious to see what happens too. I’ll still support my local stores and Game conventions as I hope this community stays together. Thanks for your thoughts and for watching!!
Huh, this is great news for me. I have been staying out of the game stores for a while now cause everything has been too expensive. Maybe it’s time for me to venture back in.
Oh definitely worth checking out!
Game store ripped off give people lil bet on games
I'm glad you addressed this. It feels like a normal market correction to me.
If you're in for the long run, you can't adjust your behavior too much when buying or selling to keep up with trends. Just stay the course!
Well said!
outside of steam, have never and will never purchase a digital game for a console
^ same here. I'm 30 and my lil' sister's husband who is like 25-26 asked me why I still bouht physical games for my switch. I told him... because nintendo games tend to hold their value unlike xbox / playstation games.
Prices will go up for rarer items as shops close.
Game collecting has hit its peak already. What we are going to see in the coming years is more people getting rid of their collections has the new generations of gamers aren't going to be interested as much with physical media. We are going to see smaller pockets of collectors. Those collectors are then going to be paying cheaper prices as demand is going to trend down. I just don't see a bright future for the numerous retro gaming stores. I hope I am wrong.
Same. I hope we are all wrong. :/
Ian from the CU Podcast said that if prices fall gradually then game stores can probably survive and adjust if they're careful, but if it was a rapid fall they're screwed.
Either way I just hope the prices fall. If the stores fail, new ones will presumably rise from the ashes.
It's over mate. Let it die. I sold off my game collection in 2020 at the hype of prices.
I put that money into new experiences now.
Honestly, it wouldn't be a bad thing if collectors downsized & sold off their collections because then atleast the people who want it won't have to sell a kidney to afford it.
There is only so much time on earth and we aren't immortal. You can't experience everything anyways.
This is why I buy as many physical games as possible before they are gone for good
Exactly!
Question is.. do you actually have the time & energy to play every single game you buy? I know I don't...
Theyll never be gone for good lol video games are printed in mass
We went into our local GameStop on Friday to see if they had any copies of Grand Blue fantasy relink and of course they didn't. They only get the amount they need for pre-orders and no more and when I told her that was very disappointing. She said unless it's a AAA title, they no longer send us extra because they sent on the shelf and we have to send them back. This is really concerning to me. Now I'm left to try to figure out where to get the game and if I'll even be able to get it. I don't want a digitally. There's just no value in a digital game, period
Woah! That’s wild! Definitely insane to think about. Especially with things going forward. But that’s what I’ve been hearing and seeing around here too!
I dont think this is the case. The problem with gsmestop is they lie. Theubare told to push used software and also theu are cracking down on the employees to sell equipment protection. They lie and tell you they have no copies and you had to ore order it because theu don't want the new game and no equipment protection to affect thier sales stats. I have caught gsmestop lying to me many times ofnthe exact same thing. They have vwrybstrict sales targets and employees get dinged for no equipment protection and new/used gsme sales ratios.
@@dsidebotham honestly that wouldn't surprise me either and it's something I thought about as well. Next time I'm just going to flat out ask them and see if they flinch.
I have been seeing this in my surrounding communities as well. As for my small town I live in we just have a Walmart and they are not getting any new releases in at all. Appears in my town physical games are dying and are not even on life support. Gaming aisles have been reduced, even including shelf real estate for digital download cards, this is never a good sign. I am reduced to driving 30 minutes away to just hit up a GameStop where I find no new inventory or even retro games. When asked about retro games they inform me that all retro games that are traded in get sent to their Mall Of America store and this is a common practice that all stores do. Get the games locally and then send them off to a better store. This is a tell tale sign of smaller located GameStops are not adapting to the changing market and will soon close.
There are gamestops and best buys that just have fucking nothing on the shelf or just the most bare bones stuff with no used games, which is like one of the big draws of gamestop. Some locations have plenty of games though, it's very inconsistent.
Collecting wouldnt be dying if these "vendors" werent all jusy ebay scalpers. Mf's are buying up bulk lots and charging a hundred dollars for a game they got for 12. Like we dont know how they got it. Not to mention get off your ass and be of service. Guys are at these conventions always shoving food in their faces and sitting there. I see anyone doing that Im not even looking at your table.
Really insightful stuff, as a 90s kid - this is so sad man ... I love collecting physical media (really started to pick up towards late 2017, almost feel like it's getting too late) // yep the shift is noticeable here in NZ as well - most gamers & collectors are now reverting to game emulations / even modding some of their consoles - also I guess to ensure longevity but yea - this is a sad reality! ;(
I know right!? Sad indeed. Curious to see where the future is headed in gaming!
Yea I know for myself I modded my OG Xbox. I'm still trying to buy my games and use DVD2XBOX but some of the games are getting harder and harder to find. I did the same for my PS vita, PS3, and my 3DS.
Most of the best deals I get are online , unfortunately a lot of mom and pop shop while I appreciate them their prices are usually higher or on eBay lvl prices .
Yea I’ve seen that at quite a few places around here too unfortunately. :/
I never understood why any game stores allow people to trade in cheap or junk games/shovelware to use as trade in credit towards their good selling games. Its a bad business model. If i owned a gamestore I would only accept specific things.
I went into a gamestore that had thousands of games but when I looked through them, and this is not and exaggeration, it seemed that maybe 1/4th of the entire store was sports games no one wanted. I saw rows and rows of Madden taking up almost an entire shelf.
@@joeyisabsb1 exactly and then places wonder why they go out of business…when you accept junk that doesn’t sell and then let customers use that towards trade to good sellers or even give them cash you will not last long as a business
The market will always fluctuate. Yes there was a boom and it's calming down, doesn't necessarily mean collecting is in trouble or anything. Next gen stuff going all digital, yeah that sucks. It's coming but as far as current gen and prior, collecting will always be a thing. If anything, I think the interest on certain generations will shift as you and I get older and younger people start getting more into collecting. I have a ton of nostalgia for the NES, I was born in 91. Someone half my age (so like 16) though might be remembering the Wii by now and be nostalgic for that. As for game stores shutting down, yes that would suck but if they cannot adapt to the market then..welp. Sorry. It is what it is. This should have been expected. I for one am all for prices on stuff plummeting a bit because some games that are absolutely *NOT* rare/uncommon are laughable when it comes to their price right now.
Yes it’s definitely insane to see! I’m just curious where things will end up. Definitely will see a shift into which systems are “desirable” depending on who grew up with the system.
The problem with digital is that the games are not yours and eventually the digital stores will close when the consoles gets older, is this continue i will move to pc there no point on having only digital console
Absolutely! It’s wild!
I seen this coming a long time ago... Been into emulation since 1996, and I saw that this and digital were going to be the future. Ugh, and when we actually get into the inevitable digital future, physical games prices are going to skyrocket.
Not really, younger generations could care less about physical media
Definitely curious to see where it ends up.
@@kurisu3000 I'm old (47), and I could care less about it as well. Original console + flashcart, and I'm good. (at best).
@@rbgamingnetwork1 Yup, plus there is a new demand for emulator handhelds. Playing roms on handhelds that are powerful enough to play PS2 and Gsmecube titles.
If you take say the Uk where food has typically gone up by at least 30-35%, gas and electric the same not to mention pretty much everything else has gone up sharply, people simply haven’t got the cash to spend on luxury items as much. Factor in the scalpers driving up the cost of collecting and the cheap pi5 and android boxes full of thousands of retro games, it’s not surprising the computer shops selling these physical games are struggling. It’s a shame as online downloading game services could start fixing prices higher when physical media is not readily available in the shops anymore.
Very true. Those are similar problems that are happening here with the living cost in the United States. It’s unfortunate to see.
videogames had a peek and now it goes down now people tht dont collect sell them again makes it go down.
Video games aren't in trouble, the whole world is in trouble.... Everyone is broke and just don't have the luxury of extra spending anymore. This is seen/felt across all hobbies and stores..... When and if the economy ever recovers, then you'll see these beloved flames rekindled.
Definitely see this in my area.
Acouple of my local stores are no longer taking trade ins but also raising the prices above market value and when asked why the answer i have been given is "physical media is dying so it will all go up" the future of collecting scares me
Woah that’s insane!!
If its dying that means prices go down, not the other way around
@ArenaRat-xd8fu exactly
Man we’re is that Walmart you’re at Those prices are crazy our Walmart is still pretty packed and the prices are holding!
Woah!! That’s wild. Not all were the best at this one but one even closer to me had cheap games! It was wild!
I’m starting to find cheap games again!
Yes!!
Re-sellers.
I don’t think video game collecting will die off but it’s certainly going to keep changing. And unfortunately if you are into the latest and greatest modern releases you will be stuck with digital only. I personally feel like this may be my last console generation for that reason. The good news is there are lots of older games on older consoles. 🤙🏻
Absolutely! Crazy to see this shift for new consoles and a digital future. Luckily we have conventions and a community who enjoys the retro scene.
What you experience now is what movie collector experience since 2 - 3 years. EXTREMELY limited availability in stores, price go really up for a single edition movie, price as double, triple since Covid 19. I live in Montreal, Canada and ALL stores have only few movies in 4K or not at all. At least in U.S., the consumer have plenty of stores and website to chop. Here, the stores are empty and the only remaining website to buy my movies is Amazon Canada or else, I must import from Amazon U.S. or boutiques around the globe which cost the double of the same movie I would buy in a local store. This is VERY sad.
Oh it is very sad. :(
Great video. Life's been stressful lately and your videos have been helping me relax and chill out, thanks!
Glad to hear it! :) Thank you!
Digital video games suck i will never buy any of it
man your collection is life goals haha - great work!! :)
Thank you so much!
Store credit literally double the store money. They bought it from someone for cheap, then also “sells” it to you for your store credit but it’s all their own money lol
The physical games have changed very quickly. It’s weird
The retro game market had a perfect storm with the covid situation. Everyone stuck at home, lots of people thinking about the good times and what used to make them happy and now had time to play games again. The demand for retro games just went insane. Next people were out of work or looking for extra cash and now everyone is an online resaler. Next up limited print game companies got into action and now you can order from over seas like play asia easier than ever. Then finally we have to chip shortage and the gap between last gen and current gen consoles is just not that great; ps4 games are still being made and people are talking about the ps6 already lol. Normally beyond sports titles and just dance usually last generation not supported much over a year.
I think the digital age is here to stay but the physical market will always stay strong. People will always want to own their stuff and eventually they will get sick of companies pulling away stuff whenever they please or a license runs out. I would have never thought people would want records, vhs, and cassette tapes but people are loving them. Right now most walmarts have more vinyl records than video games on shelves. It will really be who can withstand the lulls business wise. Also during covid lots of people were getting in fluxed with stimulus money and most of that's gone now, there was a lot of spending and people not so much worried about bills. And I can not forget social media which I think will always carry the collector's market to an extant. So I think it will go through a lull and come back out the other side more stable. And as long as Nintendo seems willing to stay in physical I think things will be fine also.
What I really think is troubling right now is brick and mortar game stores. I think gamestop could come out like kings if they can survive being gamestop. They have potential to be the controlling retail chain that does retro games, I kind of look at CEX in the UK, seems like the model they should adopt. The mom and pop shops are in trouble cause of two things imo, its so easy for the average person to sell to mass people now, and the other is the over head. One of the local towns I live near has 3 retro game stores and they all function differently. One is friendly with a decent stock and ok selection but their prices are in with price charting and ebay which is perfect imo. Next shop has awesome selection but prices are usually 50% higher on ebay on average and I am not rich by any means I have no issues going to ebay to save over $50 to $100 or something. Next place you only go into when its black friday or something cause they look up everything on ebay and usually they over shoot that price by alot. Personally i support then friendly one with good prices every chance I get. These days game stores have to remember like a friend of mine that owns a landscaping business said to me is basically anyone with a lawn mower is his competition. So you either do it cheaper or deliver a far superior product.
So to cap off my rambling. Game collecting will go no where. It will go through some changes but will still ultimately be the same. And I like knowing the value of things and I am just excited as anyone to see all my 360 shoot up in value right now but game collecting, or any kind of collecting should be a passion. If you doing it as an investment you probably will end up disappointed in the long run.
This is definitely a great reply! I’m curious to see where things will end up.
Thank you for making this video. This is an important message and concern.
Thanks for watching!! Just curious what will happen in the future!
All very true. Sad times, all part of the "You'll own nothing and be happy" WEF Masterplan!
Great video! I believe in supporting mom/pop video games stores first. Game conventions will probably be the main way to collect in the future. Also, what I'm about to say may be unpopular, but if GameStop goes completely under, then it will be an even sadder day for us collectors. You can still find great deals at major retailers, but Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are getting emptier by the day.....
Totally agree! I love supporting stores and gaming conventions. They definitely help this community of us! Sad to see these stores clearing out bins and shelves. I hope GameStop sticks around. I couldn’t imagine a world without it even with all of the hate that it gets.
I'm conflicted on this trend of digital and people having to mark down their games cheap to get rid of them. I'm a collector, and have been for a while with over 1500 games physically on my shelf. I'm happy that the prices are dropping back down so I can add some of those more expensive games into my collection finally. HOWEVER, I really, really hate this all digital future that we're seeing. I'll continue supporting these video games as long as they keep releasing them physically but once they go full digital, I probably won't get too many of them (except for maybe some of the first party Nintendo titles that I've grown up with would probably be it) so I hope that these companies continue to release physical copies for a while. While digital and emulation is easy and convenient, there is something special about finding that rare NES game you've been looking for for months, or pulling a game off the shelf, look at the box art or case art for a minute before popping the cartridge or disc in the console, holding that unique controller made specifically for that console.
Exactly! I couldn’t agree more! Definitely not looking forward to an all digital future. Definitely frustrating to see. Only time will tell!
It’s scary times for sure. Glad to see you discussing this, I hate seeing stores vanish and it scares me to know we are losing physical media in the future. Great video and conversation!
Thanks for watching! And absolutely! It’ll be crazy to see where things end up for sure.
I think, whether we like it or not, we're heading to an all digital future. It won't be today, or tomorrow, but it will happen. I don't like the idea, but that just seems to be where we're going. And I will say, gaming conventions are going to become much more important to collectors and I'd be willing to bet those holding conventions will see a big boom over the next few years since you can usually find the more unique items and potentially get good deals depending on the vendor.
I agree! Definitely how the future is looking. I’m super thankful that we have conventions all over though and glad we can have this community along side us!
I just fear that all the money I put in my games that are on discs, are gone in like 10 years or less as the disc gets destroyed by time. Discs do not hold that long. So, reselling when you have to in one or two decades, might not be happening.
Exactly! They don’t last like cartridges do. The most a cartridge needs is a cleaning and a battery change. They were built better.
Anything that's bad for the collecting market is, I'm guessing very good for the people more concerned with actually playing games than amassing huge collections of them.
83% of console games sold in 2023 were digital
GameStop will close a distribution center and 500 stores later this year
PlayStation stopped manufacturing optical discs in US like 3 years ago, because of the decline in sales, (PS4/PS5 games are made in Austria)
Xbox is phasing out physical game releases, that will really hurt the mexican pressing plant, it's the last big plant in America, and the only one capable to manufacture UHD Blu-Rays (or 4K Blu-Rays)
It's inevitable, consumers spoke with their wallets, but it's scary, many people thought this will happen in the next 10 years, it's happening right now.
Yup! That’s definitely scary to see how soon all of this will happen.
I always wondered why there were barely any PS5 games for sale in physical stores, even before pushing the initiative for digital-only. Every new release was just PS4
I have that same shirt as a matter of fact I have two and in Ohio where I am for some reason you can't find anything on clearance but they are giving less when you sale for cash thanks for the info ahmer
Oh very cool! And that’s interesting to know.
It's the same problem that affected coins in the 80s and comics and sports cards in the 90s. You got too many speculative investors and money launderers jacking prices up that is screwing over normal people from getting into the hobby. People who bought in early and sell are lucky if they want to make a profit and don't care about owning a physical collection. People who FOMO because of fear mongering from e-celebs get stuck holding a bag and then the bubble bursts and people try to liquid their stuff before it loses value.
The market is honestly overdue for a correction. I have a copy of Pokémon Emerald with a damaged label and I don't see how it's worth $150 when the game was mass produced to the tune of millions of copies nearly 20 years ago. It's not a rare game it's all a speculative investing driving this bs.
Oh it’s way too insane! This should be a fun affordable hobby. But unfortunately too much has changed!
It’s crazy but you are correct. I mostly collect Nintendo switch and 3ds games. Full games on cartridges is a thing of the past. But emulation is going to be king of the mountain for some time
Exactly! It’s a wild time we live in.
I’ve seen the same to a point in my area but I think it will be the fall of major retailers and scalpers having a market and the rise of more mom and pop shops growing in the long term the smaller developer making physical games for older systems even . As for prices we all agree it’s been inflated like many things today so it is time for prices to come back down to pre pandemic prices at the least. Collectors will continue to collect and hopefully for cheaper. For those who buy and sell they will always find a way to make it work.
Very true! I’m definitely hoping things can be a little more reasonable to collect for price wise. I’m always looking for those deals though! And definitely some great points.
At times it feels like the market is dead, other times like this week i bought 12 games, mostly wii and ps4. Here in the Netherlands it pays to check the local market place (website) frequently to get deals. For me even if physical game selling would come to a halt it would not be that big a problem. I sure would mis the hunt but i build a collection of almost 4900 games so i am good.
It sad for the next generation to.
Exactly! It’s definitely sad. :(
I have gone fully digital. While yes, it is possible that they could just turn off my games, however these game companies can't go into my ROM collection I've acquired for well over 2 decades and just delete them so I'm safe there. I do think that this is a market correction. There are too many resellers buying up all of the good games leaving actual gamers frustrated and not wanting to buy their expensive overpriced games. Consequences of actions and all that
Definitely some great points!
we are so heading for another video game crash. The market is saturated in low quality games just like before. Many a time I get my pay cheque, try to go on a network store and buy a game but I can't find it, mixed in with all the garbage. I end up not spending anything and turning it off.
Only time will tell. I’m definitely curious to see what happens.
Great video very true information. times are changing and I don't think the new all digital age is a really a good solution just wipes out collecting and owning anything 😕
Oh absolutely! It’s a wild time we live in!
Great video! Very true. I have been seeing alot of clearance lately at walmart. I dont think collecting is dead or dying off, it's just the larger department chain stores and their overhead. Doesnt make a ton of sense to carry alot of this stuff because so many have gone digital. As big as the gaming community is to us, we are a minority. I dont think it will affect collectors because i think its not as often that collectors go to department stores to buy anyway.
That’s very true! Definitely some great points. Just crazy to see where things will end up. Only time will tell. And exactly! Some clearance is great prices and other clearance is barely even a deal. Just depends on the Walmart.
@@GamerAhmer they are certainly popping up. I grabbed a couple games recently
A disc does not even really equal a physical release anymore. Modern AAA games even if you get a disc are not really on the disc (there are some assets on the disc yes, but the games are so large they really are glorified installers). So in that sense many modern AAA games are really not physical. If your system crashes and the game is no longer stored on servers then the physical disc is worthless.
I don't play a lot of AAA games, but I don't know if I would buy one physical AAA today - instead I'd much rather for those huge AAA's I am probably only going to play through once anyway, have access through gamepass or some such option.
Very true. So many patches and updates when you first buy a game. It’s insane!
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but prices of old video games are inflated. It's heading to normal rate. People are heading back to work. No one should be at home waiting for the government to help. Video game is like every other entertainment, it's for fun. It's an option and not guaranteed as income.
When 9/11 hit, most tourist attractions spots get a hit. This is what great for being human. We adjust and adapt. Whoever is left behind better put on hiking shoe to adjust to the new era.
I love getting physical games too but it's mainly act as a backup in case the internet doesn't work. So far, my internet has shut down twice in 1 month. And so, I went back to play my ps2 games.
Definitely some great points. Hoping the future of new games doesn’t completely turn to digital. Hoping the newer generation can appreciate where we came from in the gaming industry!
Just the whole debate on not really owning your games if they are digital only. When a server goes down and they take them away then that’s all she wrote!
Great video i have nearly 500 Xbox 360 games and it's all i play. With the cost of living being so high monies tight right now. So collecting has been put on hold , some titles i want are heavy hitters and their out of my financial league. But the community of collectors is helping me stay positive.
Yes! We are all apart of this awesome community!
Good morning.Is there any new game system coming out this year.
Hmm. Still doing research and waiting to see what gets announced
@@GamerAhmer ok thank u.And let me know please
@@lashawnhampton32 will do!
The more they push for more digital and cloud or game passthe harder. It is the gains but has the undersea even thought about the moderns and hackers
They're struggling and that's okay! Modern games don't have the charm and completeness old titles did.
That’s definitely true.
It's not in trouble in your lifetime for the stuff you collect not in the bubble. It was just a short term bubble for unrealistic spiked prices. People who bought at the highs just like the coin bubble in the 80's lost money, period. It's normal and was manufactured by the same people who started the coin bubble back then. Herritage auctions. They will try it with vinyl records eventually too. It's what they do cycling through whats hot in the moment stuff.
The game store I work at here locally in Michigan is doing great business is booming we just recently our 3rd location and we’re always taking trade ins(even games we have multiple of the same titles) for cash and or store credit customers choice. Odd…
Oh that’s great to know! Maybe it’s an East Coast thing! Hmmm…
In my area there's only 1 shop that sells retro games are the games are in sealed bags so you don't even know what your buying has anything missing or can check the condition of game disc or cartridge I don't like it so I don't buy from them anymore
Woah that’s insane! I wouldn’t like that either. It’s like gambling for something and the unknown of what condition it’s in.
When everything goes digital, I will stay back. I refuse to engage in rentals.
Absolutely!
I'm wondering if Iplay is like that now 🤔🤔🤔
Best thing we can do is show our kids the importance of physical media and let them know to appreciate it.
Absolutely!
Yeah in upstate NY they stopped the cash thing 4 years ago no bullshit,my son loves game stop, I also heard you won't be able to buy physical Media soon just buying the game from there the app stores
Woah! That’s insane! And definitely worried about the future of gaming! Only time will tell.
They are selling. Its just not selling at the brick and mortar. Everything is downloaded now. New generation
Exactly! People go for convenience over physical.
@@GamerAhmer I appreciate your collection and how you go about collecting. I don't know what these kids are going to physically collect when they get to our age?
@@donedeal2057 Thank You! And I know right!!? Hmmm…
90% of the problem is emulation.
Good point.
I don't think collecting and physical media is dead but there's a transition in the works that will affect it
Companies will slowly emphasize digital media in their selling strategy as they see it more advantageous to lower the rate of theft in stores plus they know more people would rather shop online in the name of convenience
I personally think if these companies could digitize every product they sell in their corporate stores they would
The ideology of what being a consumer is changing rapidly no matter what niche you are in and I personally think it's a ploy to take ownership away from people and give people the illusion that they do
Collectors may soon have to sell off their prized collections if they want to salvage any profitable investment but it all depends on what your intention on collecting is
Exactly! Some great points here. I’m curious to see how companies will do all of this. Only time will tell. And I’m hoping it doesn’t completely stop and only become digital.
The scalping is coming to an end hopefully. What goes up must come down
Well I can see it going either way. Modern physical games are on their way out for sure. I feel like we are headed for another video game crash, but on a brighter note this could be beneficial for the indie scene and other small developers, and perhaps for the true honest collectors who just want these games to preserve history and to play, but I do get the concern for the smaller local retro shops. As far as I know the ones near me aren’t having this issue but I live in a city with a very large population of gamers. Time will tell
What happened in the one in the 80s? That was more tragic.
Exactly! Only time will tell. Definitely crazy to see where things will go.
As a British bloke can u please tell me why NTSC versions of games cost 5 times the price of PAL copies even tho they're rarer 😢
I know right?!? It’s insane
Inflation is insane in America right now no thanks to both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Businesses closing for an entire year during COVID didn't make anything better.
I sadly stop collecting and did sell most of my stuff just got to expensive for he hobby.
:(
@@GamerAhmer Sega I started to collect for again because many of them games are still going for a fair price.
Looks like the days of modern gaming are nearing an end for me. I refuse to buy games digitally. One of my biggest regrets was going digital with my music in the early 2000's. I got rid of all my CD's. I saw how draconian Apple was with my music. It's part of the reason I started collecting physical media.
Definitely a crazy thought! I’m curious to see where it all ends up. I’m not a fan either!
I think this will be a conversation for a long time. I think physical will still go on, just not at the level we are used to. And if his "license rental" starts to become more of a thing, peoole are going to want physical games of at least their favorites im sure.
Oh for sure! Only time will tell. Curious to see what happens this year.
This is exactly what I needed.. everything just piled up over the years collecting dust making my place look like a Walmart. Time to get rid of it all... I only use game pass now.
I love physically collecting games. Helps when I want to play whatever I want especially when I have people over. I don’t mind the dust.
It will come back like vinyl. You are one of the people that already knows this that’s what the collecting is for. I collect for all the personal games I couldn’t get as a kid cause are parents couldn’t afford em like most of are parents.
Oh exactly!
Resellers are shaking in their boots. They seriously thought zoomers and gen alpha kids were going to be interested in physical media. Haha..NOPE!
Definitely see more people playing and collecting convenience today.
Physical video games will never go away. There's something special about ripping the plastic off and holding the game in your hand and inserting the game and playing it whenever. Other physical collectibles like trading cards and Funko pops will never go away ,either.Many people like holding, touching and smelling the collectibles that you can't do with digital ones.
Exactly!! Let’s hope!
I think the boom is over and prices are starting to correct to the true market value. Everyone was thinking the prices would only go up and never level off or go down. That is not the way this kind of market works. Historically there is a 15 year price increase Nostalgia wave that makes game values jump and then fall a little, but the lockdowns put gaming into a price spike that was very abnormal. The stores and companies that overinvested in the inflated prices thinking the trend would continue are going to hurt for a while, some may not recover, but there will be a slight dip in the gaming market because games became too expensive for your average gamer. The product became too expensive for the customer. As for an all Digital future... nope I will not be on board for that unless the laws change.
Exactly! It’s crazy to think about this all digital future but I’m sure only time will tell with it all. Just always curious what others think about it. And yes! I’m curious on how they will implement digital and what laws will be in place. Etc.
A digital purchase for me starts at half price. That’s only if I really want it. Usually digital for me means I’ll pay 10-20% of physical retail. The all digital gaming era will not last more than 2 or so console generations before companies realize they aren’t selling as many games. Subscription gaming is a bit harder to predict consumer opinions. If the service is cheap enough and provides a good value, then I’m worried.
Exactly! I don’t want to pay full price for a digital item! That’s wild to me. I’m definitely curious to see where this all ends up.
I don't think game collecting is dying at all but there's definitely a post-COVID deflation kicking into gear, people were stuck inside and and had more time for hobbies and more money with stimulus checks, maybe some people over collected and bought things they weren't super into and now they're getting rid of some of it.
With modern consoles physical just sucks now becuase it takes up real world and drive space, it's like the worst of both worlds, I only buy it that way just out of wanting to physically have the game sometimes, to buy used, and to sell a game if I don't like it. I honestly doubt it will still be here next gen.
Game stores dying out I feel more happened along the early-mid 2010s like Play N Trade (a retro gamestop basically) went from 277 stores down to like 22 now, I think there was such a boom that perhaps some stores couldn't keep up with the demand because they gave weak trade in prices, it left the stores empty and so they died.
Yes! Only time will tell. Hopefully things don’t get insanely bad when it comes to physical media and being able to shop in stores!
I understand from a business standpoint why digital is more profitable than physical. It sucks for us collectors but if you remember vcrs and VHS tapes? People collected those and then dvds took over. Unfortunately I think we will just have to accept it because if physical isn't made anymore you're not going to be able to get it. I've personally been trying to scoop up as much as I can in the meantime
Exactly!
It depends on where your from because up in Canada in the GTA? we get more Mom Pop stores opening up. I just went to a new on 2weeks ago.
I think its slowed in certain area's overall, but its still doing fine. What I think is going on? Its transition period. The Kids from 360/PS3 days are all older now and nostalgia for those systems are going to kick in soon. If anything they have started slowly a lot of games from the 6th and 7th seemed to be trending up. It goes in phases.
Very true! Definitely will see a shift as those games become nostalgic for many people. I’ve definitely noticed an uptick in prices so far on those systems. Definitely curious to see where things end up.
I don't buy much modern mostly because of having incomplete games in the box. It seems like there are always updates needed. Digitally it really needs to hit the right price point to make it worth picking it up without owning the game.
Hopefully, retro collecting will just get more reasonable.
Exactly! It’s crazy to have incomplete games. Especially when places release them way too soon. Updates immediately needed.
They are trying to phase out physical games because the big game companies don’t want to be paying a middle business their share of the profit as well as they don’t want used games being out there because these big game companies don’t make money off any used games. Also without used games I can certainly see digital sale prices also slow down or not go on sale as low as they used to. Might see 20% off instead of 80% off for a 10 year old title, that’s if they didn’t even pull that game off the servers if any licensing in the game hasn’t expired.
I am Canadian and the most recent Like a Dragon game I couldn’t even get a pre order of a physical copy of it and I usually like to pre order it to ensure my copy if I want the game right away.
On Amazon the game didn’t even go up for sale at all, yet third party sellers were already selling the game for over $120 from $90 on Amazon. On Walmart Online I did see the game go up for pre order but I decided to wait since I mostly order off Amazon because Walmart Online usually ships with a different shipping company where what I order tends to go missing. When I went back to Walmart Online the day the game was released it was already sold out so couldn’t get it there. I have also been keeping an eye on Best Buy and again the game didn’t come up for pre order at all. Luckily however the game did get posted for sale the day of release so I quickly ordered it, and still waiting for that game to show up in the mail cause unfortunately they also use the same shipper as Walmart and it also ground shipped from over half of the country away from me.
They are certainly making it harder and harder to buy physical games. I even wanted to check out that new Baulers Gate game after it got game of the year. I haven’t played any in the series. Then I noticed it’s a digital only title so I won’t be getting it. I heard they are doing a physical release of the game so I will wait for that, that’s if the physical game even shows up in my country.
Those are some great points. It’s sad to see that games are digital only or you have to pay premiums for the physical versions. Even having to wait for physical media is frustrating. Definitely crazy to see where things will end up ultimately. I’m concerned for some of these stores too. Only time will tell
The Nintendo Switch is the worst offender when it comes to physical releases that only gives you a code without any actual physical media. Those games are basically only good to use as replacement cases once you used the code.
Exactly! Just a “shelf filler”.
I wonder what happened in the last few years before...
I thank you for making this videos you are a kind honest person 😇
So nice of you! I appreciate that.
❤ your stuff 😊😊
Thank you!
I really think it's only a matter of time for games to be all digital. I am going to support physical for as long as I can.
Absolutely! I agree!
I disagree about the collectors editions. I don't want toys, i just want the physical game. I actually don't like collectors edition games. Takes up too much room also
Yea they aren’t for everyone. I enjoy collecting certain ones.
I will only buy physical games. I don’t buy digital. Stores used to have more sales on games. The price is too high, most people will only buy a handful of games and have to save there money up to get them. Now a days you go to the store hoping for a game to be more affordable only to find out they no longer stock that game. I remember when I was a kid , my whole childhood I could only afford to buy a handful of games, none which were at full retail or I would have only had one game. Games are not sold as a fun game to play, instead there sold as a limited quantity to create the mental state of missing out. The digital content that is an additional cost now a days wasn’t an issue back in the day because the game was made fun from the start. There were your special circumstances of sending in a mail in offer to receive something special, which as a kid I didn’t really know anything about but some lucky few were able to participate. With stores buying at a higher price and not wanting to lower even when prices have dropped. Thats a factor they need to consider along with condition. Its collectors that are looking to buy cib but there not going to pay full price for your faded copy,at that point loose is better. I could go on more. There are so many things going on since the pandemic. Prices skyrocketed and now I have been seeing them drop. I will continue to add to my collection but also will be I little more selective.
Definitely some great points here. I’m definitely curious on how things will continue to pan out. It’s definitely insane to see how things have been going since the boom.
#TeamPhysical - All digital agenda is like dipping an onion in carmel, selling it as a carmel apple!
Exactly!
Brandi yes is very sad
I know. :(
Ya it's horrible i am a physical collector i been collecting for 2 to 3 years first Xbox 360 now Xbox one and soon i will be collecting for xbox series x then Playstation
Only time will tell on what happens. :(
I held out for a usa xbox physical edition for Stray and bought it last week. So awesome. Now give me Hollow Knight damn it!!!
Yes!! That’s awesome!
as of recent i have buying only physical, ill even buy 2 copies just cuz , i really physical doesnt go away.
Same!
Well when TH-cam makes you rich you shouldn't have any problem at all collecting. For regular people like myself, its something ill never fully accomplish.
I wish! But the reality is that TH-cam doesn’t pay much of anything. At least to me. My last short only made like $0.04. 😂
I have to work a normal job like anyone else and budget to collect.
@@GamerAhmer well I make $15 an hour working outside in the rain and hot and cold and you make way more than I'll ever make just by playing video games
@@blackenedheart9592 I work a middle class job and that’s what pays for this hobby. For 4 years I never made a dime from TH-cam. Hard work and dedication is what I try to do.
In the UK there is 1 or 2 shops in big cities and everywhere else has nothing. Over here it's amazon killing the stores, people are buying the games just not from stores. Why would they? To sell its on ebay. My town is a ghost town everywhere is boarded up and closed. Sounds like Biden economics bit hard I heard bread is 4 bucks. 🙁😮. You cannot expect to pay for deals on everything and sell higher to everyone online forever. Sounds like you are doing OK your young and have 5000 plus items of which many are premium items.
Yea online sales have definitely changed the game along with digital content. Definitely crazy to think about. And I’m lucky to have started before the insane prices started and lucky to find deals still.
@@GamerAhmer deals are lost on me. Deals are for people with lots of time treasure hunting. It's fine if you have nothing better else to do or a hobby in itself. Besides if every game I bought was for 1 cent each, that's my benefit, not my audiences. Never understood the whole "i got a great deal" mentality. You don't see Elon musk, Jeff bezoz or Bill gates creating TH-cam channels about what a great deal they got. I like your channel don't get me wrong, I just skip over game room reconfiguration, great deals etc. To me, your channel is about exposing titles I haven't seen yet for which I am grateful. All that stuff channels do to keep themselves busy for an excuse to make another video, yeah lost on me.
Too many collectors not enough sellers = no stock , no profits and doors closing when it comes to games and streamers don’t buy physical media only people who like to own things instead of owning nothing 😂
Good points.
The collectors market IS the problem.
😮
Those stimulus checks ran out haha
The day games are digital is the day I stop buying new games period.
Absolutely!
Are we heading for another "Video Game Crash" in the US again? Microsoft rumors flying that they will leave the hardware business after this generation will kill the competition and raise prices in the digital market place. I need another monthly service fee like I need another hole in the head. As a physical game collector I truly hate all of this. Nintendo supporting "Bait & SWITCH" digital games hidden in physical form on the store shelves and on Amazon with altered box art hiding the fact that downloads and MicroSD cards are required are going to hurt the small business game store owners. I am wondering if game convention prices will go up this year with all of this news? Will the entry price, hotel costs, and travel costs hurt the convention scene if it is no longer financially beneficial to the retro collector? This all sucks. We really need to get back to cartridges that contain the whole FINISHED game and treat them as purchased property and not like a rentals. Make games that are great and ready to play. No game play stopping bugs nor required updates. Just games ready to play and enjoy. Thanks for the great content Gamer Ahmer!
Exactly! It makes you think. I’m definitely curious to see what happens too. I’ll still support my local stores and Game conventions as I hope this community stays together. Thanks for your thoughts and for watching!!
Nintendo switch is the only thing that keeps getting stocked in my Walmart! Xbox and Playstation is fading!
Woah!