Most of us still remember the time when buying a physical copy of a game was pretty much standard practice and digital purchases were just another alternative. However, things have changed quite a lot over the years, and almost everything is online anyway, so digital editions come with all kinds of advantages that physical copies cannot offer. Generally, it’s convenience that is the biggest selling point for digital titles, but games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 seem ready to take things even further.
For example, those who preorder Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 can access its campaign right now, ahead of its October 23 launch. However, players who preorder the physical copies don’t get the same opportunity, even though they are basically buying the same thing. And although most people are all about rewarding players for ordering early, it’s just quite difficult to justify treating physical edition buyers like second-class customers.
Physical Games Are Already Fighting an Uphill Battle
Well, digital games already have quite a few advantages over physical copies, and there’s no point pretending this isn’t the case. At the very least, you don’t even have to visit a store or wait for delivery or even change discs when you want to play something else. It’s all available from your console or PC, and all of this just comes with the format, and the publishers don’t even have to do anything additional for this to happen. Sometimes they offer more benefits, like merch or special customization options like skins that come only with purchasing early access, but generally, most people would agree that digital games are simply more convenient.
Find all 10 pairs
In other words, people gradually feel pushed toward digital purchases even if physical editions haven’t really disappeared. So it’s very interesting why the developers of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are trying to discourage purchasing physical copies even further when there are people who just genuinely prefer them. After all, physical copies aren’t the villain, and they also offer some advantages themselves. Collectors can display them on their shelves, lend them to friends, or even resell them sometimes. It’s similar to collecting books.
Sure, you can have them on your Kindle, but there’s just something extremely satisfying about looking at your entire collection in your living room. Moreover, digital purchases generally provide a license to access a game, and although this doesn’t guarantee permanent access to every feature, physical ownership still offers something that digital downloads simply cannot replicate. And many would consider it a shame that those who want something tangible to show for their purchase are also being asked to wait longer despite paying for the same thing that their fellow gamers are paying for.
Retailers Are Getting the Short End of the Stick, Too
Obviously, players aren’t necessarily the only ones who could be affected by this decision, as physical retailers have the potential to lose a lot as well, especially when it comes to major releases. After all, preorders are an important part of the entire process of selling a game, and stores are generally very interested in encouraging customers to reserve their copies earlier. In other words, stores are expected to compete for the same customers, but they don’t have access to the same perks.
Preorder bonuses can vary by platform, retailer, and edition, so always check the offer’s terms.
Sure, it’s true that some people will continue buying physical copies regardless of what they get in return, simply because they like having something to show for their purchase, and that’s that. However, those who decide that getting to play a week earlier is worth giving up on the disc simply go down in the drawer of failed sales when it comes to stores. Overall, if more publishers adopt similar practices, retailers will be at a great disadvantage when it comes to new releases.
Physical Games Still Deserve a Place in the Industry
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with digital preorder bonuses, and it’s okay to make a product more appealing by providing exclusive customization options like skins or small surprise features, but there are plenty of ways to reward digital purchases without making physical buyers feel like they’re getting the short end of the stick. It’s also worth mentioning that even though we live in a digital era, many people, including Gen Z and millennials, are slowly going back to analog, with those old physical media formats gaining popularity again. Maybe it’s the AI slop that’s everywhere or general burnout from staring at screens, but people are definitely still interested in owning something tangible.
In other words, maybe the situation with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not end up hurting physical copies as much as it seems. However, ultimately, what Modern Warfare 4 is doing raises an interesting question about where the industry might be heading at this point. There was a time when physical copies used to be the standard, and now we are moving toward people having to sacrifice all the advantages of a preorder simply to have something to show for their purchase. Hopefully, this will not turn into the norm, because there is certainly no reason why physical and digital games shouldn’t coexist without one getting special treatment. It would be quite ironic, though, if the people who collect physical games eventually became the last ones allowed to play them.
- Released
-
October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
