Dan Houser Supports Physical Games If Players Want Them

Dan Houser and Lazlow Jones Address the Physical Media Debate

While Houser noted that he does not personally care whether games ship on physical media, he advocated for consumer choice. I don't know that I care, but if people want that, I think companies should provide it, Houser stated during the panel discussion. At the same time, Houser defended digital releases, pointing out that the ability to update software and patch issues has greatly benefited overall game quality.

Industry Backlash Follows Sony Disc Cutoff and GTA 6 Decisions

The remarks from Houser arrive during a period of intense discussion across the gaming industry regarding physical media. Sony previously confirmed that it will stop manufacturing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. That announcement has driven sustained backlash from players, collectors, and industry figures alike, including creators such as Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid director Hideo Kojima, who expressed sadness over the decision.

Additional irony surrounds Houser’s former employer, Rockstar Games, as Grand Theft Auto 6 prepares for a digital-heavy launch. According to Shane the Gamer, the $99.99 Ultimate Edition of GTA 6 is available strictly as a digital purchase, while the Standard Edition features a download code inside a box rather than a traditional game disc.

Circana data cited by pushsquare.com highlights a broader commercial decline in physical media within the United States, noting that only seven boxed PlayStation games have surpassed 100,000 copies in sales in 2026, reaching a maximum of 275,000 units. By comparison, historical records show that roughly 100 physical PlayStation games exceeded 100,000 copies during the same period in 2008.

Perspectives From Absurd Ventures on Digital Convenience and Print Media

Lazlow Jones also offered a balanced view on the debate, contrasting the nostalgic satisfaction of physical media with the practical utility of digital downloads. “We all have that sort of feeling when you get that copy, and you put the disc in the console, but I also have to say I really like being at the airport and going, ‘Oh, cool. I can download some quick games to my Steam Deck for this 12-hour flight,'” Jones said, as reported by Kotaku.

Both Houser and Jones now work together at Absurd Ventures, a multimedia studio that Houser founded and officially announced in 2023. Discussing their current creative ventures—which include the American Caper comic book series created alongside Dark Horse—the creators highlighted the unique fulfillment found in physical print products after years of working primarily in digital mediums.

We've worked in digital together for a lot of years, and then making a physical product of a comic book is a different creative process, but it's also just really fulfilling to have a physical thing you can say, 'Look. We made a thing,' Jones explained. Houser followed up with a straightforward endorsement of print and tangible goods, stating simply: I love physical media.