A report has found that a significant share of physical PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X games cannot be used fully straight from the disc, instead requiring an initial download. This matters because it limits the long-term usefulness of boxed games for players without reliable internet access and raises preservation concerns.

According to the report, 34% of physical PS5 releases and 50% of Xbox Series X releases need downloads before they work completely. The findings suggest that owning a disc does not always guarantee a self-contained, playable copy of a modern game.