The Death of Video Game Collecting?

Gaming is heading in an "all digital" direction and with that, physical video games may cease to exist. Does this mean video game collecting will also cease to exist? What will happen to retro video games? Will anyone care to own this stuff?
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Video game collecting and investing KZbin with emphasis on vintage video games. Grading VGA and WATA retro collector. Gaming with consideration on rarest games ever or most expensive games. Talking about N64, NES, Super Nintendo, DS, 3DS, Sega Mario and More!

[@GetTheGreg]

What's going to happen to the hobby of video game collecting?🤔 I should have shaved before recording. Looking a bit too "neck beard" for my own good here.

[@BOBSMITH-fp5xv]

your title is silly , we both know what will happen , the real question is time and how much of it you have on your hands , the fact that gaming is going non physical will make physical games go up in value , mind you this will take 20-50 years but if you own n64 and earlier you will have a gold mine on your hands , think of it the same as comics

[@KindNizz]

Oh its a Woolverine lul

[@odinian6244]

GetTheAmishGames

[@rbgamingnetwork1]

Think that in an all digital future, physical game prices are going to skyrocket, pricing out any potential collectors.

[@trevor245]

Just look at vinyl records for an example. A medium that's been digital for 20 years and yet records are booming precisely due to that want for a physical representation of your favorite albums. Sure gaming isn't entirely the same but IMO it is definitely comparable in ways.

[@JoNev1]

Agreed!👍 Putting code onto a chip set on a fresh new cart is just one way many companies will help keep physical gaming alive. Ie: Limited Run etc. 😎

[@WackoWambo]

Cope

[@mrmojorisin8752]

Hard to predict the future, but the all-digital future might make physical games more valuable.

[@ubamcmillan13]

I feel the same

[@r3tr0sp3ct3r]

I don't see them getting cheaper. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" as they say.

[@patrouski]

One of my favorite videos you've made greg, super well presented points. Thanks for being awesome! A video id love to see from you is something covering the alternative grading companies, for example i see "ESG" or "E-Sports graded" Games on ebay all the time haha, now my first impression would to be highly skeptical of any companies outside of the respected ones. But im curious on ur take and maybe there are some alternatives worth looking into, etc. I feel like theres a lot of topics like this that may seem to have OBVIOUS answers for those deep in the hobby, but for casual fans and collectors like myself, we like to hear from experts like you! Thanks again greg.

[@Doors067]

This is why i think people grading switch games arent dumb but incredibly smart, the last form of a dead media typically has massive value due to being an end point. Also my mom loves her switch but doesnt have Wifi, this would make her miserable

[@MarquisDeSang]

Atari 2600+ : hold my paddles. They are releasing brand new Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges. And the best of all they continue to make new controllers.

[@thomaslehnart1374]

The hobby won't die. There are just too many people waiting that want to jump in as soon as prices drop

[@billy_bandit]

Prices dropped 50%+ as it is tho. What’s to wait for? When BTC plummeted (different market, same issue, and same timeframe=COVID) it created a floor of $30k from a high of $60k. I think we are at or near the floor now and 2020-2022 was the ceiling. If people are waiting they really shouldn’t . Not if there’s something they really want.

[@pcorey182]

In 9 years the modern comic as we know it will be a hundred years old in the early 2000s they try to go all digital subscriptions to their new comics they tried to get comic collectors to buy in to digital comics and read them online for even cheaper than what it cost to buy brand new and it did not last collectors did not want it and the same I feel will happen with streaming games there's just too many collectors that collect video games it might go away for a minute but they'll always be a company bringing out video games or limited edition versions of new games

[@DarkMaster64999]

I still collect dvds and blu rays for nostalgia and enjoying them on my shelves.

[@rodgyretrogamer3334]

Im in the anti digital camp and when it all goes digital...im going to be just getting the odd game that im most interested in playing, likely to be just 3-4 games per year (or just have game pass for a month, every few months). This means i will have more budget to go towards my collection of retro 🤗

[@I300MHEADSH0T]

Once all the discs 📀 start rotting that will be the end 🪦

[@xjohnnygrimmx]

Your last point is on point.

[@super_junk]

Love that the "activate Windows" message made an appearance ™️

[@GetTheGreg]

This all digital future isn't fooling me

[@thebuzzing]

Greg you hit a very good point. The day we enter all digital gaming is the day I stop buying next gen consoles unless something really looks cool to play. It has to be very enticing. Otherwise I refuse to support all digital. With Microsoft’s recent console announcement- I’ve already committed to not buying another Xbox which is a shame bc they practically kept retro gaming alive in their own way with their backwards compatibility disc or disc less option. It’s a shame

[@justinmaertens31]

My favorite part about Greg's videos is the part when I hit the like button before I go🤓

[@Mitjitsu]

If you're investing in video games for the long run. It's going to be the same strategy in relation to comic backs i.e. go after the keys.

[@KeeVarTheBarbarian]

This is what I believe as well, the marios / zeldas etc. of the gaming world will have the most staying power. Iconic, early print, era defining franchises that continue to capture new fans are the safest bet strictly from a financial perspective.

[@Mitjitsu]

@@KeeVarTheBarbarian Also the top 3% of desirable games from a consoles library.

[@KeeVarTheBarbarian]

Totally!! you can already see this 'natural selection' happening in the hobby slowly over time. I very much agree with what GetTheGregGames is saying in the video with respect to emulation becoming the norm soon and the reason for physical collecting will gravitate to box art appreciation / display pieces etc.@@Mitjitsu

[@KindNizz]

Great Video my Big Bear

[@Norg1]

I was looking up prices on some old atari games some hit rock bottom but some rare ones still are like 180 bucks

[@apebitmusic83]

The important and awesome games of the past will always have interest. Way too many people are passionate about video games and video games history. The more obscure stuff may drop off but by and large I don’t see the hobby dying anytime soon.

[@RetroQuest-tz3ru]

I must be an outlier, lol. I love reading comic books and I prefer reading by the issue. I didn’t read them as a kid either. I’m pretty sure they actually just discontinued the Marvel, digital comic app that had been around a decade. The majority of their sales have just been physical. Most of us read them as they release and then go back and read different runs.

[@KingYote]

Honestly I think it will get even bigger for people who are smart and actually want to own what they pay for.

[@trevor245]

The future of digital gaming will likely not be licensing but rather a streaming type service.

[@cherokeefit4248]

Good thing I got my doubles for 90% of all my games despite console. Still going hard for the PS4 and xbox1.

[@hieinh]

I think the lack of physical copies will boost collecting. Last Heritage was full of poorly graded games so I don't think it's a good indication.

[@themeltanman7288]

I pray that video game companies offer a *made to order* option you can pre order a physical game. Would also make sealed copies feel more special!

[@r3tr0sp3ct3r]

Gonna be hard to put that physical media in with no disc drive

[@billy_bandit]

My predictions (despite not wanting this to happen): 2030 - Heritage and Goldin phase out weekly auctions in favor of limited, highly sought-after games only (same with comics). 2040 - most sealed games have long since found a forever home and eBay listings become a thing of the past. People move on to other collecting categories. 2050 - AR gaming becomes the norm with console gaming taking a backseat. Nobody under 30 knows what a StarFox is. 2060 - the retirement era for many of us. The OGs in the hobby begin to die off and the majority of sealed games are lost or thrown out as their value has declined significantly, save for the Mario’s and Zelda’s. 2070 - a child picks up a dusty acrylic box from his great grandmothers house. It’s Final Fantasy X on PS2 graded 90+ by VGA. He cracks it open and reads the manual as he plays an emulated copy online. He shrugs his shoulders and goes outside to play AR baseball

[@GetTheGreg]

RIP haha 😔

[@joeyisabsb1]

When consoles start to become digital only I will probably do exactly what you said, start using that extra money to go towards older games. Ill still get the new consoles but ill definitely buy a lot less new titles.

[@reubenruppert488]

Well said... As a entrant to the hobby just over a year ago, but a comic guy with 20 yrs exp that personally owns Amazing Fantasy 15 and more... I think your spot on. But that comic experience taught me to focus. Other than the OG wht bullets tyson and long box RE, I only own early first print Mario games and the first 20 Zelda's all first print, a third of which are sealed. But all are at least high grade cib. So what does that tell you...

[@GetTheGreg]

Sounds like you're future-proofing yourself as best you can👀

[@reubenruppert488]

@@GetTheGreg had no choice but to learn from 2 major downturns in vintage comic collecting over a 30 year period. Nothing will ever beat the longturn demand for a prominent IP and the scarcity therein.

[@MilkWasABadChoice17]

I'd like to note about current games today. They are getting smaller and smaller physical print runs than we have ever seen (years ago anything less than 50k was very small, while we are getting runs on PlayStation around and less than 1k), which is due to the demand for them just not being as prevalent. Once these games are gone from stores, when physical games are no longer a thing, and the digital storefronts are down for good (which will happen), some of them are going to absolutely skyrocket in price on the second hand market. The limited print market has some toxicity around it, later on there's going to be people that either didn't know the physical copies existed or just avoided them altogether and at that time want them so bad they'll give in to the resellers (just like why certain older games today are going for a bunch of money).

[@crazycarlsadventures5983]

I feel Nintendo will continue to produce physical media… they have killed it with the switch … switch will be super collectible in future with so many limited titles… PlayStation and Xbox is really where I question things … mind you not everyone in USA has great internet speed too … my friend lives in a rural part of Virginia and uses dial up to this day … takes him up to 20 hours to update certain games that would take me 20 mins … he will be going physical all the way until he just can’t or until they get hi speed internet in his area

[@Simoss13]

I feel sorry for kids being born from this year onwards. 10th Gen is likely going to be all digital or streaming full of incomplete games with microtransactions on launch. There is nothing like unwrapping a gift, touching the box and looking at the goodies before playing the game on a special event to receive it as a kid. I tend to buy AA games as they have a higher chance to harken back to 7th Gen AAA games with better visuals.

[@rarespawncollective]

I think the most valid point you made was about how the retro market will likely explode again when people can no longer buy new physical games and collectors/new people entering the hobby will start going backwards and seeking out older stuff. I think that will be the next huge rise in popularity that this hobby will see (probably not on the level of COVID, but definitely a huge rise in interest and demand) With that being said I honestly don't think the death of physical is that close yet. For Xbox it seems to be right around the corner, but I believe Sony and especially Nintendo will hold out for another 5-10 years.

[@GetTheGreg]

Sony I'm wishy washy on, they seem ready to flip to digital... But Nintendo, I agree. I think we still have some time to relish in the physical goodness!

[@triple_lei]

Well, there's collecting, and there's physical availability which I think are two separate things. I have a 1 TB micro SD card in my Switch and I'm running low to the point where I'm just going to get the biggest, most high-profile games made by Nintendo in physical format. And, yeah, maybe I didn't need to buy all those RPGs in digital format either. Of all the games I buy now and plan to play waaaay later, those eat up the most space and that hurts. I want to say that physical will remain available for us to buy for the very newest consoles because games are only getting bigger and bigger and maybe we don't want to spend literal days downloading them, nor do we have the endless hard drive space to store them. On the other hand, mandatory game installs started in the PS3 era so maybe we're going to have to have hard drive space for our games anyway.

[@JoNev1]

Yup Greg and like I've always said, the demand will ALWAYS be there because of the fact that human beings have cherished and collected physical items since the beginning of time. Ie: Coins, Papyrus documents, Art, Old Soda Bottles, Cars, Cards, Magazines the list goes on and on... 😉👍💪😆💯 #PhysicalForever

[@GetTheGreg]

Amen dude!

[@JohnnyEvilsVids]

I think you've pretty much hit the nail on the head here. As yourself and others have mentioned a number of times before, the hobby is kept alive by nostalgia and as we move, over time, through the nostalgia wave, what is "collectable" changes with that wave. As a video game reseller for 10 years, I have noticed a dramatic reduction in the sale of NES games and to a lesser extent SNES games. Atari games? Please.... My guess is that the whole thing comes to a grinding halt at the end of the PS3/Xbox 360 nostalgia wave, when those players who were kids, hit their 50's and start downsizing.

[@mrmojorisin8752]

I’ve seen Atari prices go through the roof, probably with the advent of the Atari+. Have you checked 7800 prices lately? Please indeed.

[@JohnnyEvilsVids]

@mrmojorisen8752 I haven't noticed that, as I've long since liquidated anything to do with Atari. I could have also made the same comment for Colecovision or Intelivision. If Atari has enjoyed a price spike, then I'm here for it! But I think you know what I was trying to say and I don't suspect there's to many people that would contend that the pre-NES systems and games are being actively purchased in any meaningful way. Of course there may be some extreme outlier examples to the contrary. But again, if Atari is having its day, I'm a fan!

[@mrmojorisin8752]

@@JohnnyEvilsVids The “new” Atari has done a nice job in making the whole brand relevant again.

[@bobthebadguy6876]

I literally bought physical copies of PS4 games that I previously downloaded simply because I liked them, and I wanted physical copies of them. Hopefully, we still get some kind of collector's editions released in physical form in the future.

[@GetTheGreg]

I'm reaaaallly hoping we still get limited physicals. Even if they just become a DL code in a box haha. I'll take it 😅

[@donniedarko7751]

@@GetTheGreg Not into digital codes but you know, collecting is just going to change.

[@questjelinek]

mooooreeeee FOMO videos with dramatic titles! #growthHack... this was a great vid with solid points :P

[@WackoWambo]

Literal cope from Gregory. Your collection is going to $0. Larry told me so.

[@GetTheGreg]

Oh for crying out loud. You're right.

[@rodseller9936]

It's not going to die. I was already planning to fight the game corporations with my own company.

[@radrob4403]

The Nintendo market and collecting scene will be strong for the next 40 years because of the Nintendo Switch 👌 Physical video games are not going away. There will always be a demand for physical video games. Look at Atari with the Atari 2600+

[@tony--james]

love physical media, in regards to video games, I didn't really have to collect later on, for over 40 years, I simply never got rid of any of it lol, Still have all my Intellivision/ColecoVision,Atari games, and systems I bought at the time, 120+ , I kept everything lol I even kept my TurboGraphix 16, and it's box I bought new in 1990, I also remember 2011-2012, in thrift stores here, no one really gave a crap about PS2/Xbox Original, or GameCube, I remember grabbing PS2 Silent Hill 2 for 2 bucks ( still have it lol) they would have PS2/Xbox systems complete for 20 bucks etc, I even got a Wii for 5 bucks , not anymore

[@TheLast-BoyScout.33]

I think you said best, Gregski, they will become relics of the past wich in ny opinion will increase its scarcity wich will in turn increase the value... Great video my Canadian brutha.. There may also be a market for turning physical items into nfts

[@GetTheGreg]

Don't you dare mention NFTs haha, that's an easy way to get everyone to stop listening 😅

[@TheLast-BoyScout.33]

@@GetTheGreg I know bro, its almost taboo at this point...I do think there will be a legit application for them at some point that we're just not aware of yet... There will be a eureka moment.. Great video though my man

[@atomiswave1971]

It will split the market for me. I've never bought digital music and only a few ps3 psn games when it came out. The good news is millions of old games out there I've never played. I'm yet to buy current gen because it's a bit rubbish. If a console releases without media it won't be bought by me.

[@odinian6244]

WALL OF TEXT SUMMARY: I think select historically and culturally impactful game will stay relevant in the future. Look at other categories. All other trends points towards a digital future. Look at books f.ex., which you and Jeremy fittingly talked about on last weeks podcast. People are throwing away their books amass these days, while the category is gaining traction. But everyone are after the same, select books, that everybody knows, and who are pillars in their category. Wizard of Oz, Gatsby, etc. Titles that have stood the test of time. Jeremy mentions Harry Potter, which is big right now because of our generation's nostalgia, but it's a 30 year old book, not 100 year old book (Gatsby turns 100 next year 👀), so it still needs to prove itself over another few decades. But there you go. Two physical categories, whose paths I think will match. Also, from what I've gathered over the past few years is that kids these days aren't as obsessed with the physical and focus more on the digital. Online gaming, multiplayer, sharing online, skins, maps, challenges, trends, youtubers, etc. Now, I live in a city of 200k people in a very rich country, but we lost our last media chain store in town during covid, along with Gamestop. I don't think they're ever coming back unless companies, corporations, and the industry get too greedy and f everything up, which is the topic that sparked this video.

[@bobby_c07]

I kinda doubt it'll go all digital forever, but there may be an attempt, especially in the Xbox camp. But both Playstation and Nintendo sell millions of physical copies per game and quite frankly it is business suicide to cut those off just because some higher ups would prefer it. Also what will likely take place, are collector's editions of games will become very common, somewhat like vinyl. Also once the ps4/Xbox one generation lose some games due to dead licenses, much of the younger generations that don't see the point in physical games will finally have a light bulb go off.

[@backtoobasics]

Send the message by not purchasing digital media

[@GetTheGreg]

I'm sure these companies have factored the potential customer drop off vs the savings of them not producing physical games. I'm just not sure we could ever see enough people stop buying for it to actually matter.

[@Quick1blue]

You're my gaming hero 😃

[@GetTheGreg]

🫡🤝

[@stevirobbo]

There is no point in digital games the market will fail and they will revert to some kind of physical content. 😊 Memory is the factir here and people are going to be pissed when they realise they can't sell their collections of downloads.

[@GetTheGreg]

I assume the industry is hoping people will treat gaming like going to see a movie. Completely consumable entertainment and once it's done, you have nothing.

[@poopy_fingers3324]

you brought up mario rpg. makes me wonder how many newer generation people are actually playing it. and i mean kids whose parents are not trying to force the game onto them by saying, "this is is so great! i played it as a kid!" i just can't imagine too many new generation kids would have the patience to sit through a game like mario rpg.

[@puppy14]

Kids these days are buying Palworld and then moving on to the next as soon as their favorite streamer plays another. My generation (millennial) is the last of its kind for gaming.

[@GetTheGreg]

I do agree with you there; the speed at which games come and go now is insane.

[@Norg1]

The problem with disc based games ps1 on down wont last forever due to disc rot How long u think they will last like 2085 ???

[@wfhstudio]

In the future as long as more than one person shows up to an auction….

[@Norg1]

In 2056 when all these sellers sell there massive retro games retro stores will be flooded lol

[@KyleReeseCel2029]

In 2200 few will care about games made 200 years ago. Collecting video games will become a niche hobby. The best examples of some quality games will "possibly" be preserved by some maniacs. Think about how many thousands or millions of games that will come out in the future. There will be too many for people to be serious about collecting them.

[@GetTheGreg]

Thank god I'll be dead long before then and not have to worry about it 😅

[@KyleReeseCel2029]

@@GetTheGreg Yea. The mass majority will probably end up in land fills like ET.

[@GetTheGreg]

@@KyleReeseCel2029 honestly, after 100+ years, probably.

[@donniedarko7751]

There is almost an infinite amount of games pre-2024. Only a select few (3?) will ever get them all. Collecting wont die because the new games are going digital. To add to that, new collectors might collect digitally, I know a ton of people that say they have a steam 'collection', to us it sounds stupid but to them its a real collection. Collecting will change but it wont be the death of it.

[@GetTheGreg]

I will never accept that ROMs or steam downloads are a "collection"😅

[@retro_shinobi]

That D2LOD big box for sale? Haha

[@GetTheGreg]

Noooooooo🥳

[@kevinmaceda8238]

Rip

[@supergarbagedaypodcast]

Sounds like this is the time to start grabbing 360 games, might be the cheapest you can grab them..

[@GetTheGreg]

360 and PS3 really are dirt cheap right now. I assume it won't be like that forever...

[@supergarbagedaypodcast]

especially when the 360 marketplace is gone forever@@GetTheGreg

[@GetTheGreg]

I just saw that Spec Ops the Line was taken off of marketplaces and the Xbox 360 version was cleared off of eBay immediately haha.

[@supergarbagedaypodcast]

I saw that as well! Oof, wish I grabbed it a month ago... @@GetTheGreg

[@nintendogal9143]

It's all going to zero, sell sell sell!

[@GetTheGreg]

SELL, SELL, SELL!

[@backalleygamesandcollectib8171]

Long comment - I'm a small collector with roughly 1200 games and around 25 systems. What I hate, is the thought of digital pricing. Example I bought a new copy of The Last Of Us II PS4 version for $19.99 at Walmart. The same title the last time I checked on the PSN store was still sitting at $49.99. That's a big price difference in my eyes. If it is being sold for $20 physically in a retail store, it should also be sold for $20 on the PSN store. Or cheaper, as digital media should be cheaper then physical media. Also the remastered version is being released soon for the PS5 and the price is the same as the PS4 version. Another example is the game We Be Happy Few. Plus not all titles are available to buy on PSN ( Friday The 13th was removed ) and alot of the games are cheap crappy games that would never be released on physical media. Now I do see from time to time some decent deals happen like Resident Evil 3 go on sale for $9.99. Another thing is that the PSN tier memberships have went up in price. Is it worth it maybe to some, but I bet alot would say it isn't

[@DRMfreeWizard]

Physical games will go away and come back. A niche company will come forward and fill the gap in the market. Might take a few years but thats how Vinyl and CDs are maiking a comback.

[@GetTheGreg]

I would love for that to be the case

[@radu-oy7em]

if there will be only digital games why would i have a console a pc is much better and u can pirate

[@mfinite689]

I'm scooping up 360/PS3/Wii games on the cheap because I'm old enough now that there's enough existing physical media backlog out there to last me the rest of my life. Either these cheap games go up in value over time if people desire physical media and it helps contribute towards my eventual retirement, or there's no demand for them in which case I haven't spent a lot of money acquiring them for my collection which is also good. I'm not spending money on NES/SNES because while I'd enjoy it, the average young person isn't likely to feel nostalgic for it 20 years from now.

[@Itwasme007]

Video gamesbare collectable and as soceity is going I assured you physical media will appreciate in price. Remember the yiu will owned nothing and be happy... yeah you will not owned anything at all, you will rent things if yiu want to used them.