DVDs are making an unexpected comeback. After years of steady decline, the format's sales drop slowed from 20 percent in 2024 to just 9 percent in 2025. Independent video stores like Cinefile and Vidiots are seeing more foot traffic from younger customers, with Vidiots alone renting around 1,000 DVDs weekly. For a format written off as dead, Gen Z's renewed interest points to a larger shift in how people think about owning media.
This isn't just nostalgia. Boutique labels like A24 and The Criterion Collection have built audiences that care about curated film experiences, while platforms like Letterboxd foster communities around deeper engagement with cinema. At the same time, streaming services like Netflix keep raising prices, adding ads, and cycling titles in and out as licensing deals expire. If you want guaranteed access to a specific film, buying the disc is still the safest bet.
Use code TRYHARD33 at checkout to redeem this offer before code expires again.
Get 33% Off GAMES+ Subscription
What ownership means when everything's digital
Gaming faces the same problems. Over the last decade, the industry has moved hard toward digital storefronts and subscription models. Digital downloads are convenient, but they depend on platform policies, server uptime, and licensing deals that can shift without warning. Players don't always keep permanent access to what they buy, especially when online services shut down or publishers pull titles from stores.
Independent game shops are seeing younger buyers show up looking for physical copies. Daniel Teixeira, who runs Toronto's A&C Games, says customers often ask for older entries in long-running franchises. Instead of just chasing the latest release, some players want to understand where these series started. It's the same curiosity driving film fans to explore beyond what's trending on streaming.
But gaming's physical market has different problems than film. Retro game collecting has gotten expensive, especially after the pandemic drove up demand. Popular titles can sell for hundreds of dollars on the secondhand market, pricing out younger players who just want to try older games. Independent stores have to pay competitive rates to stock inventory, which pushes retail prices even higher. The result is a market that risks shutting out the people most interested in exploring it.
Stores that double as hangout spots
In San Bernardino County, RATNEST has noticed more younger customers coming in for physical media, including retro games and niche imports. The store's setup prioritizes vibe over traditional retail logic. Vintage hardware, arcade cabinets, and music displays turn browsing into something closer to exploration than shopping.
Owner Robbie Ratnest discourages flipping and grading games for resale. The point is to keep games circulating among people who actually want to play them, not treat them like investment vehicles. It's a pushback against the retro market's increasing fixation on sealed and graded collectibles, which pulls games out of circulation and drives up prices for everyone else.
Even big retailers like GameStop used to function as informal meetup spots for younger players. But corporate retail prioritizes sales targets over cultural preservation. The DVD comeback shows that physical spaces can work as community hubs when they balance commerce with genuine shared interest.
How film kept cult classics alive
Film history is full of examples where physical media extended a work's life. Movies like Blade Runner, Fight Club, and The Thing bombed in theaters but found audiences through VHS and DVD sales. Home video created a second chance for films to be discovered and reassessed over time.
Gaming's shift toward live-service models and subscription platforms has shrunk that secondary market. Major platform holders like Sony and Xbox focus on recurring revenue and long-term player engagement. These strategies can provide stability, but they also narrow attention to a smaller set of titles and ongoing services.
The DVD resurgence proves younger audiences will pay for ownership when digital systems feel unstable or restrictive. For gaming, that means supporting affordable physical releases, backing independent retailers, and keeping offline functionality intact could make the ecosystem more sustainable long-term.
Why physical copies still matter
Video games are interactive in ways film isn't, but both rely on preservation. Server shutdowns, delistings, and hardware discontinuation can cut off access to titles within years. Physical copies don't solve every preservation problem, especially for always-online games, but they provide a stability layer that purely digital purchases can't match.
The renewed interest in DVDs reflects a broader demand for control over personal media libraries. For gaming, the path forward doesn't require abandoning digital convenience. It just means maintaining parallel systems that let players access and revisit titles years after release. Independent stores, community-driven events, and secondhand markets remain part of that infrastructure.
Gen Z's engagement with DVDs gives the gaming industry a chance to rethink how ownership, community, and long-term access fit into its future. The real question isn't whether digital distribution will keep dominating. It's whether physical media can coexist as a stabilizing counterweight.
Check out our gaming gear guides:
Best Apple Products for Gaming
Best Nintendo Switch Accessories
Best Gaming Androids (phones)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are Gen Z consumers buying DVDs again?
Gen Z is buying DVDs for reliable access, curated film experiences, and protection against streaming catalog rotations, price hikes, and ad-supported tiers.
How does the DVD revival relate to video games?
The DVD comeback highlights renewed interest in physical media ownership. Gaming faces similar concerns about digital-only distribution, preservation, and long-term access, driving discussion about the value of physical copies.
Are physical video games becoming popular again?
Some independent retailers report increased interest from younger players in retro and physical games. High resale prices remain a barrier to wider adoption, though.
Why is retro game collecting expensive?
Limited supply, increased demand, speculative grading markets, and pandemic-era price spikes have driven up costs for many older titles.
Do physical games guarantee long-term access?
Physical copies offer more stability than digital licenses, especially for offline games. Titles requiring online servers may still become unplayable if those services shut down.
Can physical media help preserve gaming history?
Yes. Physical media supports archival efforts, resale markets, and community exchange, all contributing to long-term preservation and cultural continuity.
