I'm not 100% sure that it's the physical media its self that's the issue, it more so that the digital versions require verification from a server to be playable.

Xbox and PlayStation can shut the server down and your digital game becomes useless.

Steam I think this might be a issue, but I don't remember hearing this happening yet.

GOG you buy the game and get all the files and executables, so if GOG goes out of business your game still run locally.

Last game I can recall buying for PC and physical was Farcry. I never had to many either but the rest were all from the 90s like diablo, and command and conquer red alert. It all stopped when half life 2 dropped which was basically when steam became what it is now and that was 2004.

Last time I bought them was the Close Combat series from Slitherine/Matrix Games, which does war games.

checks

Looks like they stopped last year:

https://www6.slitherine.com/news/important-update-last-chance-to-purchase-physical-manuals-and-editions-before-march-1st

Dear Wargamers,

We want to share an important update with you.

Starting March 1st, 2025, Slitherine will no longer sell physical game manuals or physical copies of our games through our website. This marks the end of an era, and we understand how much these editions have meant to many of you over the years.

There is a trend away from Physical purchases to digital, and a decreasing number of new PC’s even have DVD drives and very few laptops meaning the potential market has been shrinking for years. This, combined with increasing delivery costs, environmental awareness, and more red tape on international deliveries, all combine to make it unviable.

For those who appreciate the tactile experience of a physical manual or a boxed edition, this is your final chance to secure a piece of wargaming history. You have until February 28th, 2025, to purchase from the remaining stock, after which these products will no longer be available.