French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has voiced strong opposition to the video game industry's move towards digital-only distribution, emphasizing players' rights and the cultural significance of physical media. Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, recently took to social media to highlight concerns surrounding the forthcoming end of physical disc sales for games.
Citing the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 without a disc in 2026 and Sony's announced discontinuation of physical disc sales by 2028, Mélenchon articulated his stance: "With GTA 6 without a disc in 2026 and the announcement of Sony of the end of physical disc sales for games in 2028, the question arises of how we view these products. Tomorrow, you will pay without ever owning anything. No loan, no resale, no guarantee of keeping what we've paid for." He further argued that videogames should be considered cultural assets, not mere merchandise, and thus should be subject to existing legal protections.
Mélenchon is actively supporting a petition aimed at preserving physical video games. He expressed concern that the industry's push for an all-digital model would impose conditional and time-limited access to games, thereby denying buyers their rights. He described this shift as the "triumph of total commodification," where consumers purchase a revocable right of access rather than true ownership.
According to Mélenchon, the end of physical games signifies the industry imposing a model that undermines player autonomy and the preservation of gaming history. He argues that without control over how purchased games are maintained, there is a significant risk of losing older titles that form the foundation of the industry and, in his words, "our cultural heritage."