Bloober Team, the studio behind the Silent Hill 2 remake, intends to produce physical versions of its games for as long as feasible. Studio CEO Piotr Babieno stated his appreciation for physical media and collectibles, noting that while visual and auditory fidelity in games has reached a plateau, player engagement remains strong regardless of hardware age.
Babieno believes that as AI drives innovation in areas like sight and sound, there is still untapped potential in engaging other senses, particularly touch. This philosophy is influencing their work on new titles, including the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive Onyx: The Dark Group. He asserted that "the physical element of gaming will always, always be there."
While acknowledging the convenience and profitability of digital distribution, Babieno highlighted the personal significance of game collecting. He explained that collecting games fosters an emotional connection between the player, the game, and the developer, a connection that could be lost with a purely digital approach. "This little emotional touch is so important that, I think in some way, we would lose the opportunity of being closer with our fans [without it]," he said.
Broken Mirror Games' executive director Tymon Smektala shares this sentiment, emphasizing that physical collections are integral to their understanding and expectation of gaming. He expressed a commitment to maintaining physical releases as long as it remains possible and is permitted by industry leaders.
Bloober's Silent Hill 2 remake was released physically for PC and PlayStation 5. However, the landscape of physical game releases is shifting, with Sony slated to end support for PlayStation discs in 2028. The development of the Silent Hill 1 remake was announced last year, but its release date remains unconfirmed, leaving its physical release status uncertain in relation to Sony's upcoming change.