Zoomers Revive Physical Media Trend, Sparking Hope for Gaming

Independent stores see surge in young customers buying DVDs, raising questions about the future of physical video games

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A surprising trend has emerged among young people - physical media sales, especially DVDs, are experiencing a new burst of popularity after a decade of decline. Stores have noticed a significant increase in Gen Z customers renting and buying DVDs, with one Los Angeles shop reporting renting 1,000 DVDs per week. This raises the question of whether a similar trend could take hold in the video game industry, where frustrations with digital distribution, curation, and long-term access have led some players to seek out physical copies of older games.

Why it matters

The return of physical media interest among young people could provide a blueprint for the video game industry to revive its own physical sales and foster a stronger sense of gaming culture and community. However, barriers such as high prices of retro games have made collecting physical copies an 'elitist' pursuit, putting pressure on used game stores to balance rising costs with accessibility for younger fans.

The details

Independent stores like A&C Games in Toronto and RATNEST in San Bernardino County have noticed a surge in younger customers seeking out physical media, especially for more obscure or niche titles. RATNEST's owner Robbie Ratnest says he's more interested in providing a space that reinforces gaming culture than maximizing profits, even if it means sacrificing his own retirement. The trend mirrors the vinyl revival among millennials, which was driven by a desire for fidelity, prestige, and the ability to reliably access content without corporate interference.

  • In 2024, physical media sales saw a 20% decline, which was halved to just 9% in 2025.
  • Last fall, the Toronto Game Expo, a retro gaming convention, saw increased interest from younger attendees.

The players

A&C Games

A long-running independent video game shop in Toronto that has noticed younger customers taking a historical approach to gaming and paying respect to the roots of game series.

RATNEST

An independent game store in San Bernardino County that has a more punk-inspired aesthetic and culture-first approach, prioritizing enjoyment of games over commercial value or collectability.

Robbie Ratnest

The owner of RATNEST, who says he's more interested in providing a space that reinforces gaming culture than maximizing profits, even if it means sacrificing his own retirement.

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What they’re saying

“I definitely notice that younger people are actually interested in seeing where the game series of today first originated. It's cool how some are taking such a historical approach and paying respect to the roots.”

— Daniel Teixeira, Employee, A&C Games (Kotaku)

“I feel bad at how much they need to spend to acquire physical copies. Ever since the pandemic, being able to collect older video games is far more difficult, particularly with whatever is most popular.”

— Daniel Teixeira, Employee, A&C Games (Kotaku)

“My younger demo has seen a significant increase, especially with the kind of more obscure titles I carry involving anime, as well as the Japanese/Eastern horror, drama, tokusatsu, kaiju, etc. They're very much looking for more than what modern media is offering for an average experience on top of it.”

— Robbie Ratnest, Owner, RATNEST (Kotaku)

“I'm not here to make money, I make money to be here. We generally shun those who are very outspoken about flipping games or getting them graded. Absolutely do not give a shit about that. I want these games in people's hands who want to enjoy them.”

— Robbie Ratnest, Owner, RATNEST (Kotaku)

What’s next

Independent game stores and the gaming community will need to find ways to make physical game collecting more accessible and affordable for younger fans in order to foster a stronger culture around physical media in the industry.

The takeaway

The resurgence of physical media interest among young people, particularly for DVDs, provides a potential blueprint for the video game industry to revive its own physical sales and cultivate a more vibrant gaming culture. However, addressing barriers like high prices of retro games will be crucial to making this trend inclusive and sustainable.