Retail chain Target has responded to recent reports claiming it will stop selling physical media, revealing that it will continue to sell physical media but will limit the number of copies it sells in its retail stores.
A Target spokesperson told IGN that the retail chain will “carry the limited selection of DVDs” it carries into retail stores. The official website will still offer “thousands of titles” for customers to purchase. Although retail stores are shifting to a more selective approach to the physical media they carry, a spokesperson told IGN that they will offer select DVDs in their stores when a new release is released or “during key times throughout the year when they are most popular,” Like Black Friday or during anti-Prime sales.
“Based on our guests' shopping patterns and broader industry trends, we are moving the limited assortment of DVDs we carry in our stores to Target.com, where guests will continue to find thousands of titles,” the spokesperson said. “Going forward, we will offer select DVDs in stores when they are newly released or during key times throughout the year when they are most popular, such as holiday gift giving.”
The spokesperson also confirmed that its new policy will not affect physical games sold in its retail stores. This will only affect physical copies of movies and TV shows.
Exclusive:
Target sources tell me they will stop selling physical media in-store and online by 2025 pic.twitter.com/uTT971d1B9
— Head of Physical Media (@PhysicalMedia_) April 17, 2024
Target's response comes one day after the physical media chief's X/Twitter account to publish Its sources told the account that the retail giant will stop selling physical media in-store and online by next year.
Although Target isn't abandoning it entirely, the shift to being more selective is the latest in an ongoing and troubling trend for the state of physical media.
Despite the emergence of streaming services and digital entertainment devices only, physical media continues to show its importance, especially as it gives consumers complete control over the media they purchase. In some cases, movies and TV shows made for streaming services have been pulled entirely, leaving fans with no way to watch them. In another recent case, the Funimation app was shut down earlier this month, and customers are expressing frustration that their digital copies of the app have not been transferred to Crunchyroll despite the merger between the two anime giants.
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Taylor is a reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @Ty Nexter.
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