PM Studios has been a veteran in the realm of physical game publishing for decades. Roughly twenty years ago, the Las Vegas‑based company introduced the Korean rhythm‑action franchise DJMax to the United States, and since that first venture it has built a robust business model around pressing a diverse array of titles onto discs and cartridges.
"We probably back up a hundred or more games on the physical side each year," explained CEO Michael Yum to GamesIndustry.biz. He added that the firm often handles the entire physical pipeline for a single partner, noting, "When you sign one of those guys up, you get about ten games a year from just that one publisher." Over the years, PM Studios has acted as a bridge for developers seeking to launch their products in new territories.
"I had a lot of friends in Korea who couldn’t get their games out," Yum recalled. "So I started bringing games from Korea and China over to America and Europe." Among those imports, one title proved to be a game‑changer – Black Myth: Wukong.
Yum admits that taking on the physical distribution of Black Myth was "one of our biggest risks," but the result far exceeded his expectations. "I had no idea it would become that massive. When it blew up, it was an eye‑opening experience – I’ve never seen anything like it.
That one title ended up covering everything else we were doing." Ironically, just as PM Studios is riding a wave of unprecedented success in its physical‑publishing arm, Sony has announced that it will cease production of PlayStation discs in January 2028, effectively pulling the rug out from under the business. "It’s sad and devastating," Yum said. "My first games were on PlayStation, and I’m primarily a PlayStation player, so I’ve always bought a lot of physical copies.
But the truth is, a huge portion of the new generation is buying digital. My own kids – they’re digital natives – get confused when I hand them a disc." Nevertheless, the company is determined to keep physical releases alive in whatever form they can.
"We’re looking for new ways to bring games out. It may end up being a code in a box, but we want to stress collectibility and fan service. We’ll probably produce premium bundles, nice packaging, and unique extras to keep the physical experience appealing," he explained.
Even though digital sales now dominate the global market, Yum points out that there remains a strong demand for physical copies among younger audiences. PM Studios handled the launch of the children’s title Bluey’s Quest for the Gold Pen, and roughly eighty percent of its revenue came from physical sales. He also notes that established IPs continue to perform well on retail shelves, and that indie games with strong digital track records can also thrive in a physical format.
"Animal Well had a limited‑run physical edition, and the fans came back for the mass‑retail version. The collectors love it," Yum said, citing the success of Lost in Cult’s retail version as another example.
There is an economic advantage to a disc that can be shared, especially for families. "I have twins, so I don’t want to buy two digital copies.
I buy one disc, they share it, and they can lend it to friends," Yum remarked, highlighting the practical benefits of physical media. Beyond practicality, Yum believes the backlash against the end of discs stems from an emotional sense of loss.
"People are upset because you’re taking away a choice," he said. "Even if most sales are digital, the option to own a tangible product matters to many gamers." With the PlayStation disc deadline looming, PM Studios is already adapting its strategy. "That’s why you see us taking on more digital titles now," Yum said. The publisher still champions physical releases – it is backing the upcoming disc version of AdHoc Studio’s hit Dispatch – but it is also expanding its full‑service publishing portfolio to include games like My Time at Evershine.
The firm is also collaborating with Telltale on the long‑awaited sequel The Wolf Among Us 2. "I met the CEO, learned about the challenges they faced, and offered what we could do to help," Yum explained.
The biggest contribution, he said, was funding: "I told them we could invest, bring in our marketing team and production operations, and help finish the game on schedule." Looking ahead, Yum says the success of Black Myth has convinced him that AA‑level games represent a fertile opportunity. The sheer volume of titles in digital storefronts makes it hard for smaller projects to get noticed, but AA games, with their higher production values, tend to attract more attention.
"People are a little more excited about AA games because of the graphics quality," he observed. He is not abandoning indie developers, however. "We remain a big champion for indies.
We’re helping them finish their games and launch on Switch 2. In fact, we were among the first to ship full games on Switch 2 cards," Yum said. The plan is to leverage the cash flow from larger hits to fund new indie experiments.
Because AA projects require larger up‑front investments, PM Studios is taking a cautious approach to risk. "We make sure there’s something solid attached – an existing IP, a sequel, a reputable developer, or strong wishlists – anything that reduces the gamble," he noted.
Yum is particularly impressed by the rapid development cycles emerging from China. "I’ve been working a lot with Chinese studios, and they are incredibly fast, hungry, and talented. They can produce amazing games at a speed and cost that outpaces the rest of the world," he said. He warned that if Western studios don’t keep pace, Chinese giants like Tencent and NetEase could dominate the industry.
Even so, PM Studios’ pipeline remains heavily weighted toward Western creators, and the company continues to invest in physical‑gaming culture. It recently launched the Panax community platform, a hub for collectors of physical games and merchandise. "We’ve been building it for years. It went viral after we posted a trophy‑tracking feature.
I can’t wait for publishers to see the new tools and benefits we’re adding," Yum enthused. Physical games may be on the road to decline, but there are still firms like PM Studios that will champion the format to the very end, innovating with premium bundles, collector‑focused services, and hybrid digital‑physical solutions to keep the tactile experience alive for enthusiasts worldwide.