PM Studios has long been a veteran in the realm of physical game publishing. Roughly two decades ago, the Las Vegas‑based firm introduced the Korean rhythm‑action series DJMax to North America, and since that early venture it has built a robust operation centered on pressing a diverse array of titles onto discs and cartridges. "We probably back up a hundred or more games on a physical format each year," CEO Michael Yum told GamesIndustry.biz.
He added that the company handles the physical side for many other publishers, noting that a single partner can generate ten separate releases annually. Over the years, PM Studios has acted as a bridge for developers seeking to reach new territories. "I had a lot of friends in Korea who couldn’t get their games out," Yum explained. "So I started importing games from Korea and China to the U.S.
and Europe." One of those imported titles turned out to be a game‑changing phenomenon: Black Myth: Wukong. Yum admits that taking on the physical publishing of Black Myth was "one of our biggest risks," but the payoff far exceeded his expectations. "I never imagined it would become that huge. When it blew up, it was a wild ride – I’ve never seen anything like it," he recalled, adding that the success of that single title essentially "covered everything else" in the company’s portfolio.
Ironically, just as PM Studios is riding a wave of physical‑media triumphs, 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 a die‑hard PlayStation fan, so I grew up with physical copies. But the truth is, a lot of the new generation is buying digitally.
My own kids – they’re digital natives – get confused when I hand them a disc." Nonetheless, PM Studios intends to keep supporting physical releases for as long as possible. "We’re exploring new ways to get games out there.
Eventually it might just be a code in a box, but we want to highlight the collectibility of IPs and fan service. We’ll probably produce premium bundles, high‑quality packaging, and other unique formats to keep the physical experience alive," he said. Even though digital sales dominate the global market, Yum points out that there remains a strong demand for physical copies among younger audiences. The company’s release of the children’s title Bluey’s Quest For The Gold Pen sold roughly eighty percent of its units in physical form.
He also notes that major IPs continue to perform well at brick‑and‑mortar retailers, and there’s a healthy niche for physical editions of indie games that have already proven themselves digitally. "Animal Well had a limited run through Limited Run, and then we did a mass‑retail version with Lost in Cult that sold extremely well.
Fans come back for the physical copy; collectors love it," Yum explained. Physical media also carries an economic advantage: a single disc can be shared among multiple players, unlike a digital license tied to one account. "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," he said.
Beyond practicality, Yum believes the backlash against the end of discs stems from a sense of loss. "People are upset because you’re taking away a choice," he observed, even though the majority of sales are already digital. With the PlayStation disc era winding down, PM Studios is adapting its strategy. "That’s why you see us handling more digital titles now," Yum said.
The firm remains a champion of physical releases – it is backing an upcoming disc version of AdHoc Studio’s hit Dispatch – while also expanding into full‑service publishing for games like My Time at Evershine. The studio 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 recounted.
He highlighted funding as the biggest hurdle, saying, "We can invest, bring in our marketing and production teams, and help finish the game on schedule." The goal, he added, is to "take bigger risks on bigger IPs." PM Studios isn’t alone in adjusting to a disc‑free future. Singapore‑based GCL Global Holdings, originally built around physical distribution, is now pivoting to AA publishing through its 4Divinity arm, which made a splash at Gamescom.
The success of Black Myth has convinced Yum that AA games hold significant promise. He notes that the sheer volume of titles in digital storefronts makes discovery difficult, but AA projects tend to attract more attention because of their higher production values and striking graphics.
"I want every game to succeed, especially indies, but when you release a video, people gravitate toward the flashier titles. That’s where AA shines." Nevertheless, Yum insists PM Studios will not abandon indie developers. "We’re still a big champion for indies. We’re helping them finish and launch on Switch 2, and we were among the first to ship full games on the new cartridge format.
The revenue from bigger hits helps us fund new indie experiments." He is mindful of the risk profile of AA titles, which require larger upfront investments. To mitigate this, PM Studios looks for projects with built‑in strengths – an existing IP, a sequel, a reputable developer, or strong wishlist numbers – to reduce financial exposure. Yum is especially impressed by the surge of AA games emerging from China.
He praises Chinese developers for their speed, hunger, and talent. "They can produce amazing games incredibly fast and cheap.
If the rest of the world doesn’t keep up, they’ll dominate. Tencent and NetEase already own a huge slice of the industry, and we’re already losing ground to them," he warned. Despite the focus on China, most of PM Studios’ upcoming slate still comes from Western creators. The company remains committed to physical media, having recently launched the community platform Panax to unite collectors of games and merchandise.
"We’ve been building it for years. It went viral after we posted a trophy‑tracking feature.
I’m excited for the new tools and the benefits publishers will gain by joining," Yum said. Physical games may be on the decline, but for PM Studios and a handful of devoted advocates, the battle to keep discs, cartridges, and collector‑grade boxes alive will continue until the very end.