# Physical game discs may still fail without online servers

Ars Technica reports that many disc-based games rely on online authentication or day-one patches, so the disc alone is not enough to guarantee future playability. This highlights a growing concern for game preservation as publishers shut down servers over time.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/07/the-disc-is-not-the-game-physical-releases-increasingly-require-extra-downloads/) — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 20:12:50 +0000