This Dying Street Fighter II Cart Is A Stark Reminder That Physical Isn't Forever 1
Image: Beep Shop

The topic of physical media in the world of video games is a hot one right now, thanks mainly to the fact that Sony has decided it no longer wants to offer discs beyond 2028.

Ownership of the games we play is something that is naturally very close to the hearts of many gamers, and with good reason – billion-dollar companies are a little too fond of pulling access to digital goods, after all.

However, it's always worth keeping in mind that even physical media doesn't guarantee you'll have access to something forever; disc rot is a thing, as we all know, and while cartridges are generally more robust and longer-lasting, even they have an expiry date.

Take this poorly copy of Super Street Fighter II, which has been unearthed by Japanese retro store Beep.

"I'm doing a functionality check on the Super Famicom's Street Fighter II," says the store's social media account, showing some seriously scrambled screenshots. "This isn't a contact issue—it's graphical glitches caused by data corruption. Even as a ROM cartridge, it's not immortal."

We obviously don't know what kind of condition the cartridge is in, or how it has been handled and stored over the decades – but, as the old adage goes, everything put together falls apart.

[source x.com]