Physical editions of Digimon Story: Time Stranger might be challenging to locate at launch, as warned by its developer. Almost a decade following the release of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, the upcoming title in the series is nearly upon us, yet fans seeking the disc version could face delays. It appears that physical copies of Digimon Story: Time Stranger are expected to sell out rapidly.

Despite a ten-year gap between Cyber Sleuth and this latest installment, anticipation surged following the title’s announcement. Bandai Namco introduced the game in February 2025 during a PlayStation State of Play event, planning an October 3 release. Some players may even access it a day earlier depending on their chosen version and region. With the release date approaching, the excitement has reached a fever pitch, and Bandai anticipates that the demand will affect the availability of physical editions.

High Demand May Complicate Physical Editions of Digimon Story: Time Stranger

On September 30, the official Japanese Digimon Story: Time Stranger account tweeted that the packaged editions might “be difficult to obtain” within the first week of launch due to overwhelming demand. The company has urged customers to reserve copies at local retailers to ensure they can secure a disc. Bandai has reasons to expect a swift turnover, especially since the pre-orders for the Digimon Story: Time Stranger Collector’s Edition sold out, despite its steep price of $200. Although the standard physical release lacks many perks, fans remain eager to claim a copy as soon as possible.

Digital formats and download codes have become the norm in recent years, eliminating disc versions for many games. Consequently, the availability of a substantial physical edition of Time Stranger at launch is welcomed by fans, despite some drawbacks concerning the console version; it’s confirmed that the game will only run at 30 FPS on consoles, even for the PS5 Pro, while the Steam version achieves 60 FPS. Nonetheless, anticipation remains high, though securing a hard copy could prove challenging until Bandai initiates another production run.

Additionally, concerns over inflation in the game market have been apparent, as earlier this year, Clair Obscur’s physical editions quickly sold out, showing up later at inflated prices online. Whether Digimon Story faces a similar scenario is yet to be determined, though Bandai aims to keep fans informed ahead of time.