The March of Time seems to never stop, and a threat to optical media that has presented itself is just yet another example, and a physical manifestation of the phasing out of optical media. It’s called ‘Disc Rot’ and it happens on CD’s and DVD’s made around the mid 2000’s that causes them to become damaged and unusable if it manifests.
It happens because the section underneath the reflective layer of the disc begins to oxidise, making the adhesive de-bond and thus gives it the signature look of something like mold growing on it, or it gains a strange white texture. Many companies are offering to replace these damaged discs if you send them in to you, but I can’t imagine it will be an option for many discs, and I don’t think it will be something that is supported for long. As such, Disc Rot may soon take away the medium of CD’s as a whole, destroying an entire part of digital history, which is in itself a true shame. So if you have any CD’s lying around, even games, then be sure to check on them, you never know when the rot may seep in.
That’s all for now, and as always. It’s not just a game, It’s a Life.