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7 years after Sony's devastating PS4 "instructional video," buying physical games looks like a thing of the past
- Thread starter ShiningBash
- Start date
I really really hate it that they're doing this. What the fuck, Sony?
Not only are they pushing digital, they're pushing it in the most ham-fisted way possible and at the expense of their new system. The parallels to PS3 are definitely there. It's obvious that they sacrificed the design of the system to pushing digital, and as a result we have this horrible monstrosity.
And it's not just the design, now they're splitting the userbase from day one. Even if PS5 Shitty Edition flops, there will be some amount of non-physical systems out there, and publishers will use them to justify all kinds of bullshit. Download codes in retail boxes, "internet download required" incomplete game releases, just skipping physical altogether "because not everyone can get that disc SKU" and loads more bullshittery. It really is the Xbox One DRM all over again, just in Sony flavor this time.
Also we will forever have the gimped PS5 SKU to worry about. Buying a system, you can't just buy a PS5, you have to make sure you're not getting the Shitty Edition. And for the more mainstream consumer, they can't just buy a PS5 either, they have to know about the difference, and there will be sales and campaigns pushing the Shitty Edition to people who think it's just a PS5 and hey what's that small print? Bet that's what Sony is banking on, they're hoping that enough people won't care.
Not only are they pushing digital, they're pushing it in the most ham-fisted way possible and at the expense of their new system. The parallels to PS3 are definitely there. It's obvious that they sacrificed the design of the system to pushing digital, and as a result we have this horrible monstrosity.
And it's not just the design, now they're splitting the userbase from day one. Even if PS5 Shitty Edition flops, there will be some amount of non-physical systems out there, and publishers will use them to justify all kinds of bullshit. Download codes in retail boxes, "internet download required" incomplete game releases, just skipping physical altogether "because not everyone can get that disc SKU" and loads more bullshittery. It really is the Xbox One DRM all over again, just in Sony flavor this time.
Also we will forever have the gimped PS5 SKU to worry about. Buying a system, you can't just buy a PS5, you have to make sure you're not getting the Shitty Edition. And for the more mainstream consumer, they can't just buy a PS5 either, they have to know about the difference, and there will be sales and campaigns pushing the Shitty Edition to people who think it's just a PS5 and hey what's that small print? Bet that's what Sony is banking on, they're hoping that enough people won't care.
Can anyone tell me, when you buy a physical game that just contains the download code, are they usually the same price or more expensive than their digital counterparts?
I would love to embrace a digital only future for games, however $99 versus $79 (sometimes lower) + $20-$40 trade in value, is a pretty big swing. I could handle digital if they were the same initial price and forgo my trade in abilities. Not about money, more about the principal.
I would love to embrace a digital only future for games, however $99 versus $79 (sometimes lower) + $20-$40 trade in value, is a pretty big swing. I could handle digital if they were the same initial price and forgo my trade in abilities. Not about money, more about the principal.
All PS4 games require HDD install. The games haven't been running directly from disc for a while.
It's nowhere even close to being "a thing of the past", so the title of the thread is some real hyperbole. But they certainly are trying to hasten that day along. The industry as a whole is going in a direction in which media ownership is eliminated, and physical media has to die for that to happen.
That's true of some games, but not nearly all.
That's true of some games, but not nearly all.
there are very very limited physical games that contains the Download code, and a few games where you can get the download code for, sadly, it's nothing like PC counterpart where you can get a code for every game. Most of the time you'll be buying of the PSN store, for 10€/$/£ more then the usual (standard editions)
What are you talking about?
They both have drives and as long as discs continue to be the cheapest way to buy games I'll stick to them
Esp at the start of a new gen
They both have drives and as long as discs continue to be the cheapest way to buy games I'll stick to them
Esp at the start of a new gen
As usual... over exaggerating.
So now Sony is offering a digital only option for the digital only gamers = Physical games are from the past?
.... just what kind of logic is that lol.
So now Sony is offering a digital only option for the digital only gamers = Physical games are from the past?
.... just what kind of logic is that lol.
as someone who haven't bought a disc in over a decade (games, music, movies, etc), i still think that PS6 will have option of using physical media(heck i think even PS7 will still have a option to use physical media, as there will still be plenty of game collectors, and Limited edition and CE edition buyers) and i'm totally fine with that. The all digital version of PS5 is literally for me and the likes, that don't buy physical media anymore, and have fast, no caps, cheap internet. It's an option, not a constrain.
Disc-drive PS5 means I can replay all my disc-based PS4 exclusives on the console. I didn't switch to digital during the PS4 era, therefore purchasing a digital only PS5 means I'd have to repurchase all those games again.
I still value the possibility of reselling my games once I'm done with them. I've learned from my overgrowing Steam library over the year that I basically never replay 98% of any game I purchase, and barely start 25% of them. I don't mind all that much for games I've bought when they were 85% off, but if I need to shell out $90 cdn to play some games day one, you better believe I want to retrieve some of that money back in the long run and consoles do offer me that option, which I value.
I still value the possibility of reselling my games once I'm done with them. I've learned from my overgrowing Steam library over the year that I basically never replay 98% of any game I purchase, and barely start 25% of them. I don't mind all that much for games I've bought when they were 85% off, but if I need to shell out $90 cdn to play some games day one, you better believe I want to retrieve some of that money back in the long run and consoles do offer me that option, which I value.
It's pretty hilarious If you think abut it. Microsoft was right. They knew the future but just fumbled the PR HARD. Here we are in the future and Sony is going all in on a digital future.
Even though the messaging was poor, Microsoft was right back then. I thought it was pretty obvious that is where we were heading. They were a bit too early but the complaints should have been more focused on "Not now" rather than "Not never".
This is almost parallel to the headphone jack on mobile phones. Is removing the physical option better? No. Is it going to continue to happen? Absolutely.
This is almost parallel to the headphone jack on mobile phones. Is removing the physical option better? No. Is it going to continue to happen? Absolutely.
How is Sony going "All in" when they release a disc based PS5?
Microsoft wasn't right, their 24 hour DRM checkin was bullshit.
Before that happens, some things will have to change.
1. Refund option, most physicall copies you can pre-order or buy can be returned or cancelled. This is a little bit harder on a all digital platform.
2. Owning the game, you can still play a discontinued game if you have a physical copy. What happens to games when licenses expire, etc.
3. Acces to good internet, not every country had fast internet like or the US where data bundles is still a thing.
4. Game stores and online stores. They give a lot of promo and (pre-order) deals. And price competition is good for us as a consumer. What would happen if MS and Sony are the only platform where you can buy games. Or we would have a lot of extra online platforms like EA and UBI have.
1. Refund option, most physicall copies you can pre-order or buy can be returned or cancelled. This is a little bit harder on a all digital platform.
2. Owning the game, you can still play a discontinued game if you have a physical copy. What happens to games when licenses expire, etc.
3. Acces to good internet, not every country had fast internet like or the US where data bundles is still a thing.
4. Game stores and online stores. They give a lot of promo and (pre-order) deals. And price competition is good for us as a consumer. What would happen if MS and Sony are the only platform where you can buy games. Or we would have a lot of extra online platforms like EA and UBI have.
I like the ability physical has when it comes to some games getting delisted/licensing issues and no longer having access to download them.
Some game series i just like to have a physical copy to have on display on my shelf. Digital is convenient but internet infrastructure still isn't quite there to support full digital libraries.
Some game series i just like to have a physical copy to have on display on my shelf. Digital is convenient but internet infrastructure still isn't quite there to support full digital libraries.
I'm buying PS5 Lump and supporting my local game shop either way. I like to own the things I buy.
Sony isn't going all in and next to no one wanted to go all digital 7 years ago.
I think even MS failed original plan for the X1 came into play like half way through the gen. We could easily share game with our accounts and I mostly went full digital.
I think I lent a game in the way of that video like twice this gen vs sharing an account multiple times.
I think I lent a game in the way of that video like twice this gen vs sharing an account multiple times.
Honestly don't get all the hate for the new disc drive, least I can see it this time around without trying to shunt my disc in the wrong way (looking at you PS4 Pro...)
OP
OP
My post was about the observation that both Sony and MS (we don't fully know about Lockhart yet but it's speculated) making digital cheaper than physical. GamePass at $10/month is the cheapest way for many ppl to obtain games. Since it's going to be cheaper from the start, I think more ppl will organically choose the digital option. This may not happen in countries where physical disks are cheaper (or the internet is prohibitively slow), but the lower prices should have an impact.
I feel like this thread has gone off the rails and some folks ought to take a deep breath on this physical vs digital debate. For those who have used this thread to point out the other cost considerations that may outweigh any Lockhart, GamePass, PS5DE disparity, thank you.
I don't think either of them are making a decision to end physical media, despite how much it would benefit them. They're just adapting to where the market is going. Don't most figures show we're above 50% sales being digital now? It just makes sense that there will be more and more people out there that don't want to buy discs again.
It depends if gamepass is properly emulated by Sony I guess.
If they do end uo embracing it I can see your point.
Also if they have more digital purchases covering both the consultant or and streaming that would help push the digital future along.
I love living in the past. In my country physical game prices are often better than digital. So I'm glad the option is there.
Given that Sony is trying to move PS4 users to PS5 "as quickly as possible" I think it's likely that all digital purchases of BC PS4 games will be transferable to the PS5. So even if you didn't buy physical this generation, you'll still be able to play all your games on the next. At least that's what I hope given that I bought most of my PS4 games digitally...
I like to buy my games physically, and I totally understand why publishers want me to buy digital only.
I want to have the option. I don't care about a rpg digitally, as I play them then don't touch it again once finished.
Also storage space cost a lot and games are bigger and bigger.
I want to have the option. I don't care about a rpg digitally, as I play them then don't touch it again once finished.
Also storage space cost a lot and games are bigger and bigger.
You could never not buy physical games before though. That was never the issue with the XB1.
Two very different things.
Two very different things.
Its true of all the games. Especially when talking next-gen.
Yes, Ms was right with their "24h no online, you now own a brick, because fuck you" console, because that's the same as launching one out of 2 console skus without a disc drive.
Congrats for sticking out of a crowd full of fanboys.
I'll tell you what the fuck. You are not going to like it and it's going to be painful to read this for you. Optical media is dated technology from the last century. Mainstream use of optical media died years ago. Console players basically are the only ones still using this archaic, slow, legacy technology in some capacity. PCs don't have optical drives, laptops don't have optical drives, cars don't have optical drives. Optical media is cluttering up your house and is horrible for the planet. More and more console players see this and are happy to move to digital purchases.
PS5 Digital Edition is sleeker and nicer because it doesn't have optical drive (duh). Optical drives are bulky, because again, it's outdated legacy technology. It's the same with laptops, ones without optical drives are nicer and sleeker. Another reason why Sony focused on DE is because it will most likely be cheaper and will be the best selling version of PS5.
Physical media has been dead in PC gaming for nearly a decade and it's only a matter of time before the same happens to consoles. What you will do I don't know. Will you quit gaming it's up to you, but you are clinging to a tech that's going obsolete very soon. Hopefully this post is your wake up cold shower that you needed.
You can still buy physical movies and box sets despite the fact the movie industry is well ahead of the gaming industry in the transition to digital.
Consumers should embrace options. Giving people who don't want discs the option to go all digital is better for the environment. It may be small in the scheme of things but if consumers don't want it, why force them to take it? I have digital drives on the 4 consoles I purchased this gen. I have used the disc drive exactly 3 times....to play Elf at Christmas for the kids. Now that I've purchased the digital version of Elf, it's a waste to have a disc drive included.
Edit: Despite the trend to digital, the 2013 Xbox reveal and policies was a complete disaster and Mattrick was not right in his delivery or approach. Details and how you get there matter. Digital PS5 doesn't prove anything right about the Xbox One reveal. Fortunately we're all good now.
Consumers should embrace options. Giving people who don't want discs the option to go all digital is better for the environment. It may be small in the scheme of things but if consumers don't want it, why force them to take it? I have digital drives on the 4 consoles I purchased this gen. I have used the disc drive exactly 3 times....to play Elf at Christmas for the kids. Now that I've purchased the digital version of Elf, it's a waste to have a disc drive included.
Edit: Despite the trend to digital, the 2013 Xbox reveal and policies was a complete disaster and Mattrick was not right in his delivery or approach. Details and how you get there matter. Digital PS5 doesn't prove anything right about the Xbox One reveal. Fortunately we're all good now.
I don't disagree with your other points like being better for the environment, but physical media is not outdated at all. A UHD Blu ray is gonna look and sound way better than a 4K stream.
Sure, most people won't care but the ones that pay for premium TVs and sound system does.
Of course it has nothing to do with games but still a point for why physical still exists, and the Ps5 will probably be the UHD Blu ray player for many.
Not looking forward to a digital future on consoles if they are trying to slowly phase out disc drives this way. PC, I can handle; games drop in price somewhat organically due to the many different storefronts competing. Anytime I look at the console stores I see digital games that are a good £10 more expensive than physical at brand new and even after a year never seem to drop in price unless there's some sale event going on. For example, AC odessey is £54.99 on the PStore and £16.60 on Ubisofts PC store.
fuckin meh for the most part.
fuckin meh for the most part.
If I have the option to buy physical...I'm going to buy physical. I still do not trust the online stores after a console has been retired.