See that's one thing I could never do. Nintendo has full control over my games that way.
See that's one thing I could never do. Nintendo has full control over my games that way.
I'm fully digital (pc and switch) and have Comcast with datacaps but I don't buy many games and it sucks you always to consider if you should buy something and use your data...I hate Comcast.I already mentioned it but seriously fuuuuck Comcast and their data caps. My family is usually 50 or so gb away from the cap each month so there's just no way I can switch to digital with these fucks having a cap.
BEST BUY GCU PROGRAM ENDING, AMAZON GAME DEALS ALSO STRUGGLING
To make matters worse, it appears certain game distributors have recently begun taking issue with Amazon's discount strategy. In order to combat the lower price, high-profile titles like Star Wars Battlefront II, Detroit: Become Human and Marvel's Spider-Man weren't or are no longer available for pre-order at all. In some cases digital pre-orders are still being offered, but the 20 percent discount doesn't apply to digital goods.
While neither Best Buy nor Amazon have openly discussed their struggles to effectively offer deals on new games, this apparent backlash has given rise to speculation that certain game publishers don't look too kindly on retailers undercutting suggested retail pricing on hot products. After all, if a game like Detroit can be purchased on Amazon for $47, why would anyone purchase a digital version on the PlayStation Network for $59?
It's unclear if the end of Gamers Club Unlocked has anything to do with this silent retailer feud, but any pressure from prominent distributors certainly wouldn't bolster the program's internal viability. Amazon has the extra cash flow to withstand the heat, but maybe Best Buy does not. Regardless of rationale, Gamers Club Unlocked will soon be a thing of the past.
Welcome to the club. I went 95% digital a while ago (I still get the physical versions of special games like BotW and Odyssey) and frankly I can't go back. Granted, my circumstances don't apply to everyone, so I can see how physical can still be appealing to some.Welp, I made the leap of faith today and I'm going all Digital for the Switch. I'm mostly using it undocked anyway, so a fully digital library comes in handy for traveling.
My sub ends Apr. '19. I hope that's enough time for BB to re-introduce this program. It's the main reason I've been almost exclusively shopping there. I probably spend $500/month with GCU being the a big reason.
The bigger question is why, why would Amazon keep doing it? They have already cut back on the 20% off program within the past year, now that BB is dropping GCU what reason do they have to keep the program at all. When they drop the 20% off pre-orders I'll drop Prime.
With Sony games vanishing from Amazon to pre-order and hell, last I checked Days Gone wasn't on Besr Buy's site anymore, along with Red Dead being on neither, this seems very possible.I wonder if some game publishers are pressuring outlets to stop these programs. A bunch of stores/storefronts use to do a lot to incentivize game purchases, but have since stopped as well. Dell use to give $15 gift cards with every non nintendo pre-order, Microsoft store similiarly gave $10, etc. It seems weird so many stores did stuff like this if it was to their finacial detriment.
I wonder if some game publishers are pressuring outlets to stop these programs. A bunch of stores/storefronts use to do a lot to incentivize game purchases, but have since stopped as well. Dell use to give $15 gift cards with every non nintendo pre-order, Microsoft store similiarly gave $10, etc. It seems weird so many stores did stuff like this if it was to their finacial detriment.
Huh on the first part, damn didn't notice but you are right on the second.With Sony games vanishing from Amazon tomorrow order and hell, last I checked Days Gone wasn't on Besr Buy's site anymore, along with Red Dead being on neither, this seems very possible.
I would doubt that. These savings for the consumers were a loss for the company providing them. It was used as a tactic to get more individuals to purchase other items once they get you in their doors.
I mean even if Dell gave you 10 bucks, you are still using that 10 at Dell. I think their hopes are that maybe you'll add an extra thing you need to the cart for convenience.
I believe it was simply a marketing technique that, over the years, didn't pay off in the long run.
This would not make them money haha.When the new online-only Circuit City finally launches, they should steal this program. Instant money.
The bigger question is why, why would Amazon keep doing it? They have already cut back on the 20% off program within the past year, now that BB is dropping GCU what reason do they have to keep the program at all. When they drop the 20% off pre-orders I'll drop Prime.
It doesn't sound like it's solely Best Buy or Amazon's doing, but the game publishers in an attempt to drive digital sales. Seems like there's much more going on. Someone should make a new thread for the Newsweek article, because it doesn't sound like ending GCU was entirely Best Buy's decision. I wish the game press had more leverage on getting answers, because I'd love for some light to be shed on this with E3 coming up.
Game developers/publishers can get bent if they think people are going to go full digital. It 100% isn't happening at all in the foreseeable future. All this does is mean people will buy less new releases and/or rely more on the used market.It doesn't sound like it's solely Best Buy or Amazon's doing, but the game publishers in an attempt to drive digital sales. Seems like there's much more going on. Someone should make a new thread for the Newsweek article, because it doesn't sound like ending GCU was entirely Best Buy's decision. I wish the game press had more leverage on getting answers, because I'd love for some light to be shed on this with E3 coming up.
I'm fully digital (pc and switch) and have Comcast with datacaps but I don't buy many games and it sucks you always to consider if you should buy something and use your data...I hate Comcast.
Game developers/publishers can get bent if they think people are going to go full digital. It 100% isn't happening at all in the foreseeable future. All this does is mean people will buy less new releases and/or rely more on the used market.
It doesn't sound like it's solely Best Buy or Amazon's doing, but the game publishers in an attempt to drive digital sales. Seems like there's much more going on. Someone should make a new thread for the Newsweek article, because it doesn't sound like ending GCU was entirely Best Buy's decision. I wish the game press had more leverage on getting answers, because I'd love for some light to be shed on this with E3 coming up.
Some might, but I won't for the most part. Digital games have no value to me.
When you don't have an option, you will buy digitally.
It's inevitable. Target is remodeling and reducing physical media space (Movies/Games/CDs) by almost 50%.
Best Buy has already heavily reduced space. GameStop is pretty much all toys and clothes now.
There won't be a used market.
In terms of that Newsweek article - be very careful on anything you read out there that doesn't cite sources.
The talks and business deals/strategy info between retailers and publishers is incredibly tightly guarded, and without a solid reporter with actual sources, anything you're reading is purely (likely incorrect) speculation
Very true. No sources names in the article, but where there's smoke there's fire. Hoping that enough fervor over a very consumer-friendly program being ended could drive journalists to sniff out what's actually going on.In terms of that Newsweek article - be very careful on anything you read out there that doesn't cite sources.
The talks and business deals/strategy info between retailers and publishers is incredibly tightly guarded, and without a solid reporter with actual sources, anything you're reading is purely (likely incorrect) speculation
Physical isn't going away man, not in the foreseeable future at least. Not everyone has access to reliable broadband internet, large swaths of broadband customers are dealing with data caps, plenty of individuals are vehemently opposed to an all digital future (ask Microsoft), etc.
Gamestop is just going to vanish like a fart in the wind I guess.
Going all digital just isn't an option for an increasingly large number of gamers, if that is the future then I guess I'll find another hobby.
Some might, but I won't for the most part. Digital games have no value to me.
Yup, this makes perfect sense - it's the publishers who might be forcing the issue because it's eating into their digital sales. And we all know digital sales' margins are much, much greater than physical sales. And if all publishers had it their way - they'd want all digital because of the margins.
Why does it matter if not EVERYONE has access to broadband and/or data caps? Technology just won't stop because some people live out in the forest or refuse to use an internet connection.
As publishers continue to struggle to make a profit, this will help. No used game sales to eat at a potential sale. More profit from digital overs physical. People moan and groan about DLC and loot boxes, but its easy money for publishers.
Yup. It's funny thinking back to when digital was first becoming widely available and some were saying digital would be cheaper because of not having to physically package, ship, pay a cut to the retailer...still waiting for that to kick in!
Why does it matter if not EVERYONE has access to broadband and/or data caps? Technology just won't stop because some people live out in the forest or refuse to use an internet connection.
Maybe not on day 1 releases but I've purchased many games for Switch on discount. Nintendo AAA might not go on sale right away, but nearly everything else does.
I mean, people are paying $40 for Thimbleweek Park on Switch for a physical cart and the digital one was $9.99 (the same day the pre-order went up).
That would be super interesting. I say of games go to $70, we get our manuals back.Just speculating but I wonder if publishers are thinking of raising the RRP to $70 next gen and the optics of a jump to $70 while people are being conditioned to pay $48 are making these schemes more hassle than they're worth for the long term.
Nah, you are just some Luddite who is trying to stand against the fully digital distribution future.GameStop is all toys and clothes? People just making stuff up here, I see.
Physical will never go away. It should shrink, but there is no way that companies are going to lock out major markets like the U.S. by going all-digital in the near future. The very myopic "people who live in the bushes or refuse to use internet" characterization is dead wrong. People live in cities. Data caps exist, and because the telecoms are monopolies within their regions, that's not going away until and unless there is widespread competition from fiber companies or municipal ISPs become more common.
But by all means, if Nintendo and Sony and Microsoft can break up the telecoms here so that they can get the digital future that they want, more power to 'em.
Yep. I'm probably gonna go all digital on my switch though. I rarely buy more than a game a month and they're usually small in size.
It's just those ps4 games that are 50+gb and god knows how large patches that I can't go all digital there.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in the case of PS4 installs, aren't the install sizes literally exactly the same as downloading the game entirely?
Not talking about sales. Talking about where the extra money they saved from not having to physically make the game, ship it to retailers, and pay those retailers a cut of each purchase. They said it would bring the cost of games down but evidently not.
I don't think physical is going anywhere anytime soon because Sony, Microsoft, & Nintendo need the retailers to sell hardware.
Why does it matter if not EVERYONE has access to broadband and/or data caps? Technology just won't stop because some people live out in the forest or refuse to use an internet connection.
As publishers continue to struggle to make a profit, this will help. No used game sales to eat at a potential sale. More profit from digital overs physical. People moan and groan about DLC and loot boxes, but its easy money for publishers.
Why does it matter if not EVERYONE has access to broadband and/or data caps? Technology just won't stop because some people live out in the forest or refuse to use an internet connection.
As publishers continue to struggle to make a profit, this will help. No used game sales to eat at a potential sale. More profit from digital overs physical. People moan and groan about DLC and loot boxes, but its easy money for publishers.