@@stanettiels7367 completely agree! I’d hold onto what you can because it’s definitely not going to be an option one day. Plus it’s literally an investment if you get it now. It’s a physical product of value. Once it goes digital those days are gone :(
As much as I support physical media I can't help but prefer my digital library. I was never forced to get games digitally, it just happened naturally. I remember being stoked when the xbox 360 marketplace dropped as a kid, I honestly can't remember a game that I bought physically since then that I didn't eventually replace with a digital copy. Even all of my classic consoles have whatever mod I need to store the entire game's library on a hard drive, which has saved me what would equate to thousands upon thousands if it were all physical. In the case of tv/movies, I prefer having dvds because it saves me tons on streaming. But in the case of gaming, my only criticism is that PC has been a fully digital medium for what feels like 20 years now without any real criticism towards the change, and imo we aren't far off from consoles needing to compete with pc to sustain relevance (ps5 pro level pricing, the growing popularity of the steam deck, consumer trust transitioning from AAA to indie)
@@therealjaystone2344 But it is the thing that SEPERATES consoles from PC gaming. What's the difference if they take away the ability to physically buy/collect their games? A console then just becomes a cheap bad computer. and who wants that? There will be no incentive to buy consoles anymore. It is like they are eating their own market....
Exactly! That’s what I think the outcome would be. We’d all just save up for a good PC and move on from consoles. It’s disappointing Sony want that much money for a pro and then expect you to buy a disc reader separately for another £100. Not sure who they think had this sort of money to blow lol
@@GamerofOldAs soon as I saw the ps5 pro announcement I decided then and there that I'm switching to pc by next gen. I've always been envious of pc gamers since a kid (mostly due to mods and library selection), but now as an adult the practical use of a pc is too attractive even outside of gaming. All I needed was a financial incentive.
I like physical discs. The ps5 disc version will be the last game system I buy. It's unfortunate that physical media is dying. People don't know what they have until it's gone and once physical media is completely dead, people will dislike it.
@@EJElijah kid nobody is an exaggeration of the LARGE majority of people (like 80 percent of ps5 users) that no longer buy games on disc anymore just because you still play them on disc doesn’t mean Sony is benefiting off of it and thus you are not entitled to everything you expect from them when that majority of people don’t care for what you want
Imagine a world where you got a free digital download of the game with every disc purchase? Or where you paid much less for the digital version because you don't own the license and Sony can kick you out of your account at anytime and bye bye digital game library?
@@latingringo89 I’m imagining it right now but sadly I doubt we will ever see it :( it’s gone the other way actually. I miss getting the game with a map and guide etc. all for $40 too! Now we get a digital game which comes with an outfit for your in game character for $100 lol
I will buy physical until i cant. Digital and physical should always be both options. And i personally think there should be laws around digital where they cant take it away. I dont like separate disc drive requires internet to setup. People willingly giving up their rights is wild. If these companies worded it as licensing for $70 vs buying for digital games i feel those people who say it’s the future will sing a different tune. Digital only puts power in store’s hands and you see sony increasing old games price. A lot of games do start digital only but get a physical later so im okay as long as games get physical at all
I agree with you but the ship has already sailed. The moment consoles became connected to the internet and discs started requiring patches/internet downloads, you no longer own the physical copy. They can patch the consoles to not read the disc or prevent any necessary patches/internet downloads to brick the game from running anymore. Or send a new patch to just brick the game. They have many tools at their disposal to make the disc unplayable now remotely. And if they wanted to pull a specific game from the market, they can just patch the console itself to no longer read that specific game.
@@ey5373 Most PS4/5 games still contain a fully playable version on the actual disc. Source: does it play. This is where emulation later one day comes in for PS4 (as it already has for PS3 and 360 now) for ultimate preservation and control, no console necessary. I agree it's a worsening situation and that they'll probably win in the end for future titles. But for the time being physical (when the data is on the disc) and GOG is the way to go when possible.
Thankfully the music industry is doing well with both. CD and vinyl sales are holding on and are slowly increasing in popularity as we speak. Let's hope the gaming industry follows suit.
Yep same here as well. I own physically alot of consoles since the day's of super nintendo and so many game's over the year's. I'm pretty satisfied now i game on playstation 5 and the switch and it seems that's where I would have to jump off the train. One's it becomes a full digital and all gaming company's go full digital only that's where I take my leave and say goodbye. I've been gaming for 34 year's and that's pretty much good for me unfortunately every good thing must come to a end. I did truly enjoyed these gaming with my friends and family relatives for a long time and the game's. for the new generation of kids playing on these newer consoles or future consoles or pc I hope this is what you wanted and dreamed about. A all digital only game world sounds crazy to me and insane. Now California law will require online stores to disclose you are purchasing licenses for digital games, movies, music, and ebooks, not owning them. Wow we already know this foray year's but now it's really going to show right in front of your faces. I love owning my physical game's most ps4 and ps5 game's have a 1.0 version that works right of the box from beginning to end same switch game's. You don't even have to update them unless you want to. However some game's are down right broken and some need a online connection. For example the division 1&2 and destiny 1&2 and even the newer call of duty game's like black ops 4 and newer cods you can't even play single player offline without a internet connection you see how bad that is. When those servers shutdown and it will that's it like look what they did to your warzone you can't even transfer your old purchases from the old cod warzone to the new one. They really bend you over and you fans just took it lol. Now I don't know if it's true that's what I heard.
Why can't people just accept that there are both pros and cons to both. All of this back and forth between what's better and who's smarter for choosing digital or physical is ridiculous. To each his own. Who the f&ck cares what you prefer. Personally, I buy all digital now, but the day where it gets to the point I can't play my games, I got a million other hobbies I can enjoy. Gaming is not the end all be all.
I've been a pc gamer for a long time now and digital only has been mostly the only option on pc for some time now so I'm used to this idea. But I also own a ps5 and when I bought it I got the disc version, I still like to buy physical copies of my games on console and I still like to buy Dvds and blu-rays and watch them on my console. That may be an old way of doing stuff but streaming is far from perfect and owning your games is a big plus if you in many ways if you ask me many of those ways you pointed out. So yeah I don't like the idea of a truly digital world only, physical games (and other stuff) have their place in this world and that place should be preserved.
Do you think it will Be? I can’t see it being around forever just because of the changes we are seeing now. Games going 100% digital. It’s interesting to see it happen over time but you can’t deny the convenience. I just like having the physical copies just to have them. Would be nice to keep both options open though. I guess we shall see!
@@AVVGaming1Won’t happen. Well, not to say it won’t happen but it can’t happen. It would mean the end of console gaming. The reasons why people accept digital on PC or with their music or movies are completely different from consoles and they are reasons that the consumers themselves shifted themselves into, not the publishers
@@AVVGaming1Those reasons being people shifted themselves to not owning their media with the rise of sailing the high seas with CDR and DVDR starting with music and movies. It wasn’t a shift brought on by publishers. PC is a very different ecosystem from console. The reason PC gamers are comfortable is because they have more than 1 place to get their games, be that soaking the high seas or multiple different storefronts. They can also backup those games themselves. None of this is possible on a console where you can lose your entire library if you’re banned for what ever reason they decide. There are no other storefronts. There is no way to backup the games yourself. You are entirely at the mercy of the publisher.
@@AVVGaming1 I'm not sure if it will be around forever, I hope it will but I'm not sure. However I think rickybobby made some good points I think physical on consoles is still popular so it may survive there. But on the other hand I'm thinking if that is the case why would Sony make a console with no disc option at all, to test the waters maybe? I guess we won't know for sure what way the wind blows until we see what Microsoft will do with the X-box, if they go digital only then we have our answer. Until then only time will tell.
Why rent a game for $70 when you can own a game for $70? If I can get a $20 game for $5 digital I will opt for the digital but if i have to pay 25+ give me the physical copy. I will hate the day that they opt to go digital only
@@slapshotjack9806 because no matter what happens even if they take the digital store away or your account gets hacked whatever you may lose your progress but at least you still have the game to play. Pt should have been the wake up call that they can do whatever they want with a digital download
Lets play a game; pull the internet cord out of your console and lets see what games you still can play.... Smart gamers buy physical! Dumb gamers buy digital.
@nowayjose1313 they were till the backlash happens. Wait till they dont listen. They made games $70 standard afterall. they also don't agree we crossplay but slowly adding.
Thank you! We are being cornered by these companies. "This is the only way to play video games!" is what they are saying towards digital only. Yet I am firm that I don't want to move towards digital. So what happens? This divide in the gaming community. One side pro physical and another pro digital. When did we get so comfortable not owning what we buy?
Correct, even DVD bluray was always selling so well. But it was companies plot to not even support the physical cause they want ALL PROFIT and CONTROL.
I remember 8 years ago you got all digital consoles 2024 still making physical copies but just a license on a disk no data so as you say it is being killed as they want people to more more to buy it digital so they make disks empty so people feel ripped of so they then download from store
I grew up with physical media, I am a 31 year old woman, I have quite a bit of game retro collection with my husband, however lately we have switched to mainly PC and Switch. We have a PS5, but after the Pro was announced, we talked and just wanted to stay with PC and Nintendo. Honestly we still like physical but if our house burned down all the physical games we would lose, and we would lose our computers, but all the digital games could be downloaded again. So there is pro and cons to both. Plus if Steam goes anti consumer and deletes a game that is even on our hard drive, if it's retro/classic enough we can emulate it if we wanted to play it so much. The main problem is dedicated systems/consoles. They are becoming more obsolete, and if they really get rid of physical media, there is no reason for them. Just switch to PC.
Exactly! And I think that’s how things would turn if they stopped accepting discs. We’d all just go and save up for a good PC. It makes more sense and steam has more variety and better deals too. As far as the switch goes, that console is unreal! I buy all my games physical for the switch but that’s because my wife also has a switch and we can swap and play games together. I’m playing xenoblade chronicles 3 now and it’s outstanding. Honestly I’m gonna do a video about the switch because I think it’s one of the best consoles ever. Witcher 3, RDR, KCD, Persona 5, 4, Skyrim, BOTW, TOTK, smash bros, Mario kart, just mental selection !
You could just as easily lose those digital games. Someone else controls those servers and has the power to remove the content at a moments notice. Or rather no notice at all. In the end many would just resort to buying more expensive storage to make sure they keep their games
@@jefferytillis8309 That's an easy choice, piracy is the great equalizer and DRM is vanquished again and again. That's the relationship between company and consumer. If they won't satisfy, we won't spend. They keep making slop, we stop buying it, they raise console prices, we buy PCs, they misshandle a game, we mod it to be better, they take away access, we pirate and emulate. Internet nerds are so brilliant at circumvention that sometimes I wonder what we need AAA for. Whether it's remastering or remaking games from scratch. Exploiting hardware through itterative jailbreaking. Rebuilding, privatizing, or loopholing servers after shutdowns such as the xbox 360 marketplace, the crew, or the pretendo network. Creating extensive expansions through modding and romhacking. Forming dev teams that take advantage of industry standard engines like UE. Or even stepping past troublesome emulation to port exclusives directly to pc through the process of decompilation as seen with SM64, Ocarina of time, and hopefully soon, Bloodborne. In an anti-consumerist era, gamers have more insentive by the day to switch to Pc, and on PC, thanks to these few geek geniuses, gaming is dang near open source.
I think judging by probability it is far more likely that digital content (under the control of someone else) gets delisted and no longer available to download instead of a house fire damaging owned physical copies.
Digital PC Gaming will probably become the exclusive norm in time. I suspect they will try subscription services, which may or may not fail. If they succeed, then that will be the norm and if they fail, then they'll probably go back to allowing you to download individual games at your leisure. The collecting contingent of gamers will always be a thing and I suppose the silver lining is that this would set a finish line for a complete collection of physical releases. However, unless these gamers have tons of hard drives filled with the download only games, it is possible some stuff might be lost. They definitely will lose some customers by going this route but they would likely deem it a necessary risk to create a new market.
Really? Can’t believe that type of stuff still happens to billion dollar companies but it definitely coincides with the point of the value of physical games!
Yes, physical media is being killed off, but not by gamers. Side note: the value of physical games is going to sky rocket HOLD ONTO YOUR PHYSICAL GAMES.
This is great advice! It’s crazy because the value starts at $60 then drops down to almost nothing after a few years, then it just bounces right up! Incredible really
I'm a game collector but I have some bad news for you, it won't. The reason games currently see a surge in price is because the kids of the 90s and 00s now have money to relive their childhood memories so they buy. The issue going forward is kids of the 2010s and 2020s will not have grown up with physical media so there will be no rush to purchase once they are older and prices will fall since there is no demand. Its a sad reality but look on the bright side! by the time everyone in the world no longer cares about physical media we will be long dead so we won't have to deal with that reality 😂
@joeyisabsb1 that's what they said about vinyl. That's a very, very over simplified take on it, but you do you, and I'll keep making bank off physical media.
@@joeyisabsb1 And what if the games these 2010-2020 kids enjoy... suddenly dissapear online one day... and the only way to play them is via disc. It's a big if, but there's a chance. It could go either way to be honest. I have copies of pokemon x & y, sun, moon, shield, sword, scarlet, violet... The copies with the dlc for sword & shield... are already spiked in price. Who's to say in 10 years... it's not worth an extreme ammount once nintendo shutdown their e-shop on the switch.
I personally hate those people that think this is the future because its digital... They act like you're a luddite for actually wanting a disc and physically owning it. Also, hot take from me here. I believe people should get off their butts and go to a GameStop or whatever to buy a game, it's not much harder than downloading a game from your console but people act like it is much harder and yet we've been living in the age of convenience for like the past century... If you think about it being able to own that game disc or cartridge for virtually forever probably greatly outweighs the convenience of just downloading a game. Because unlike a digital game or physical copy can give you peace of mind that you will always have it.
@@pwnomega4562 I have an update just right now whilst I’m typing a message to you. My wife owns the sims on pc. She bought it and about 50 bloody DLCs for it from EA. She bought it on the app origins. Now they sold out to EA and she needs to download that and is having trouble getting the game onto that account. She owns it, yet she doesn’t. Digital downloads only benefit one person and it ain’t the consumer. I think steam recently admitted players don’t actually own their games. What these companies want is to own the market. You want to play Sims? You need to have our app. You want to use our app? You need to enter you credit card details, so that way we can push microtransactions onto you. What if EA want a membership fee to use their app? Well you gotta pay it if you want to play YOUR game! What if you don’t have WiFi and the app needs an update? Too bad, you need the app updated to play the game. People who say owning physical games are old school don’t see this side of things. There is no benefit except for convenience. It’s a shame but you can only stick to what you believe and apply that advice to yourself.
@@pwnomega4562 The issue with physical media post PS2 is that you're owning the worst version of the game. PS3 and 360 you could still get some value out of the original disc, you still need to patch those games. Games haven't ran off optical since the PS3 and 360.
As a pc / series x / switch user... it's pretty much the future. I still buy physical games for my switch, but I also buy digital games on pc. I'm one of the few people supporting the 4k movie format... as well. So I'm all for physical media. If I went to gamestop... I would have to A. take a shower & get dressed B. Drive in busy traffic, waste time, gas, energy.. like a 10min drive atleast... I got 4 gamestops near me... the closest is 10min the fatherest is 20mins and a pita to get to due to heavy traffic & construction C. Find the game I'm looking for... if they even have it... it's hit or miss at gamestop quite often... D. possibly drive to another gamestop and do B all over again... another 10min E. Deal with employees trying to make quotas F. Drive back home with the game if I even found it... and still look at 100gb download anyways that would take 1-2hrs to download or A. Buy the game digitally or subscribe to gamepass B. Spend the time downloading... instead of wasting an hour or possibly more... while it's downloading I can take a shower, clean up and watch a movie etc.. C. play the game . Gamestop litterally has to put out deals like a buy 2 get 1 free or 4 for $40, 4 for $20, 4 for $10 type of thing before I consider even bothering. A lot of the times when I go... I can't even find 4 games to slap together to maximize on savings... and I don't even have a huge physical collection... their selection is always hit or miss on if they have enough stock out on the shelves. Even if I do find 4 games... It usually averages out to what they're sold for digitally online. idk where you live, but here in wisconsin 99% of the time when I go to a best buy, walmart, or a target... all they have is "new releases"... most of display cases are empty. Even if I wanted to buy a game physically... it's never in stock & have to track down an employee who may or may not have the key or I'd have to go their website... and buy it... wait for 3-7 days or longer for it to be delivered. At that point I could just order off amazon... if I really wanted it physically and have it within 1-2days... sometimes even the same day if I'm lucky. All I see on Assassin's Creed Mirage, Sony exclusives, Forza horizon 5, Star Wars outlaws, maybe Cyberpunk 2077 /w dlc.. Also Diablo 4 base game right now is $70 physically still at target. (they also sell the bundle digitally, but it's also $70) Yet gamestop sells it the base game used for $30... & then go home and realize that I have to buy the dlc for another $30 seperately = $60 And xbox & steam sells it digitally bundled /w the dlc atm for $45... I could literally sit at home and get a better deal on it. ^ as for ownership... it's doomed because it's single player still require an online connection... when you compare it to diablo 3... it doesn't require it now... since it's older It's not laziness... it's just digital sales outperforming physical copies. Cod bo6 is like $70 physically, but you need gamepass just to play multi-player... so another $10-20 x how many months as well = just to play multi-player... so you're out $80-$90 + get home have to buy the vault edition for another $30 = $110-120 right there. Where as I can just subscribe to gamepass for $20... downloaded it then buy vault editon for $30... only spend $50 and I automatically saved $70 dollars... < that I can spend on 3 & 1/2 months on gamepass.
I think that’s what everyone is saying. If physicals games no longer exist, everybody will just move over to Pc. It’s crazy because the consoles are doing it to themselves! Xbox had a plan for PC players whereas Ps doesn’t do I’m not sure why they did this lol. Selling a disc extension for £100+ is really cheeky in my opinion lol
@@am_pm.17 yes I’m not sure. I think the majority of people in the comments have said they would move to PC if physical games were removed. Whether that’s the right move or indeed what would happen I don’t know. I’ve always loved console gaming, I just hope they always have the option for physical games.
@AVVGaming1 Even if consoles go full digital. I'll still probably buy one despite owning a pc. It just won't ever be my first choice. Right now my xbox series x is able to run cod bo6... while my 7 year old pc... crashes before making it to the menu screen. As long as console stays affordable.
PC gaming has been all digital for a while now, its still the preferred platform for most. Nowadays physical and digital are the same. You only own the disc, not the data.
That use to be clear cut. Now it's iffy. You can't say it's for preservation cause so many patches come after a physical release. You need the internet to have them for a stable release. I will say that it can be cheaper in the long run
@@DragonMasonHealer yeah it's really iffy now. And something new happens when it comes to digital. Did you know on ps5, if a publisher takes a game off the store, you can't play the game anymore? I learnt that with hotline Miami 2. I got refunded, and the game became unplayable
The true threat to physical games is the gaming industry itself. While some gamers do accept and embrace digital media, Gaming companies are the ones that truly want an all digital future, not gamers. Subscription services is a scam to continuously milk people of money, so instead of paying one payment of X amount of dollars and be able to enjoy your favorite game for decades, you now have to pay a monthly/yearly payment forever to play your favorite game, which could potentially be taken from you if these companies want to take the game of the platforms service. I love gaming, I've been doing it for over 30 years and always saw myself gaming forever, but I am preparing myself to let go of this hobby.
The sad truth is that we're living in the darkest video gaming age since the time of the crash in the mid-80s. Nintendo is honestly the only beacon of light in today's industry. I see PC and PS5 fans complaining that the Switch is graphically weak in comparison but forget graphics, Nintendo are the only ones still innovating and doing things (mostly) right.
@@am_pm.17 As a pc player. The og switch looks horrible. However the oled is much easier on my old eyes. Switch looks amazing & fun as hell. I've been a nintendo fan since I was kid with a n64.
I currently own a variety of older video games consoles for this reason as well as they are dirt cheap. I picked up gears of war 1,2,3 all for $0.99 cents per game on a black Friday at a retro video game store. Which is insane value when you consider the hours I could spend playing them. I recently got a ps5 so I haven't touched my 360 in a minute but I love that I have a back log of tons of games to play and I don't even really need to buy new video games for quite some time.
Exactly! I think every game has a huge backlog though. I picked up 3 physical games for the switch about a year ago and each one has like 100+ hours of content and I got them for such a steal. My wife also has a switch so she can play them when she wants too. That’s why I prefer physical
I will never go all digital for a console. I don't like it for pc, but have adapted, but so far my old games have not required specific hardware to play them. Console games will lose a lot of business going digital only.
Totally agree! I think if Xbox and ps announced the next consoles were digital only, most people would take the money they’d spend on them and invest in a gaming PC anyway. It’s crazy these companies don’t think about that. I think Microsoft is thinking about that though because they have been getting game pass on Pc. They must know something is coming.
@AVVGaming1 I don't think it will be the death of consoles especially for xbox. If xbox came out with digital only (no more disc versions)... I think it as long they imrpove upon the eco-system with play anywhere titles & cloud saves... they'll be in a good place overall... the transition would be smoother for xbox players if they choose to go pc later on. Playstation users are in for a rude awakening if they come to pc... and have to rebuy their games... unless Sony grandfathered them in or something via steam or with their own launcher they're developing.
The disadvantages of digital like storage space and restrictions to reselling and refunding are so obvious and overshadows the positives like not having to worry about shelf space. Heck, I myself loved digital until I realized how annoying it was to have barely any space on my consoles and that I couldn’t get my money back. How is digital winning when the negatives are so obvious and deal-breaking?
A lot of discs nowadays dont even contain the game you buy. it still just goes to the store to download it. The real question is how you get the data. If i buy a digital but drm free version of skyrim on GOG, i own it much more concretely than a disc version on the PS5 that still requires a bunch of downloads from the PS store (not sure exactly what the drm for skyrim specifically is on PS, but you get my point). Regardless of the fact that the GOG version is digital, i can save or copy the installer to whatever storage form i feel is best and never have to rely on the digital storefront again, even if the game were to lose a license or get delisted.
I bought calisto protocol for ps4 rihht and this game could not run. It was a mess. Couldn’t handle it, shaky, lagged, literally unplayable. Patch required day 1, 30GB. Saved the game. But if I didn’t have the internet and update the game would be unplayable. It has unfortunately become a necessity but it’s poor from game developers to release these games so unfinished in the first place! Great point though! Thanks for commenting!
It depends on the game. There are many games that are fully on the disc. Large triple A games usually have/need patches but some is the devs fault. I watch a channel called N Game Arts for quality games that are fully on the disc.
I own both physical and digital on both Series X and PS5. A worry I have is that digital content can be altered or removed at any time. (Look at the recent concord debacle which may have upset the 2 people that bought it 😅) Sony removed some shows that customers had paid for due to licensing. Another thing that worries me is does buying a physical copy really change the situation? Seems a lot of discs I've installed don't seem to be the full game. 15gb from the disc the rest downloads online, plus any updates and patches and DLC also is online. (Don't get me started on how over reliant developers have become on patches.) I see the pros in digital content, many people lack space to store all the physical copies. You can play any game without getting a disc out or watch movies without switching a disc. You can have a new game/movie in an instant through the digital store. However there are a lot of cons. Game stores seem to be dying. Where I live there is literally one place when there used to be 4. Trade in and swapping is pretty much dead. Lending someone a game won't be possible anymore. Sale prices don't generally seem as good. We don't seem to really own said content. Which seems the worst part.
Yes physical is obsolete. Old heads you can retire or continue buying digital. The debate of physical vs digital is inconsequential/irrelevant for younger generations. They will adapt to digital.
Let’s face it the majority of new gen gamers are lazy as hell and would rather download games rather than physically go somewhere to buy a game or wait and get it delivered from amazon…for me unless its free i never do downloadable games…i will buy physical games until i cant play anymore…
That's the most nonsensical logic. I work a full time job and have tons of other responsibilities outside of work. Yet I still prefer digital gaming for the convenience and affordability of the frequent events sales that physical gaming does not have. How am I lazy? By that logic, everyone driving a car is lazy because they walk to their destination. Everyone eating at restaurants are lazy because they don't want to cook. Everyone using flashlights are lazy because they don't want to build a torch. Your logic is basically 'Convenience=laziness'. No wonder physical copies of games are losing with people this dense defending it.
It's not laziness my dude. Target sells Diablo 4 base game physical for $70 (the bundle with the dlc digital code is also $70) Gamestop sells the base game used physical for $30... yet the dlc will cost you another $30 when you get home Xbox store / steam has it listed for $45 digitally base game + dlc... so you're saving a minimum of $15 up to $25 Cod bo6 is $70... + another $30 for the vault edition + another $10-20 per month to play multiplay x 1 month that's already $110-120 Gamepass is $20 + vault edition is $30... so you're saving essentially $60-70 right off the bat... which could fund 3-4months of gamepass easily. 1. Multiple tier editions of games - the highest tier is usually only available digitally 2. Dlc - if they don't reprint the game like cyberpunk 2077, pokemon scarlet, or pokemon shield... with the dlc on it... it's not a complete version 3. Online connection - you can't own a game that requires an online connection... unless they turn off the requirements like they did with diablo 3... currently diablo 4 requires online connection just to play a single player experience. I still support physical switch games & 4k movie format. It's definitely the gaming industry itself. The gaming industry is butchering physical games to sell more digital games. If anything it's gamers supporting bad business / shady tactics. Myself included... even as a pro-physical person... at some point I realized I'm fighting a up-hill losing battle, because I am not the majority of consumers. My ideal world would be dlc being printed with the base game all the time. My ideal world would be all indy games getting a physical release. My ideal world would be all older games being ported to newer hardware without having to worry about music licensing on games like ssx3, tony hawk pro skater 3, guitar hero or rockband. Sadly we don't live in that reality.
We always need a physical option, we need to preserve these games, and all digital will make it worse, corporations has already shutdown digital storefronts, and is a bad sign for preservation!
We’re unfortunately in an era where old features are now a premium; the pro tells us Sony will likely release a disc less PS6 and may not care enough to provide a disc drive option. Everything in this era is now made with the mindset of pushing subscriptions or alternatively be free but full of ads and micro transactions.
The main issue is I don't want to spend $70+ on a game that I don't own. That amount, right now anyway, usually gets me a disc, case, some nice artwork, and maybe a little goodie inside like a keychain/art cards. Digital offers nothing but air. So far this year I have pre-ordered three physical games, wish I could afford more to support physical game releases! So many people tell me "it takes up to much space!" and I'm like "but you have no control over what you buy". What if you hit a rough patch and need some extra money? A digital game isn't exactly going to help you but having a physical game to sell online will. Add to the fact if you don't like a digital game you can't return it and get your money back, you are stuck with it forevermore! 🤧
You don't own most of the physical games these days either. Still gotta download the bulk of, if not the entire game even with a disc. If there is a version of the game on the disc, it's the busted, borderline unplayable version with no day one patch. So without the internet and access to these digital storefronts, the disc is useless anyway.
When these companies get rid of physical game discs entirely, it will just open a market for new developers/companies for gamers who strictly want physical media games and provides an avenue for more creative and enjoyable gaming titles to be born for us dedicated console gamers. Essentially becoming a win-win for indie developers and studios. If there is a will, there is a way to overcome this problem.
That depends on whether Sony/Microsoft will allow games to be loaded via disc in the first place. Even if they allow you to connect an external drive they may not allow you to load games from it. Especially if you need an internet connection which may be used to block any game loaded from a disk.
First of all you can buy the disc drive separately to attach it plus you haven't owned a game since ps2 era yes you can still sell the physical game but you only sell a license because the cd is a license key
It's not surprising when you look at how entertainment media has been consumed and evolved. Companies make the medium and leave it to the consumer to choose or reject. Digital media is being chosen by the vast majority of consumers and the money listens. If consumers wanted physical media to survive. they'd have bought at levels to justify keeping it. They haven't. That is fact and companies see that.
Unfortunately that is the truth! Some people will be upset but a lot of people just want convenience. They don’t care or think ahead of how the market will be controlled, or how they won’t end up on owning everything, or how they are giving power to the companies to increase prices. They just think of now. They wan the game right now and don’t want to have to wait for it to arrive or drive out and get it. One day, it’ll be realised but I fear it’ll be too late by then!
@AVVGaming1 Because it might get lost or damaged upon arrival. Only to find out the game is not (any longer) in stock. That's time, energy and gas wasted.
When i can not collect proper physical game copies with a playable build anymore, I'll just re-switch to PC again. There i can at least download a crack for most games that i care about to "own" them. I already get games on PC that are either online only or have an incomplete build on disc, even though they are not a lot.
Digital games will most likely never be cheaper than physical copies and they won’t be cheaper when physical is no more. But I will stop buying so there is that.
Yeah it’d change how we approach gaming overall. I like the option and think it should always be there. If you exclude it, then a lot of people will just switch to Pc I reckon
no physical games are not dying the industry is killing them its what they want , i speak for many as well as myself we want physical to stay but they dont care. video after video, comment after comment to keep it alive but they not listening or again care at all. its all come down to money for them. please keep physical games alive also one to add drop disc based consoles and make cartridge based consoles. and no it will not cost to much if switch oled can do it for 349. at its size . with a console bigger shell larger parts and larger game card with extra power it shouldnt be to far off the oled cost. comment if you like this idea,share and subscribe sony or other platforms needs to step up or they will fall. and stop with this all mobile gaming they working torwards and all digital option not force.
As an ex game collector myself, i have come to the conclusion that all games have a shelf life, how long that is, depends on person, whilst its a trophy to have your games, i feel the entertainment value will eventually vanish until something else replaces it somehow, im not a believer of nostalgia, sega rally is still a fun game and all you want to do is be closer to the best experience, so you can either have the game or the arcade itself, and its always just a case of scratching an itch until the itch changes form. I have been a fan of armored core since 97, armored core 6 actually released, its excessively rare i want to go back to AC1 even though i own it, I want to go back to 3 or last raven till this day, and yes i own the series so i can, AC6 is 10/10 as a fan of the series, but i still wont get the old stuff back until a remake (likely never) or a slight bit of hope of AC7 being more of the same with x10 the content and dynamics like old-gen, as when you go back thats what the old games feel like, its like getting the right portion size for dinner. We are in such a strange place in gaming.
It’s “common knowledge that the series S became most people’s 2nd or 3rd console only due to the price and for gamepass but the same dynamic didn’t happen with the PS5 digital
I can understand cases like 6th gen and backwards where you own everything on your copy and as long as it's kept clean and safe, it's yours forever (the Switch often works this way, too), but the moment the consoles went online and games started ballooning in volume to where they are now, there started to be less and less of a reason to game physically...
Yeah as long as it's DRM free I don't think there is much of an issue with digital only. If the market is heading that way because people are buying less and less physical games, it's fair enough.
With the world collectively moving towards minimalism and making the maximum out of progressively limited space, it was only a matter of time. This pet theory isn't probably as far-fetched as it sounds!
Convenience as well. That’s what gets us in the end! Convenience of fast food got us good. Convenience catches us and it will probably get us here too lol. Ps5 pro is certainly a move in that direction and Xbox been pushing hard to get game pass on pc so they know something is coming
The problem right now is that storage is still required to play top tier games. Doesn't matter if it's a Blu-ray disc or the more expensive internal drive. Streaming the top games would take tremendous bandwidth that's just not there. For me , if I can't get a physical copy, I'm not buying. Leaves too much power in the hand of the owner of the servers. One minute you own a game, the next minute you don't. It's all up to those that control the storage. I see it as no different than government trying to force you to public transportation. When did we start accepting that others should have control of the products we purchased?
@@jefferytillis8309 you're absolutely right but as AVV said we are nearing the end of life on physical copies for all the reasons he mentioned in cost cutting and convenience. If the companies do end up keeping physical copies for people like you who refuse to digitise entirely, then it will be those overpriced collector's edition discs which will make you pay a premium for the same game and basically include a markup on the price for printing and shipping :P
@@debopamroy56Even those aren't safe. Some collector editions now come with an empty steelbook and a download code instead of a disc. It's completely idiotic.
We have statistics which clearly show people still want physical media. So companies that want to eliminate it entirely should be told "No" by the law. They cannot be allowed to have 100% control of our video games. Their job is to provide all the options possible. And that has always included physical media.
I think it all comes down to consumer reaction. If people get upset, or even worse, don’t buy the new consoles, they’ll reevaluate and include physical. But if only 10% complain and the rest go for it, they’ll stick with it. If they want to control the market and be fully in control of all sales and price, they will want it digital
Love physical media! I have a list of games I want to get! I'm collecting all of my PS3 an 360 games now! Also getting the last few games for my PS4 an PS5! 🎮🤙👌
The price of second hand physical games is really a rip off. In my country, they are selling it for almost the same price it was sold for 10-15 yrs ago. I need to have physical games, if its not available on pc, im buying it for ps1-4. With a full time job, side business, and financial responsability, i still cant afford this hobby, between pc parts, consoles, games, it quite sucks, and its forcing me to go full digital, moreso because indies pump out bangers, and they dont do physical releases, but thsy do have drm-free downloads
That’s absolutely fair! Which country are you living in? I think that’s tough because usually you can get a better deal on physical games but if they aren’t lowering the price and it’s higher than the digital, you have to buy what’s affordable. If you’re working full time etc you gotta put your own finances first!
In my country I get excellent deals for second-hand physical games, I recently bought god of war ragnarok for only 25$ and it costs 70$ on the store, after I finished it I traded it for spider man 2
The only reason digital games don’t get price drops is because Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft don’t want to completely alienate the box stores since they still rely on the for sales. Once box store no longer sale games you’ll see price drops on digital games
In the UK, we have a shop called CEX. They sell used games and DvDs. The good news is, they are absolutely bouncing most days. Especially on the weekend. I went to the one in Cardiff as I wanted a physical Breath of the Wild, I actually was in a queue and had to wait for like 20 minutes as there were a few people looking to sell some second hand media in front of me.
I’m in the UK! Thanks for sharing this! I reckon I’ll go and find one of those shops near me and check it out! I love getting physical games and I won’t stop buying them!
15:20 i think you mispoke, there's literally 0 positives to digital only, having the option of physical media doesn't stop you from buying digital, so it's just something we lose for nothing in return
Yeah I was scraping the barrel really. Just that it’s convenient I guess? Saves you driving out to get the game? lol idk I don’t like digital games so it was hard to balance this one out lol
I prefer physical, though there are times I buy digital. Mostly because it might be digital only. I do buy DLC digital, mostly because they are on the shop/store. You don't like go to a gaming store and buy a copy with a DLC code or something. Or maybe it has happened in some scenarios. So yeah, I'm scared if video games get digital only, due to the fact that companies could remove the game out of nowhere. Especially if it happens with games you've bought.
Yes and I’ve seen it happen a few times. For me, I ended up with a series s Xbox for financial reasons. But just recently I got a ps5 for a great deal and it felt so good to get physicals games again. It just means more to me when it’s physical. And the fact I actually have a tangible product I can keep or sell in the future it means a lot! I hope physical games don’t die off
You never know what the stats are really like as it’s easier to track digital example say I buy off eBay or a pawn shop that doesn’t go into the stat tracker
I actually just bought the PS5 pro. As far as physical media, it’s been quite a few years since I have bought physical media of any kind. People still buy discs? Seriously, I can’t name a single person I know in my circles that buys games physically. I used to, sure, but just for pure convenience that ship has sailed a long time ago. I jump around a lot in one sitting with multiple games and I’m just too lazy to get up and change the disc. Pain in the ass. Honestly, I really don’t have space for physical ether. Having said that I still do get why some people like it. I personally just don’t know anyone anymore who does.
Bro this is so spot on! So I got a ps5 and all my games are discs and I generally get annoyed about having to get up and Change the disc. It takes less than 20 seconds lol but I’ll spend 12 hours making a video lol. I still buy physical in case but you’re definitely not alone with this.
And just so you know I’m not against your content, I like your content and I’m a 80% physical gamer. I buy mostly digital games when they are in deep sale😊
Thank you! I’ve seen your other comments too and will reply here, but I really appreciate the feedback. If I’m wrong about the life is strange being digital only, that’s my fault for not checking it enough. As for the series s part I did try to explain it would probably be tied to finances and those reports are from 2022, which could be totally different now. Either way, thank you for the kind words and all the comments with feedback. As I’m new I’m learning with each video and feedback like this will help me get better. As the channel grows, things I could get wrong before will no longer pass, so I have to make sure to be more thorough. Thanks again for taking the time to write the comments, provide the feedback and leave a positive message as well. It really means a lot.
@@AVVGaming1 I believe people only comment constructively when they care. Your videos are important. You talk about serious stuff and there’s not many channels like yours.
@@herodownunder thank you! And I would ask that you continue to leave feedback. I will never take it badly. It’s actually an honour that people care about my videos enough to comment and offer help. It results in me improving and thus videos getting better. It stops errors because if I say something wrong, like I did, the concept can lose credibility. Thank you again and never hesitate to leave feedback
A big issue is that you technically do have physical media when downloaded via data on your hard drive. The issue comes from overhead from developers making digital storefronts the only way to buy the games. They do that to avoid piracy because you could just download the games for free way too easily in that case, if you legally had ownership of anything that you had on your hard drive that you have a receipt for or proof of purchase, it should never be able to be blocked or removed for you.
I've been a digital only gamer since I moved to PC Gaming almost a decade ago. Haven't missed a single thing about physical copies of games. These crazy events sales are keeping me too busy to care about what physical copy of games to put on my shelf 😁
Download takes so much time. Other than that. I love digital gaming. Because u won't have to maintain the physical copy or protect it. It's safe and secure online. No🗿 it's fine as long as i get to play the game.
Hold onto them tight! Also, I love both of those games! RE4 is one of the best games I have ever played! Question; RE4 original or remake? Which one do you prefer?
@@AVVGaming1 You bet I will hold on to them 😊! I was talking about the remake (played through the original one many times since its first release), but I haven’t been able to play the remake or RE8. Just completed RE7 and I have a backlog of 2,000+ games. 😅
@@Parisiancollector haha we’ve got a backlog of 1000 games now lol especially some games that take literally 100s of hours to complete lol it’s a great time to be a gamer!
Making any kind of comment is now impossible because you said literally everything I was going to. 😅 So spot on. I still buy physical copies of the games I REALLY care about. But lately I have gotten lazy and bought more digital copies. Even of my favorite series. It sure is convenient to the point they are no longer available. But there's very little we can do about it. The future will be digital and collecting games will become impossible. No more manuals, maps or art books. Nothing. Just ones and zeros. Of course this has been the case for PC gaming for a long time now. But you'd trust platforms like Steam to have the games forever. But they won't be there forever either. It's a sad world we are living in. Greed rules over everything. Really good video. Amazing job. Covered pretty much every point I wanted to make.
Thank you very much! If it happens we, the consumers, are screwed really. We have no control over it. When you end up in a situation where a product has no competition, prices can go as high as they like. And as these companies have shown in the past, they will definitely exploit that opportunity
For all the games i really want to own forever i buy physical games. If its something i feel like im taking a stab in the dark with i buy digitally when its on sale.
I went digital only after red dead2 but got back into physical media about a year ago. I love owning my games again and seeing the collection grow. Even have all my old pokemon games still, ps2, and ps3 games and some gamecube. It takes up space sure but at least you get to own them
It’s far from “inevitable” that we end up with all digital. That’s very deterministic- companies want all digital to maximise profits - that’s it. I personally would not purchase an all digital console for the reasons outlined in video. I don’t see any upsides to digital other than don’t have to get up to change disk but this limitation is only there as consoles force you to swap disks they could let you install full game and validate ownership once a week or something
thats why im collecting physical copies now for my retirement. remember, "you'll own nothing and be happy" future will be a rental economy. applications are now monthly/annual subscription. there will be no such thing as perpetual license anymore. games will be next. Apple is already doing it you can only play games if you rent digitally.
Support phisical media, support it as long as we can. As a gamer, I can't understand who doesn't care about. I mean, think about it, only digital, would be much better for the companies behind yes, but not for us customers. Less options for us, how could this be good? For example the PS Store would be the only place where to buy a game, then probably the prices would be higher longer as now, because where else do you buy a game then? At least the option to decide if to buy phisical or digital must stay possible. Consoles only digital, I can't imagine that, there would really be even less reasons to buy one over a PC then.
I think some people who don’t support it, who make comments like “it’s already over etc” they don’t understand economics. So they just think about the convenience of it and don’t understand we’re not just arguing about the sentiments of holding a copy. It’s about the market. Like my example, games can be bought on eBay for £15 or full price online store. If they own the market, as in it’s only digital, the price will not only never decrease, it will increase a lot! If there is no competition, then the price will increase. Supply drops, demand increases and were left with a monopoly. The winners are the companies and the losers are the people like us, the consumers.
I see little difference between a rom image stored on a disk/cartridge or one that is stored on my micro SD card inside my 3DS. In the end you're playing a rom, it's just a question of how you got it. Personally I don't enjoy having shelves of crap in my room, and for that reason love digital distribution.
Now I want to start looking for the games I currently have in digital. Got the Series S in middle of Covid at almost twice the price about $450 but really want to get the Series X with disk drive as soon as possible which means saving up Besides gaming going digital, it’s the same for movies, books, and music. These made great gifts for Christmas or birthdays, being digital means a gift card to get whatever and that is so impersonal in my opinion, and for me there is nothing like a good physical book to open and read same for games.
Another pro for physical games is those of us with bad internet speeds. I bought gran turismo 7 on disk. It was about 90GB and I had it installed and ready to play in an hour. Horizon Call of the Mountain on the other hand I received digitally with my psvr2. It was about 40GB. Took about a week to download. And if I run out of storage space and delete it and decide I want to play it later. I'm gonna have to do it all over again.
Nah you’re not bugging. I know they added it, but it’s an add on. So they released the actual console without one, and although you can buy it for an additional $100+, the fact you have to do that shows where their heads are at. If they felt people really needed a disc drive or wanted one, it’d be on the console at launch. If I could change the video, I would add that in though.
I am similar where I currently buy games where they are the cheapest. I have rdr2 digitally, but I have some games on discs, like black ops 1 and 2. I also wanted to say I discovered your channel yesterday and I have watched a bunch of your videos already. I want to say that your content is great, and keep up the hard work as you are bringing up conversations and ideas most wouldn't think of covering. Also I want to end with a question: Will downloading your games on a hard drive or sd card serve the same purpose of physically owning the game? Like if your friend downloaded the telltale game of thrones on a hard drive and tried to play it again, would the same have happened? I am asking because I don't have a pc I have a mac, where I play on a ps2 emulator with the classic games.
Well thank you very much for the kind words! Really glad you’re enjoying the videos! So, what they did is they downloaded the game and then uninstalled it. So if they had kept it downloaded on an SD card or hard drive, they would have been able to play it. The fact is they deleted it under the assumption it would still be there but by saving them elsewhere you do always have a backup and protect it. It’s often a case of deleting stuff to free up space and when you remove it completely you take that risk. If you saved them you’re safe! Thanks so much again for the really nice words!
People had a high opinion then of digital games was before we learned that digital only means you no longer own anything and it can be taken away at anytime.
Exactly! It’s convenient but man it’s a price to pay! $60 gone. No way to get it back. For a promise it’ll be there if you need it…which it might not be. Plus digital only means more space which means additional hard drives for more money, or you delete it and try to download it later but it might be gone..
I think games should go all digital because I want companies to be able to fuck over my purchases and your purchases and everyone's purchases and you're going to like it 🤓
Since the PS4 Pro has only sold about 15 million units, it is understandable that consumers are not overly concerned about the PS5 Pro. The majority of PS5 owners would likely purchase the PS5 and then sell their games after they were through.
Yes, you’re probably right with that assessment. It was a high price point for something that doesn’t have a disc reader too. I’m not sure it will sell so good.
It is stupid to get rid a physical games. Gaming systems are targeting the rich. Not everyone has unlimited data. An some of those games use a lot of data To play and download. They real cutting off a source of revenue. An I not pay for games to just rent it. Waste of my money.
I live in the midwest and there is no internet service where I live that has unlimited data. If everything was streaming idk if I would even have enough internet to be able to play video games.
I used to buy physical games until the pandemic, and then we all went into quarantine. So I started buying digital, and I haven't stopped ever since and to me. It just felt more convenient because switching between games was easier. Also, some of the cons of having physical games mean that there's a chance that the disk could either get lost or break or get scratched or even perhaps disk rot.
@@thedembot honestly it’s so good! Like it’s made me fall in love with it. But here’s the thing, main story clocks in around 50 hours. That’s just doing the odd side quest but mainly sticking with the main story. If you wonder off and try to do all side quests it’ll take over 120. The side quests are really good, and you can do them anytime even after the main story, but yes I agree that if you’re a completionst and try to do it all, you’ll get burned out. I can’t wait to finish it because I need to get back to making videos lol
When CDs replaced LPs, they said prices would go down once they were able to reduce the defect rate. They never did. Then when LPs replaced CDs again, prices went up another 40% for 100+ year old technology.
While I will always prefer physical over digital (and will pay full price for physical), I will only buy digital when it is on sale and dirt cheap (under $20), as my view is if software companies only want me to 'rent' their games, then they are only worth a rental price. I refuse to pay full price for any digital game, and there is plenty to play that I can wait until they are on sale
Me too now! Got the series s to get by (bad time financially) but now I’ve got a ps5 with disc reader and I ain’t going back. It’s so much better! I got ff16 which was £60 online for just £12 made up!
The moment physical gaming media is gone is the moment I start sailing the seven seas.
Better start looking for a good boat then!
You're gonna need a big boat then. We'll join.
Offline games are also dying
@@EnejJohhem Lmao, sure buddy.
@@EnejJohhem I guess you're right. That's also sad.
Always, always, ALWAYS buy physical copies before they make it impossible. For all the reasons you pointed out here.
@@stanettiels7367 completely agree! I’d hold onto what you can because it’s definitely not going to be an option one day. Plus it’s literally an investment if you get it now. It’s a physical product of value. Once it goes digital those days are gone :(
As much as I support physical media I can't help but prefer my digital library. I was never forced to get games digitally, it just happened naturally. I remember being stoked when the xbox 360 marketplace dropped as a kid, I honestly can't remember a game that I bought physically since then that I didn't eventually replace with a digital copy.
Even all of my classic consoles have whatever mod I need to store the entire game's library on a hard drive, which has saved me what would equate to thousands upon thousands if it were all physical.
In the case of tv/movies, I prefer having dvds because it saves me tons on streaming. But in the case of gaming, my only criticism is that PC has been a fully digital medium for what feels like 20 years now without any real criticism towards the change, and imo we aren't far off from consoles needing to compete with pc to sustain relevance (ps5 pro level pricing, the growing popularity of the steam deck, consumer trust transitioning from AAA to indie)
I’m happy with my series s and ps5 digital no need to waste time and gas to get a key to download a digital game when I can do tha from my couch
I still don't have black wukong because it's digital only I love physical copies to much
Wait even the current physical copies don't have the full game code. I like my media physical but we're being given less option on it.
This is why I will never buy a console that doesn’t allow for physical media.
PC players got used to it two generations ago
@@therealjaystone2344 But it is the thing that SEPERATES consoles from PC gaming. What's the difference if they take away the ability to physically buy/collect their games? A console then just becomes a cheap bad computer. and who wants that? There will be no incentive to buy consoles anymore. It is like they are eating their own market....
@@GamerofOld consoles are turning into streaming boxes
Have fun not getting the ps6 and whatever the next Xbox is gonna be
@@therealjaystone2344true and it’s pathetic. No more creativity or imagination to make an amazing product. It’s sad honestly
when physical games disappear its the death of console gaming since at that point just get a gaming pc
Exactly! That’s what I think the outcome would be. We’d all just save up for a good PC and move on from consoles. It’s disappointing Sony want that much money for a pro and then expect you to buy a disc reader separately for another £100. Not sure who they think had this sort of money to blow lol
100% What's the point if I can't collect them physically? Yeah once consoles ae all digital I am going to a gaming pc.
@@GamerofOldAs soon as I saw the ps5 pro announcement I decided then and there that I'm switching to pc by next gen. I've always been envious of pc gamers since a kid (mostly due to mods and library selection), but now as an adult the practical use of a pc is too attractive even outside of gaming. All I needed was a financial incentive.
How are those forced updates treating you?
Not sure Nintendo going to put their game on pc
The fact that there was suck a loud backlash over the lack of disc drive proves that physical media is not "dead" and there is still a demand for CDs.
Nobody uses discs anymore kiddo get with the times or get left behind
😂 this guy probably can't survive a day without logging into social media. true brainrot 😅@@slapshotjack9806
@@slapshotjack9806some do actually 😊
@@pinatacolada7986 more like vocal minority. It usually how it goes. Silent majority doesn’t give a crap.
@@slapshotjack9806Communist alert
I like physical discs. The ps5 disc version will be the last game system I buy. It's unfortunate that physical media is dying. People don't know what they have until it's gone and once physical media is completely dead, people will dislike it.
I agree and have been collecting since PS1.
Only you dislike it nobody else cares
Times change and we change with the times.
@@slapshotjack9806bro if you have to go up to MULTIPLE people and say “nobody cares” MAYBE there’s people that care
@@EJElijah kid nobody is an exaggeration of the LARGE majority of people (like 80 percent of ps5 users) that no longer buy games on disc anymore just because you still play them on disc doesn’t mean Sony is benefiting off of it and thus you are not entitled to everything you expect from them when that majority of people don’t care for what you want
Imagine a world where you got a free digital download of the game with every disc purchase? Or where you paid much less for the digital version because you don't own the license and Sony can kick you out of your account at anytime and bye bye digital game library?
@@latingringo89 I’m imagining it right now but sadly I doubt we will ever see it :( it’s gone the other way actually. I miss getting the game with a map and guide etc. all for $40 too! Now we get a digital game which comes with an outfit for your in game character for $100 lol
I will buy physical until i cant. Digital and physical should always be both options. And i personally think there should be laws around digital where they cant take it away. I dont like separate disc drive requires internet to setup. People willingly giving up their rights is wild. If these companies worded it as licensing for $70 vs buying for digital games i feel those people who say it’s the future will sing a different tune. Digital only puts power in store’s hands and you see sony increasing old games price. A lot of games do start digital only but get a physical later so im okay as long as games get physical at all
I agree with you but the ship has already sailed. The moment consoles became connected to the internet and discs started requiring patches/internet downloads, you no longer own the physical copy. They can patch the consoles to not read the disc or prevent any necessary patches/internet downloads to brick the game from running anymore. Or send a new patch to just brick the game. They have many tools at their disposal to make the disc unplayable now remotely. And if they wanted to pull a specific game from the market, they can just patch the console itself to no longer read that specific game.
@@ey5373we don’t need negativity keep that defeatist mentality to yourself
@@ey5373 Most PS4/5 games still contain a fully playable version on the actual disc. Source: does it play. This is where emulation later one day comes in for PS4 (as it already has for PS3 and 360 now) for ultimate preservation and control, no console necessary. I agree it's a worsening situation and that they'll probably win in the end for future titles. But for the time being physical (when the data is on the disc) and GOG is the way to go when possible.
Thankfully the music industry is doing well with both. CD and vinyl sales are holding on and are slowly increasing in popularity as we speak. Let's hope the gaming industry follows suit.
@@ey5373just don’t download the patch then, simple as that
Lack of consumer choice is bad for the consumer
Where's the "choice" when the only way to get a game is physical and it costs $500 or more?
@@LuisPerez-5 Not always legitimate, but pretty much every game can be obtained digitally. It’s physical which is becoming limited
@@itsmatt517 I mean physical is becoming more and more just a download key as the years go by. We need to push for true ownership of digital games.
I will never pass in a physical game. the day physical stop that's the day y stop collecting new games.
Obviously....
The moment new games turn digital I’ll quit buying them and permanently stick to 9th gen and before
Same, what’s the point of buying a product if I can’t own it.
totally agree same here
No you wont lol
Yep same here as well. I own physically alot of consoles since the day's of super nintendo and so many game's over the year's. I'm pretty satisfied now i game on playstation 5 and the switch and it seems that's where I would have to jump off the train. One's it becomes a full digital and all gaming company's go full digital only that's where I take my leave and say goodbye. I've been gaming for 34 year's and that's pretty much good for me unfortunately every good thing must come to a end. I did truly enjoyed these gaming with my friends and family relatives for a long time and the game's. for the new generation of kids playing on these newer consoles or future consoles or pc I hope this is what you wanted and dreamed about. A all digital only game world sounds crazy to me and insane. Now California law will require online stores to disclose you are purchasing licenses for digital games, movies, music, and ebooks, not owning them. Wow we already know this foray year's but now it's really going to show right in front of your faces. I love owning my physical game's most ps4 and ps5 game's have a 1.0 version that works right of the box from beginning to end same switch game's. You don't even have to update them unless you want to. However some game's are down right broken and some need a online connection. For example the division 1&2 and destiny 1&2 and even the newer call of duty game's like black ops 4 and newer cods you can't even play single player offline without a internet connection you see how bad that is. When those servers shutdown and it will that's it like look what they did to your warzone you can't even transfer your old purchases from the old cod warzone to the new one. They really bend you over and you fans just took it lol. Now I don't know if it's true that's what I heard.
@@whatevername6553 I don’t play new games much if at all so I’ll maybe miss the next TES or fallout and maybe a good cod
Why can't people just accept that there are both pros and cons to both. All of this back and forth between what's better and who's smarter for choosing digital or physical is ridiculous. To each his own. Who the f&ck cares what you prefer. Personally, I buy all digital now, but the day where it gets to the point I can't play my games, I got a million other hobbies I can enjoy. Gaming is not the end all be all.
I've been a pc gamer for a long time now and digital only has been mostly the only option on pc for some time now so I'm used to this idea. But I also own a ps5 and when I bought it I got the disc version, I still like to buy physical copies of my games on console and I still like to buy Dvds and blu-rays and watch them on my console. That may be an old way of doing stuff but streaming is far from perfect and owning your games is a big plus if you in many ways if you ask me many of those ways you pointed out. So yeah I don't like the idea of a truly digital world only, physical games (and other stuff) have their place in this world and that place should be preserved.
Do you think it will Be? I can’t see it being around forever just because of the changes we are seeing now. Games going 100% digital. It’s interesting to see it happen over time but you can’t deny the convenience. I just like having the physical copies just to have them. Would be nice to keep both options open though. I guess we shall see!
@@AVVGaming1Won’t happen. Well, not to say it won’t happen but it can’t happen. It would mean the end of console gaming. The reasons why people accept digital on PC or with their music or movies are completely different from consoles and they are reasons that the consumers themselves shifted themselves into, not the publishers
@@AVVGaming1Those reasons being people shifted themselves to not owning their media with the rise of sailing the high seas with CDR and DVDR starting with music and movies. It wasn’t a shift brought on by publishers. PC is a very different ecosystem from console. The reason PC gamers are comfortable is because they have more than 1 place to get their games, be that soaking the high seas or multiple different storefronts. They can also backup those games themselves. None of this is possible on a console where you can lose your entire library if you’re banned for what ever reason they decide. There are no other storefronts. There is no way to backup the games yourself. You are entirely at the mercy of the publisher.
@@rickybobby5153 so you think that they will always keep physical games for console? Could be a good point! Thanks for sharing!
@@AVVGaming1 I'm not sure if it will be around forever, I hope it will but I'm not sure. However I think rickybobby made some good points I think physical on consoles is still popular so it may survive there. But on the other hand I'm thinking if that is the case why would Sony make a console with no disc option at all, to test the waters maybe? I guess we won't know for sure what way the wind blows until we see what Microsoft will do with the X-box, if they go digital only then we have our answer. Until then only time will tell.
Why rent a game for $70 when you can own a game for $70? If I can get a $20 game for $5 digital I will opt for the digital but if i have to pay 25+ give me the physical copy. I will hate the day that they opt to go digital only
Why waste time and gas for a key to download a game that will be taken away when the digital store goes down
@@slapshotjack9806 because no matter what happens even if they take the digital store away or your account gets hacked whatever you may lose your progress but at least you still have the game to play. Pt should have been the wake up call that they can do whatever they want with a digital download
@so you don’t like to own nothing? And keep that sh!t to yourself not everyone wants to have their options taken away
@@slapshotjack9806you are a sad, sad human being. 😢
@@slapshotjack98061) Forgot we can buy things online huh?
2) You’d rather have a PNG than a disc?
Lets play a game; pull the internet cord out of your console and lets see what games you still can play....
Smart gamers buy physical! Dumb gamers buy digital.
You need internet for both Einstein. Unplug your Internet then try downloading a disk. Let me know how it works out.
"You will own nothing but be happy" 👎 I said it about 6 or so months ago that I feel the PS6 and next Xbox will be digital only.
@@wambamthankumamyou can. You just won't have dlc and patches.
@@thesilentone011which is often game breaking
I am playing all my games without updates and I beat game after game.
the price doesnt alwasy stay the same. Sony just doubled the price of Horizon Zero Dawn to get people to buy the remaster version.
All his issues his Describing is a console issue. PC always have massive discount games do not get removed even if they lose rights.
If you have the original game Sony won't charge you the full price.
@nowayjose1313 they were till the backlash happens. Wait till they dont listen. They made games $70 standard afterall. they also don't agree we crossplay but slowly adding.
@@NatsumeKonno there are also a lot of games on the online store that go down a lot through sales that beat the physical media price.
Its not dying. It’s being killed..
Thank you! We are being cornered by these companies. "This is the only way to play video games!" is what they are saying towards digital only. Yet I am firm that I don't want to move towards digital. So what happens? This divide in the gaming community. One side pro physical and another pro digital. When did we get so comfortable not owning what we buy?
Correct, even DVD bluray was always selling so well. But it was companies plot to not even support the physical cause they want ALL PROFIT and CONTROL.
Exactly! Well said, much more concise than I was able to put it, but this is exactly what I was trying to say.
I remember 8 years ago you got all digital consoles 2024 still making physical copies but just a license on a disk no data so as you say it is being killed as they want people to more more to buy it digital so they make disks empty so people feel ripped of so they then download from store
I grew up with physical media, I am a 31 year old woman, I have quite a bit of game retro collection with my husband, however lately we have switched to mainly PC and Switch. We have a PS5, but after the Pro was announced, we talked and just wanted to stay with PC and Nintendo.
Honestly we still like physical but if our house burned down all the physical games we would lose, and we would lose our computers, but all the digital games could be downloaded again. So there is pro and cons to both. Plus if Steam goes anti consumer and deletes a game that is even on our hard drive, if it's retro/classic enough we can emulate it if we wanted to play it so much.
The main problem is dedicated systems/consoles. They are becoming more obsolete, and if they really get rid of physical media, there is no reason for them. Just switch to PC.
Exactly! And I think that’s how things would turn if they stopped accepting discs. We’d all just go and save up for a good PC. It makes more sense and steam has more variety and better deals too. As far as the switch goes, that console is unreal! I buy all my games physical for the switch but that’s because my wife also has a switch and we can swap and play games together. I’m playing xenoblade chronicles 3 now and it’s outstanding. Honestly I’m gonna do a video about the switch because I think it’s one of the best consoles ever. Witcher 3, RDR, KCD, Persona 5, 4, Skyrim, BOTW, TOTK, smash bros, Mario kart, just mental selection !
You could just as easily lose those digital games. Someone else controls those servers and has the power to remove the content at a moments notice. Or rather no notice at all. In the end many would just resort to buying more expensive storage to make sure they keep their games
@@jefferytillis8309 That's an easy choice, piracy is the great equalizer and DRM is vanquished again and again. That's the relationship between company and consumer. If they won't satisfy, we won't spend. They keep making slop, we stop buying it, they raise console prices, we buy PCs, they misshandle a game, we mod it to be better, they take away access, we pirate and emulate.
Internet nerds are so brilliant at circumvention that sometimes I wonder what we need AAA for. Whether it's remastering or remaking games from scratch. Exploiting hardware through itterative jailbreaking. Rebuilding, privatizing, or loopholing servers after shutdowns such as the xbox 360 marketplace, the crew, or the pretendo network. Creating extensive expansions through modding and romhacking. Forming dev teams that take advantage of industry standard engines like UE. Or even stepping past troublesome emulation to port exclusives directly to pc through the process of decompilation as seen with SM64, Ocarina of time, and hopefully soon, Bloodborne.
In an anti-consumerist era, gamers have more insentive by the day to switch to Pc, and on PC, thanks to these few geek geniuses, gaming is dang near open source.
The digital platform can take away your digital games for anything reason they want and it’s statistically more likely than your house burning down.
I think judging by probability it is far more likely that digital content (under the control of someone else) gets delisted and no longer available to download instead of a house fire damaging owned physical copies.
Digital PC Gaming will probably become the exclusive norm in time. I suspect they will try subscription services, which may or may not fail. If they succeed, then that will be the norm and if they fail, then they'll probably go back to allowing you to download individual games at your leisure.
The collecting contingent of gamers will always be a thing and I suppose the silver lining is that this would set a finish line for a complete collection of physical releases. However, unless these gamers have tons of hard drives filled with the download only games, it is possible some stuff might be lost.
They definitely will lose some customers by going this route but they would likely deem it a necessary risk to create a new market.
Today PSN was down for nearly 9 Hours, thats why i buy only physicals :D
Really? Can’t believe that type of stuff still happens to billion dollar companies but it definitely coincides with the point of the value of physical games!
@@AVVGaming1 Yes that >Problem was World Wide, you can find a lot on TH-cam & Google abt it, i had the Problem too.
has nothing to do with didgital games or phisicals one
. . .You don't need PSN to play your digital games. . .
Yes, physical media is being killed off, but not by gamers.
Side note: the value of physical games is going to sky rocket HOLD ONTO YOUR PHYSICAL GAMES.
This is great advice! It’s crazy because the value starts at $60 then drops down to almost nothing after a few years, then it just bounces right up! Incredible really
I'm a game collector but I have some bad news for you, it won't. The reason games currently see a surge in price is because the kids of the 90s and 00s now have money to relive their childhood memories so they buy. The issue going forward is kids of the 2010s and 2020s will not have grown up with physical media so there will be no rush to purchase once they are older and prices will fall since there is no demand.
Its a sad reality but look on the bright side! by the time everyone in the world no longer cares about physical media we will be long dead so we won't have to deal with that reality 😂
@joeyisabsb1 that's what they said about vinyl.
That's a very, very over simplified take on it, but you do you, and I'll keep making bank off physical media.
@@joeyisabsb1 And what if the games these 2010-2020 kids enjoy... suddenly dissapear online one day... and the only way to play them is via disc.
It's a big if, but there's a chance.
It could go either way to be honest.
I have copies of pokemon x & y, sun, moon, shield, sword, scarlet, violet... The copies with the dlc for sword & shield... are already spiked in price. Who's to say in 10 years... it's not worth an extreme ammount once nintendo shutdown their e-shop on the switch.
Yes, buy gamers. Look it up, most of the game sales are digital. Not every game's value will go up either
I personally hate those people that think this is the future because its digital... They act like you're a luddite for actually wanting a disc and physically owning it.
Also, hot take from me here. I believe people should get off their butts and go to a GameStop or whatever to buy a game, it's not much harder than downloading a game from your console but people act like it is much harder and yet we've been living in the age of convenience for like the past century...
If you think about it being able to own that game disc or cartridge for virtually forever probably greatly outweighs the convenience of just downloading a game. Because unlike a digital game or physical copy can give you peace of mind that you will always have it.
@@pwnomega4562 I have an update just right now whilst I’m typing a message to you. My wife owns the sims on pc. She bought it and about 50 bloody DLCs for it from EA. She bought it on the app origins. Now they sold out to EA and she needs to download that and is having trouble getting the game onto that account. She owns it, yet she doesn’t. Digital downloads only benefit one person and it ain’t the consumer. I think steam recently admitted players don’t actually own their games. What these companies want is to own the market. You want to play Sims? You need to have our app. You want to use our app? You need to enter you credit card details, so that way we can push microtransactions onto you. What if EA want a membership fee to use their app? Well you gotta pay it if you want to play YOUR game! What if you don’t have WiFi and the app needs an update? Too bad, you need the app updated to play the game. People who say owning physical games are old school don’t see this side of things. There is no benefit except for convenience. It’s a shame but you can only stick to what you believe and apply that advice to yourself.
get with the times
@@gamerbeast3616 have fun not owning anything
@@pwnomega4562 The issue with physical media post PS2 is that you're owning the worst version of the game. PS3 and 360 you could still get some value out of the original disc, you still need to patch those games. Games haven't ran off optical since the PS3 and 360.
As a pc / series x / switch user... it's pretty much the future. I still buy physical games for my switch, but I also buy digital games on pc.
I'm one of the few people supporting the 4k movie format... as well. So I'm all for physical media.
If I went to gamestop... I would have to
A. take a shower & get dressed
B. Drive in busy traffic, waste time, gas, energy.. like a 10min drive atleast... I got 4 gamestops near me... the closest is 10min the fatherest is 20mins and a pita to get to due to heavy traffic & construction
C. Find the game I'm looking for... if they even have it... it's hit or miss at gamestop quite often...
D. possibly drive to another gamestop and do B all over again... another 10min
E. Deal with employees trying to make quotas
F. Drive back home with the game if I even found it... and still look at 100gb download anyways that would take 1-2hrs to download
or
A. Buy the game digitally or subscribe to gamepass
B. Spend the time downloading... instead of wasting an hour or possibly more... while it's downloading I can take a shower, clean up and watch a movie etc..
C. play the game
.
Gamestop litterally has to put out deals like a buy 2 get 1 free or 4 for $40, 4 for $20, 4 for $10 type of thing before I consider even bothering. A lot of the times when I go... I can't even find 4 games to slap together to maximize on savings... and I don't even have a huge physical collection... their selection is always hit or miss on if they have enough stock out on the shelves.
Even if I do find 4 games... It usually averages out to what they're sold for digitally online.
idk where you live, but here in wisconsin
99% of the time when I go to a best buy, walmart, or a target... all they have is "new releases"... most of display cases are empty. Even if I wanted to buy a game physically... it's never in stock & have to track down an employee who may or may not have the key or I'd have to go their website... and buy it... wait for 3-7 days or longer for it to be delivered. At that point I could just order off amazon... if I really wanted it physically and have it within 1-2days... sometimes even the same day if I'm lucky.
All I see on Assassin's Creed Mirage, Sony exclusives, Forza horizon 5, Star Wars outlaws, maybe Cyberpunk 2077 /w dlc..
Also
Diablo 4 base game right now is $70 physically still at target. (they also sell the bundle digitally, but it's also $70)
Yet gamestop sells it the base game used for $30... & then go home and realize that I have to buy the dlc for another $30 seperately = $60
And xbox & steam sells it digitally bundled /w the dlc atm for $45... I could literally sit at home and get a better deal on it.
^ as for ownership... it's doomed because it's single player still require an online connection... when you compare it to diablo 3... it doesn't require it now... since it's older
It's not laziness... it's just digital sales outperforming physical copies.
Cod bo6 is like $70 physically, but you need gamepass just to play multi-player... so another $10-20 x how many months as well = just to play multi-player... so you're out $80-$90 + get home have to buy the vault edition for another $30 = $110-120 right there.
Where as I can just subscribe to gamepass for $20... downloaded it then buy vault editon for $30... only spend $50 and I automatically saved $70 dollars... < that I can spend on 3 & 1/2 months on gamepass.
When physical games go away from console, I won't have a reason to own them anymore. I will stick to PC.
I think that’s what everyone is saying. If physicals games no longer exist, everybody will just move over to Pc. It’s crazy because the consoles are doing it to themselves! Xbox had a plan for PC players whereas Ps doesn’t do I’m not sure why they did this lol. Selling a disc extension for £100+ is really cheeky in my opinion lol
@@AVVGaming1 I don't think everyone would just move over to PC as it has a clearly more limited target market.
get with the times
@@am_pm.17 yes I’m not sure. I think the majority of people in the comments have said they would move to PC if physical games were removed. Whether that’s the right move or indeed what would happen I don’t know. I’ve always loved console gaming, I just hope they always have the option for physical games.
@AVVGaming1 Even if consoles go full digital. I'll still probably buy one despite owning a pc. It just won't ever be my first choice.
Right now my xbox series x is able to run cod bo6... while my 7 year old pc... crashes before making it to the menu screen.
As long as console stays affordable.
PC gaming has been all digital for a while now, its still the preferred platform for most. Nowadays physical and digital are the same. You only own the disc, not the data.
Physical > digital
That use to be clear cut. Now it's iffy. You can't say it's for preservation cause so many patches come after a physical release. You need the internet to have them for a stable release.
I will say that it can be cheaper in the long run
Same in music! CD/Vinyl >>> Streaming.
Well you are right as a physical disk nowadays just acts as a online code to install data is downloaded via internet not from disk
Is that why physical copies of games are now the least purchased? Because physical>digital.
😂 Talk about backwards logic.
@@DragonMasonHealer yeah it's really iffy now. And something new happens when it comes to digital. Did you know on ps5, if a publisher takes a game off the store, you can't play the game anymore?
I learnt that with hotline Miami 2. I got refunded, and the game became unplayable
"You will own nothing and be happy" Klaus Schwab
Klaus Schwab
@@ExploderMaster18 Yes I know, my phone glitched out when I sent it 🤣
The true threat to physical games is the gaming industry itself. While some gamers do accept and embrace digital media, Gaming companies are the ones that truly want an all digital future, not gamers. Subscription services is a scam to continuously milk people of money, so instead of paying one payment of X amount of dollars and be able to enjoy your favorite game for decades, you now have to pay a monthly/yearly payment forever to play your favorite game, which could potentially be taken from you if these companies want to take the game of the platforms service.
I love gaming, I've been doing it for over 30 years and always saw myself gaming forever, but I am preparing myself to let go of this hobby.
The sad truth is that we're living in the darkest video gaming age since the time of the crash in the mid-80s. Nintendo is honestly the only beacon of light in today's industry. I see PC and PS5 fans complaining that the Switch is graphically weak in comparison but forget graphics, Nintendo are the only ones still innovating and doing things (mostly) right.
@@am_pm.17 As a pc player. The og switch looks horrible. However the oled is much easier on my old eyes. Switch looks amazing & fun as hell.
I've been a nintendo fan since I was kid with a n64.
I currently own a variety of older video games consoles for this reason as well as they are dirt cheap. I picked up gears of war 1,2,3 all for $0.99 cents per game on a black Friday at a retro video game store. Which is insane value when you consider the hours I could spend playing them. I recently got a ps5 so I haven't touched my 360 in a minute but I love that I have a back log of tons of games to play and I don't even really need to buy new video games for quite some time.
Exactly! I think every game has a huge backlog though. I picked up 3 physical games for the switch about a year ago and each one has like 100+ hours of content and I got them for such a steal. My wife also has a switch so she can play them when she wants too. That’s why I prefer physical
I will never go all digital for a console. I don't like it for pc, but have adapted, but so far my old games have not required specific hardware to play them. Console games will lose a lot of business going digital only.
Totally agree! I think if Xbox and ps announced the next consoles were digital only, most people would take the money they’d spend on them and invest in a gaming PC anyway. It’s crazy these companies don’t think about that. I think Microsoft is thinking about that though because they have been getting game pass on Pc. They must know something is coming.
That's one of the reasons alan wake 2 failed, it didn't have a physical version
@AVVGaming1 I don't think it will be the death of consoles especially for xbox.
If xbox came out with digital only (no more disc versions)... I think it as long they imrpove upon the eco-system with play anywhere titles & cloud saves... they'll be in a good place overall... the transition would be smoother for xbox players if they choose to go pc later on.
Playstation users are in for a rude awakening if they come to pc... and have to rebuy their games... unless Sony grandfathered them in or something via steam or with their own launcher they're developing.
The disadvantages of digital like storage space and restrictions to reselling and refunding are so obvious and overshadows the positives like not having to worry about shelf space.
Heck, I myself loved digital until I realized how annoying it was to have barely any space on my consoles and that I couldn’t get my money back.
How is digital winning when the negatives are so obvious and deal-breaking?
A lot of discs nowadays dont even contain the game you buy. it still just goes to the store to download it. The real question is how you get the data. If i buy a digital but drm free version of skyrim on GOG, i own it much more concretely than a disc version on the PS5 that still requires a bunch of downloads from the PS store (not sure exactly what the drm for skyrim specifically is on PS, but you get my point). Regardless of the fact that the GOG version is digital, i can save or copy the installer to whatever storage form i feel is best and never have to rely on the digital storefront again, even if the game were to lose a license or get delisted.
I bought calisto protocol for ps4 rihht and this game could not run. It was a mess. Couldn’t handle it, shaky, lagged, literally unplayable. Patch required day 1, 30GB. Saved the game. But if I didn’t have the internet and update the game would be unplayable. It has unfortunately become a necessity but it’s poor from game developers to release these games so unfinished in the first place! Great point though! Thanks for commenting!
It depends on the game. There are many games that are fully on the disc. Large triple A games usually have/need patches but some is the devs fault. I watch a channel called N Game Arts for quality games that are fully on the disc.
I own both physical and digital on both Series X and PS5.
A worry I have is that digital content can be altered or removed at any time. (Look at the recent concord debacle which may have upset the 2 people that bought it 😅)
Sony removed some shows that customers had paid for due to licensing.
Another thing that worries me is does buying a physical copy really change the situation? Seems a lot of discs I've installed don't seem to be the full game.
15gb from the disc the rest downloads online, plus any updates and patches and DLC also is online.
(Don't get me started on how over reliant developers have become on patches.)
I see the pros in digital content, many people lack space to store all the physical copies.
You can play any game without getting a disc out or watch movies without switching a disc.
You can have a new game/movie in an instant through the digital store.
However there are a lot of cons.
Game stores seem to be dying.
Where I live there is literally one place when there used to be 4.
Trade in and swapping is pretty much dead.
Lending someone a game won't be possible anymore.
Sale prices don't generally seem as good.
We don't seem to really own said content. Which seems the worst part.
Yes physical is obsolete. Old heads you can retire or continue buying digital. The debate of physical vs digital is inconsequential/irrelevant for younger generations. They will adapt to digital.
Let’s face it the majority of new gen gamers are lazy as hell and would rather download games rather than physically go somewhere to buy a game or wait and get it delivered from amazon…for me unless its free i never do downloadable games…i will buy physical games until i cant play anymore…
That's the most nonsensical logic. I work a full time job and have tons of other responsibilities outside of work. Yet I still prefer digital gaming for the convenience and affordability of the frequent events sales that physical gaming does not have. How am I lazy?
By that logic, everyone driving a car is lazy because they walk to their destination. Everyone eating at restaurants are lazy because they don't want to cook. Everyone using flashlights are lazy because they don't want to build a torch.
Your logic is basically 'Convenience=laziness'. No wonder physical copies of games are losing with people this dense defending it.
It's not laziness my dude.
Target sells Diablo 4 base game physical for $70 (the bundle with the dlc digital code is also $70)
Gamestop sells the base game used physical for $30... yet the dlc will cost you another $30 when you get home
Xbox store / steam has it listed for $45 digitally base game + dlc... so you're saving a minimum of $15 up to $25
Cod bo6 is $70... + another $30 for the vault edition + another $10-20 per month to play multiplay x 1 month that's already $110-120
Gamepass is $20 + vault edition is $30... so you're saving essentially $60-70 right off the bat... which could fund 3-4months of gamepass easily.
1. Multiple tier editions of games - the highest tier is usually only available digitally
2. Dlc - if they don't reprint the game like cyberpunk 2077, pokemon scarlet, or pokemon shield... with the dlc on it... it's not a complete version
3. Online connection - you can't own a game that requires an online connection... unless they turn off the requirements like they did with diablo 3... currently diablo 4 requires online connection just to play a single player experience.
I still support physical switch games & 4k movie format. It's definitely the gaming industry itself. The gaming industry is butchering physical games to sell more digital games. If anything it's gamers supporting bad business / shady tactics. Myself included... even as a pro-physical person... at some point I realized I'm fighting a up-hill losing battle, because I am not the majority of consumers. My ideal world would be dlc being printed with the base game all the time. My ideal world would be all indy games getting a physical release. My ideal world would be all older games being ported to newer hardware without having to worry about music licensing on games like ssx3, tony hawk pro skater 3, guitar hero or rockband. Sadly we don't live in that reality.
We always need a physical option, we need to preserve these games, and all digital will make it worse, corporations has already shutdown digital storefronts, and is a bad sign for preservation!
We’re unfortunately in an era where old features are now a premium; the pro tells us Sony will likely release a disc less PS6 and may not care enough to provide a disc drive option.
Everything in this era is now made with the mindset of pushing subscriptions or alternatively be free but full of ads and micro transactions.
The main issue is I don't want to spend $70+ on a game that I don't own. That amount, right now anyway, usually gets me a disc, case, some nice artwork, and maybe a little goodie inside like a keychain/art cards. Digital offers nothing but air. So far this year I have pre-ordered three physical games, wish I could afford more to support physical game releases! So many people tell me "it takes up to much space!" and I'm like "but you have no control over what you buy". What if you hit a rough patch and need some extra money? A digital game isn't exactly going to help you but having a physical game to sell online will. Add to the fact if you don't like a digital game you can't return it and get your money back, you are stuck with it forevermore! 🤧
You don't own most of the physical games these days either. Still gotta download the bulk of, if not the entire game even with a disc. If there is a version of the game on the disc, it's the busted, borderline unplayable version with no day one patch. So without the internet and access to these digital storefronts, the disc is useless anyway.
When these companies get rid of physical game discs entirely, it will just open a market for new developers/companies for gamers who strictly want physical media games and provides an avenue for more creative and enjoyable gaming titles to be born for us dedicated console gamers. Essentially becoming a win-win for indie developers and studios. If there is a will, there is a way to overcome this problem.
That depends on whether Sony/Microsoft will allow games to be loaded via disc in the first place. Even if they allow you to connect an external drive they may not allow you to load games from it. Especially if you need an internet connection which may be used to block any game loaded from a disk.
@@gipgap4 Not if it is built on a new console system entirely and does not rely on Microsoft/Sony servers.
First of all you can buy the disc drive separately to attach it plus you haven't owned a game since ps2 era yes you can still sell the physical game but you only sell a license because the cd is a license key
The disc drive is required for me to purchase a console. If it doesn’t have that, I won’t purchase it
It's not surprising when you look at how entertainment media has been consumed and evolved.
Companies make the medium and leave it to the consumer to choose or reject.
Digital media is being chosen by the vast majority of consumers and the money listens.
If consumers wanted physical media to survive. they'd have bought at levels to justify keeping it. They haven't. That is fact and companies see that.
Unfortunately that is the truth! Some people will be upset but a lot of people just want convenience. They don’t care or think ahead of how the market will be controlled, or how they won’t end up on owning everything, or how they are giving power to the companies to increase prices. They just think of now. They wan the game right now and don’t want to have to wait for it to arrive or drive out and get it. One day, it’ll be realised but I fear it’ll be too late by then!
@AVVGaming1
Because it might get lost or damaged upon arrival.
Only to find out the game is not (any longer) in stock. That's time, energy and gas wasted.
I bought GTA for Xbox One for $30 at Walmart and it was online for $50.
It's a console issue. On PC game is like $10-20 new. Plus they do not remove games just cause they lost the License you just can't buy it anymore.
Hitman Blood Money from 2006. Online it is £60. On eBay you can get a physical copy for 0.99p.
the feeling of being able to pop in a disk with no internet connection and then play a complete game prepatch is spectacular
It really is! No updates, no constant asking to re connect to their server etc. just a good game ready to go!
When i can not collect proper physical game copies with a playable build anymore, I'll just re-switch to PC again. There i can at least download a crack for most games that i care about to "own" them. I already get games on PC that are either online only or have an incomplete build on disc, even though they are not a lot.
Digital games will most likely never be cheaper than physical copies and they won’t be cheaper when physical is no more. But I will stop buying so there is that.
Yeah it’d change how we approach gaming overall. I like the option and think it should always be there. If you exclude it, then a lot of people will just switch to Pc I reckon
no physical games are not dying the industry is killing them its what they want , i speak for many as well as myself we want physical to stay but they dont care. video after video, comment after comment to keep it alive but they not listening or again care at all. its all come down to money for them. please keep physical games alive also one to add drop disc based consoles and make cartridge based consoles. and no it will not cost to much if switch oled can do it for 349. at its size . with a console bigger shell larger parts and larger game card with extra power it shouldnt be to far off the oled cost. comment if you like this idea,share and subscribe sony or other platforms needs to step up or they will fall. and stop with this all mobile gaming they working torwards and all digital option not force.
As an ex game collector myself, i have come to the conclusion that all games have a shelf life, how long that is, depends on person, whilst its a trophy to have your games, i feel the entertainment value will eventually vanish until something else replaces it somehow, im not a believer of nostalgia, sega rally is still a fun game and all you want to do is be closer to the best experience, so you can either have the game or the arcade itself, and its always just a case of scratching an itch until the itch changes form.
I have been a fan of armored core since 97, armored core 6 actually released, its excessively rare i want to go back to AC1 even though i own it, I want to go back to 3 or last raven till this day, and yes i own the series so i can, AC6 is 10/10 as a fan of the series, but i still wont get the old stuff back until a remake (likely never) or a slight bit of hope of AC7 being more of the same with x10 the content and dynamics like old-gen, as when you go back thats what the old games feel like, its like getting the right portion size for dinner.
We are in such a strange place in gaming.
It’s “common knowledge that the series S became most people’s 2nd or 3rd console only due to the price and for gamepass but the same dynamic didn’t happen with the PS5 digital
I can understand cases like 6th gen and backwards where you own everything on your copy and as long as it's kept clean and safe, it's yours forever (the Switch often works this way, too), but the moment the consoles went online and games started ballooning in volume to where they are now, there started to be less and less of a reason to game physically...
What you mean no option you can buy a disc drive separately to attach it like you could with the latest digital ps5
Push for DRM-FREE digital.
consumers will get to *own* their software. GOG is a perfect example where consumers get a backable offline installer.
Yeah as long as it's DRM free I don't think there is much of an issue with digital only. If the market is heading that way because people are buying less and less physical games, it's fair enough.
Does anyone know the game he’s playing around 11:00 ?
With the world collectively moving towards minimalism and making the maximum out of progressively limited space, it was only a matter of time. This pet theory isn't probably as far-fetched as it sounds!
Convenience as well. That’s what gets us in the end! Convenience of fast food got us good. Convenience catches us and it will probably get us here too lol. Ps5 pro is certainly a move in that direction and Xbox been pushing hard to get game pass on pc so they know something is coming
The problem right now is that storage is still required to play top tier games. Doesn't matter if it's a Blu-ray disc or the more expensive internal drive. Streaming the top games would take tremendous bandwidth that's just not there. For me , if I can't get a physical copy, I'm not buying. Leaves too much power in the hand of the owner of the servers. One minute you own a game, the next minute you don't. It's all up to those that control the storage. I see it as no different than government trying to force you to public transportation. When did we start accepting that others should have control of the products we purchased?
@@jefferytillis8309 you're absolutely right but as AVV said we are nearing the end of life on physical copies for all the reasons he mentioned in cost cutting and convenience. If the companies do end up keeping physical copies for people like you who refuse to digitise entirely, then it will be those overpriced collector's edition discs which will make you pay a premium for the same game and basically include a markup on the price for printing and shipping :P
@@debopamroy56Even those aren't safe. Some collector editions now come with an empty steelbook and a download code instead of a disc. It's completely idiotic.
@@candybracelets I'm sorry but this sounds hilarious ahahaha. Dire times indeed xD
FUTURE> Buying Digital Games = Not Owning the game.
The only way to get Forza MotorSport 5/6/7 is buying a physical copy.
Totally agree with you! Steam have just had to admit that you don’t own your games when you buy through them!
Isn't the Series S a weaker console compared to Series X?
It is! Did I say something contrary to that? Someone else said that so not sure if I mis worded it or something
@@AVVGaming1 you didn't misword it, you didn't even word it. For the uninformed, it might sound like they were the same console under the hood
Torrents are the future. The companies crossed all the red lines. Now there's no way back. They don't even have whisper of idea to serve customers.
We have statistics which clearly show people still want physical media. So companies that want to eliminate it entirely should be told "No" by the law. They cannot be allowed to have 100% control of our video games. Their job is to provide all the options possible. And that has always included physical media.
I think it all comes down to consumer reaction. If people get upset, or even worse, don’t buy the new consoles, they’ll reevaluate and include physical. But if only 10% complain and the rest go for it, they’ll stick with it. If they want to control the market and be fully in control of all sales and price, they will want it digital
Love physical media! I have a list of games I want to get! I'm collecting all of my PS3 an 360 games now! Also getting the last few games for my PS4 an PS5! 🎮🤙👌
Man I bet you’ve got a heck of a collection! Which are your most valuable/means the most to you games you have? The ones you cherish?
The price of second hand physical games is really a rip off. In my country, they are selling it for almost the same price it was sold for 10-15 yrs ago. I need to have physical games, if its not available on pc, im buying it for ps1-4. With a full time job, side business, and financial responsability, i still cant afford this hobby, between pc parts, consoles, games, it quite sucks, and its forcing me to go full digital, moreso because indies pump out bangers, and they dont do physical releases, but thsy do have drm-free downloads
That’s absolutely fair! Which country are you living in? I think that’s tough because usually you can get a better deal on physical games but if they aren’t lowering the price and it’s higher than the digital, you have to buy what’s affordable. If you’re working full time etc you gotta put your own finances first!
In my country I get excellent deals for second-hand physical games, I recently bought god of war ragnarok for only 25$ and it costs 70$ on the store, after I finished it I traded it for spider man 2
The only reason digital games don’t get price drops is because Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft don’t want to completely alienate the box stores since they still rely on the for sales. Once box store no longer sale games you’ll see price drops on digital games
In the UK, we have a shop called CEX. They sell used games and DvDs. The good news is, they are absolutely bouncing most days. Especially on the weekend. I went to the one in Cardiff as I wanted a physical Breath of the Wild, I actually was in a queue and had to wait for like 20 minutes as there were a few people looking to sell some second hand media in front of me.
I’m in the UK! Thanks for sharing this! I reckon I’ll go and find one of those shops near me and check it out! I love getting physical games and I won’t stop buying them!
15:20 i think you mispoke, there's literally 0 positives to digital only, having the option of physical media doesn't stop you from buying digital, so it's just something we lose for nothing in return
Yeah I was scraping the barrel really. Just that it’s convenient I guess? Saves you driving out to get the game? lol idk I don’t like digital games so it was hard to balance this one out lol
I prefer physical, though there are times I buy digital. Mostly because it might be digital only. I do buy DLC digital, mostly because they are on the shop/store. You don't like go to a gaming store and buy a copy with a DLC code or something. Or maybe it has happened in some scenarios. So yeah, I'm scared if video games get digital only, due to the fact that companies could remove the game out of nowhere. Especially if it happens with games you've bought.
Yes and I’ve seen it happen a few times. For me, I ended up with a series s Xbox for financial reasons. But just recently I got a ps5 for a great deal and it felt so good to get physicals games again. It just means more to me when it’s physical. And the fact I actually have a tangible product I can keep or sell in the future it means a lot! I hope physical games don’t die off
Funny how a lot of comments are "I buy physical only" when the stats show most people buy digital
You never know what the stats are really like as it’s easier to track digital example say I buy off eBay or a pawn shop that doesn’t go into the stat tracker
@AVVGaming1 That first purchase was still to them so it can be tracked. Games don't multiply each time they are resold. And most people buy digital.
I don't have a physical game for a few years already.
I miss the magic of opening the box and reading the manuals before start the game.
You should have made a point on environment and carbon footprint. Which is better option for environment , etc.
I actually just bought the PS5 pro. As far as physical media, it’s been quite a few years since I have bought physical media of any kind. People still buy discs? Seriously, I can’t name a single person I know in my circles that buys games physically. I used to, sure, but just for pure convenience that ship has sailed a long time ago. I jump around a lot in one sitting with multiple games and I’m just too lazy to get up and change the disc. Pain in the ass. Honestly, I really don’t have space for physical ether. Having said that I still do get why some people like it. I personally just don’t know anyone anymore who does.
Bro this is so spot on! So I got a ps5 and all my games are discs and I generally get annoyed about having to get up and Change the disc. It takes less than 20 seconds lol but I’ll spend 12 hours making a video lol. I still buy physical in case but you’re definitely not alone with this.
And just so you know I’m not against your content, I like your content and I’m a 80% physical gamer. I buy mostly digital games when they are in deep sale😊
Thank you! I’ve seen your other comments too and will reply here, but I really appreciate the feedback. If I’m wrong about the life is strange being digital only, that’s my fault for not checking it enough. As for the series s part I did try to explain it would probably be tied to finances and those reports are from 2022, which could be totally different now. Either way, thank you for the kind words and all the comments with feedback. As I’m new I’m learning with each video and feedback like this will help me get better. As the channel grows, things I could get wrong before will no longer pass, so I have to make sure to be more thorough. Thanks again for taking the time to write the comments, provide the feedback and leave a positive message as well. It really means a lot.
@@AVVGaming1 I believe people only comment constructively when they care. Your videos are important. You talk about serious stuff and there’s not many channels like yours.
@@herodownunder thank you! And I would ask that you continue to leave feedback. I will never take it badly. It’s actually an honour that people care about my videos enough to comment and offer help. It results in me improving and thus videos getting better. It stops errors because if I say something wrong, like I did, the concept can lose credibility. Thank you again and never hesitate to leave feedback
A big issue is that you technically do have physical media when downloaded via data on your hard drive. The issue comes from overhead from developers making digital storefronts the only way to buy the games. They do that to avoid piracy because you could just download the games for free way too easily in that case, if you legally had ownership of anything that you had on your hard drive that you have a receipt for or proof of purchase, it should never be able to be blocked or removed for you.
I've been a digital only gamer since I moved to PC Gaming almost a decade ago. Haven't missed a single thing about physical copies of games. These crazy events sales are keeping me too busy to care about what physical copy of games to put on my shelf 😁
Download takes so much time. Other than that. I love digital gaming. Because u won't have to maintain the physical copy or protect it. It's safe and secure online. No🗿 it's fine as long as i get to play the game.
It took me two months to find RE4 Gold and RE8 Gold (French editions for my collection). Even major releases can be super hard to come by.
Hold onto them tight! Also, I love both of those games! RE4 is one of the best games I have ever played! Question; RE4 original or remake? Which one do you prefer?
@@AVVGaming1 You bet I will hold on to them 😊! I was talking about the remake (played through the original one many times since its first release), but I haven’t been able to play the remake or RE8. Just completed RE7 and I have a backlog of 2,000+ games. 😅
@@Parisiancollector haha we’ve got a backlog of 1000 games now lol especially some games that take literally 100s of hours to complete lol it’s a great time to be a gamer!
@@AVVGaming1 isn’t it? A lifetime of great entertainment 🤗.
Making any kind of comment is now impossible because you said literally everything I was going to. 😅 So spot on.
I still buy physical copies of the games I REALLY care about. But lately I have gotten lazy and bought more digital copies. Even of my favorite series. It sure is convenient to the point they are no longer available. But there's very little we can do about it. The future will be digital and collecting games will become impossible. No more manuals, maps or art books. Nothing. Just ones and zeros. Of course this has been the case for PC gaming for a long time now. But you'd trust platforms like Steam to have the games forever. But they won't be there forever either. It's a sad world we are living in. Greed rules over everything.
Really good video. Amazing job. Covered pretty much every point I wanted to make.
Thank you very much! If it happens we, the consumers, are screwed really. We have no control over it. When you end up in a situation where a product has no competition, prices can go as high as they like. And as these companies have shown in the past, they will definitely exploit that opportunity
I buy physical whenever I can. They wanted to die, but us legacy gamers no better.
For all the games i really want to own forever i buy physical games. If its something i feel like im taking a stab in the dark with i buy digitally when its on sale.
U don’t own digital
you do
I went digital only after red dead2 but got back into physical media about a year ago. I love owning my games again and seeing the collection grow. Even have all my old pokemon games still, ps2, and ps3 games and some gamecube. It takes up space sure but at least you get to own them
Sony: Y'all stupid? The design of the ps5 slim is not a coincidence we want you all to buy the disk drive for your ps5 pro.
It’s far from “inevitable” that we end up with all digital. That’s very deterministic- companies want all digital to maximise profits - that’s it. I personally would not purchase an all digital console for the reasons outlined in video. I don’t see any upsides to digital other than don’t have to get up to change disk but this limitation is only there as consoles force you to swap disks they could let you install full game and validate ownership once a week or something
thats why im collecting physical copies now for my retirement.
remember, "you'll own nothing and be happy"
future will be a rental economy.
applications are now monthly/annual subscription.
there will be no such thing as perpetual license anymore.
games will be next.
Apple is already doing it
you can only play games if you rent digitally.
It’s over unfortunately Capcon said 90% of their sales in 2023 were digital.
Support phisical media, support it as long as we can.
As a gamer, I can't understand who doesn't care about.
I mean, think about it, only digital, would be much better for the companies behind yes, but not for us customers.
Less options for us, how could this be good?
For example the PS Store would be the only place where to buy a game, then probably the prices would be higher longer as now, because where else do you buy a game then?
At least the option to decide if to buy phisical or digital must stay possible.
Consoles only digital, I can't imagine that, there would really be even less reasons to buy one over a PC then.
I think some people who don’t support it, who make comments like “it’s already over etc” they don’t understand economics. So they just think about the convenience of it and don’t understand we’re not just arguing about the sentiments of holding a copy. It’s about the market. Like my example, games can be bought on eBay for £15 or full price online store. If they own the market, as in it’s only digital, the price will not only never decrease, it will increase a lot! If there is no competition, then the price will increase. Supply drops, demand increases and were left with a monopoly. The winners are the companies and the losers are the people like us, the consumers.
I see little difference between a rom image stored on a disk/cartridge or one that is stored on my micro SD card inside my 3DS. In the end you're playing a rom, it's just a question of how you got it.
Personally I don't enjoy having shelves of crap in my room, and for that reason love digital distribution.
Only physical copies… no digital 😢😢😢
Now I want to start looking for the games I currently have in digital. Got the Series S in middle of Covid at almost twice the price about $450 but really want to get the Series X with disk drive as soon as possible which means saving up
Besides gaming going digital, it’s the same for movies, books, and music. These made great gifts for Christmas or birthdays, being digital means a gift card to get whatever and that is so impersonal in my opinion, and for me there is nothing like a good physical book to open and read same for games.
The biggest issue with the digital model is they’re misleading you by telling you you’re buying a copy of the game.
Another pro for physical games is those of us with bad internet speeds. I bought gran turismo 7 on disk. It was about 90GB and I had it installed and ready to play in an hour. Horizon Call of the Mountain on the other hand I received digitally with my psvr2. It was about 40GB. Took about a week to download. And if I run out of storage space and delete it and decide I want to play it later. I'm gonna have to do it all over again.
8 mins in: am i bugging or is this guy completely ignoring that the ps5 pro has a disk drive add on
Nah you’re not bugging. I know they added it, but it’s an add on. So they released the actual console without one, and although you can buy it for an additional $100+, the fact you have to do that shows where their heads are at. If they felt people really needed a disc drive or wanted one, it’d be on the console at launch. If I could change the video, I would add that in though.
I am similar where I currently buy games where they are the cheapest. I have rdr2 digitally, but I have some games on discs, like black ops 1 and 2. I also wanted to say I discovered your channel yesterday and I have watched a bunch of your videos already. I want to say that your content is great, and keep up the hard work as you are bringing up conversations and ideas most wouldn't think of covering. Also I want to end with a question: Will downloading your games on a hard drive or sd card serve the same purpose of physically owning the game? Like if your friend downloaded the telltale game of thrones on a hard drive and tried to play it again, would the same have happened? I am asking because I don't have a pc I have a mac, where I play on a ps2 emulator with the classic games.
Well thank you very much for the kind words! Really glad you’re enjoying the videos! So, what they did is they downloaded the game and then uninstalled it. So if they had kept it downloaded on an SD card or hard drive, they would have been able to play it. The fact is they deleted it under the assumption it would still be there but by saving them elsewhere you do always have a backup and protect it. It’s often a case of deleting stuff to free up space and when you remove it completely you take that risk. If you saved them you’re safe! Thanks so much again for the really nice words!
People had a high opinion then of digital games was before we learned that digital only means you no longer own anything and it can be taken away at anytime.
Exactly! It’s convenient but man it’s a price to pay! $60 gone. No way to get it back. For a promise it’ll be there if you need it…which it might not be. Plus digital only means more space which means additional hard drives for more money, or you delete it and try to download it later but it might be gone..
I think games should go all digital because I want companies to be able to fuck over my purchases and your purchases and everyone's purchases and you're going to like it 🤓
Haha that’s very evil!
There are communists in this comments section who actually want that 💀
Sorry but it's the capitalists that want to fuck your wallet over.
Since the PS4 Pro has only sold about 15 million units, it is understandable that consumers are not overly concerned about the PS5 Pro. The majority of PS5 owners would likely purchase the PS5 and then sell their games after they were through.
Yes, you’re probably right with that assessment. It was a high price point for something that doesn’t have a disc reader too. I’m not sure it will sell so good.
I don’t think the price will go down just cause they save on shipping physical media
It is stupid to get rid a physical games. Gaming systems are targeting the rich. Not everyone has unlimited data. An some of those games use a lot of data
To play and download. They real cutting off a source of revenue. An I not pay for games to just rent it. Waste of my money.
I live in the midwest and there is no internet service where I live that has unlimited data. If everything was streaming idk if I would even have enough internet to be able to play video games.
No. Gaming systems are for city folks where unlimited data is a non-issue.
Physical games contain the 1.0 version no matter what, no ifs ands or buts about it YOU OWN IT!
Yes! No matter what! And that’s very important
I used to buy physical games until the pandemic, and then we all went into quarantine. So I started buying digital, and I haven't stopped ever since and to me. It just felt more convenient because switching between games was easier.
Also, some of the cons of having physical games mean that there's a chance that the disk could either get lost or break or get scratched or even perhaps disk rot.
This is why my switch is picked up more than my steam deck - I love the physical games
I love my switch! So many good games! Xenoblade chronicles 3 is my new obsession!
@@AVVGaming1 I nearly picked that up today - I’m a bit intimidated by the size of the game though
@@thedembot honestly it’s so good! Like it’s made me fall in love with it. But here’s the thing, main story clocks in around 50 hours. That’s just doing the odd side quest but mainly sticking with the main story. If you wonder off and try to do all side quests it’ll take over 120. The side quests are really good, and you can do them anytime even after the main story, but yes I agree that if you’re a completionst and try to do it all, you’ll get burned out. I can’t wait to finish it because I need to get back to making videos lol
We don’t have to worry about Nintendo going digital anytime soon.
They use to say video games were expensive because of the hardware and distribution, so what's their excuse now?
overbloated budget and thats the truth
When CDs replaced LPs, they said prices would go down once they were able to reduce the defect rate. They never did. Then when LPs replaced CDs again, prices went up another 40% for 100+ year old technology.
While I will always prefer physical over digital (and will pay full price for physical), I will only buy digital when it is on sale and dirt cheap (under $20), as my view is if software companies only want me to 'rent' their games, then they are only worth a rental price. I refuse to pay full price for any digital game, and there is plenty to play that I can wait until they are on sale
A console without a disk drive is a MAJOR deal breaker for me!
Me too now! Got the series s to get by (bad time financially) but now I’ve got a ps5 with disc reader and I ain’t going back. It’s so much better! I got ff16 which was £60 online for just £12 made up!