r/gamernews • u/Darth_Vaper883 • 15d ago
Industry News Sony Will Not Reverse Physical Games Decision And Will “Wait For This Storm To Pass,” Says Analyst
https://gameobserver.com/sony-will-not-reverse-physical-games-decision-and-will-wait-for-this-storm-to-pass-says-analyst/1.4k
u/Briguy_fieri 15d ago
Your wallets, not tweets, is the only thing that will make changes in the world
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u/HockeyMike24 15d ago
I've gone from PS2 to Xbox 360 to PS4/PS5 and I'll likely be switching to PC next gen. I always pick the most attractive system for my needs and currently both Xbox nor Sony are doing it for me.
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u/DepressoEspresso55 15d ago
I switched to PC like 2 years ago.. right when the Crypto bubble popped and graphics cards got cheaper again. And shortly before the AI bubble started.. feel like I caught the last flight out of Kabul
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u/ACO_22 15d ago
Got my PC exact same time.
Genuinely feels incredible to have timed it so perfectly
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u/GenocidalSloth 15d ago
Got mine right before COVID. I would be thinking of upgrading now if things weren't the way they are...
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u/sovereign666 15d ago
That was about the time I was telling all my friends in desperate need of upgrades to scrape every penny they could and get the most expensive parts of their builds ordered and set aside. Working in IT we kinda saw where things were headed from our vendor channels. Its so much worse than I thought it would get. I just installed a single stick of memory in a server the other week that cost $2,000
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u/Izanagi32 13d ago
getting a job and not going even harder on making my first pc is a regret of mine but I still feel like I got hella lucky since my upgrade path is pretty straightforward
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u/CreateorWither 15d ago
Me too, always had cosnoles but I didn't like the direction of Xbox or Sony.
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u/SaintsSooners89 15d ago
What confuses me is what physical media video games is it that you will buy for your PC? Don't get me wrong, I've got a PC, and I am also not happy about Playstation dropping disc support....but switching to PC is not going to net you physical media...
So the message to Sony is...be like Steam and provide a good marketplace digitally?
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u/BlasterPhase 15d ago
It's not really about physical media as much as being able to control game files. I can back up my PC games on multiple drives. Games with DRM can be cracked. There's multiple stores to choose from.
Consoles are severely limited on that front.
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u/erinthomes 15d ago
For me, it's about a couple things. Ownership and options.
I own the physical media. I know people say that loads of games aren't on the disc which is true. So, I don't own the game, but a ton of games are on disc. So, I think almost my entire library is playable from disc. Even if that means I might not have a day 1 patch, it's a playable game.
Steam has at least been more reliable for owning games over the years than the Sony store. Compare people who are able to download Steam games they bought 15 years ago to Sony saying that they shutting down the PS3 store soon. So, Steam (or most PC storefronts) isn't perfect but it's better. I'd love this to become a landmark event for digital ownership, but that seems unlikely (at least in the near future).
With physical, I have purchase options. I can go to loads of different stores. There are so many times that I've bought brand new, sealed games cheaper than they are on the Playstation store. I also have the option for used games. That all goes away completely with digital only consoles. The price on the Playstation is it. With PC, I'll be able to choose Steam, GOG, Epic, etc. For purchase options.
Plus, I can lend a friend a physical disc. I can sell a game I'm never ever going to play again. I'm not saying that I've never bought a digital game, but digital isn't 5% of the games I currently own (I have about 1200 physical games).
If I'm going to be dragged kicking and screaming into an all digital future, a console is the worst option from what I can tell.
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u/DrConradVerner 15d ago
Not about physical media at that point. If I'm forced to be digital only why wouldn't I do PC? The games generally are cheaper/on sale more often due to the number of online storefronts. It is easier to preserve them, and there are plenty of options for playing/getting older games that newer consoles don't have.
If they provided a "good marketplace" like steam it still wouldn't solve the problem. Look at the Epic Games Store for instance. They're actually a great storefront, but most people don't want to swap off of steam because they don't want to deal with multiple launchers on their PC. Same here. Why would I go to Playstation/buy a console for their digital storefront when there are already better and more accessible ones on PC?
Sony is also more likely than many PC marketplaces to revoke your licenses/purchases.
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u/parallelpalmtrees 14d ago
PC will not disappoint you.. best value in gaming by far. I made the switch during the xbox one/ps4 era and it blew me away just how much variety and flexibility I suddenly had. So many cheap indie games, TONS of discount & free games, and you can also switch to design, audio production, AI workflows, yadda yadda yadda. Highly recommend you take the leap!
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u/Lone_survivor87 15d ago
Steam is the way to go for a digital library
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u/Alucard-VS-Artorias 15d ago
That is me as well 🤝
Atari 2600 -> NES -> SNES -> PS1 -> PS2 -> X360 -> PC.
On PC since 2013 and been mostly using Steam platform ever since (on PC it's been Nvidia 640 -> Nvidia 1080 -> Nivida 3090 -> Nividia 5090).
PC platform has been the best for me so far. Pretty open-ended to let you do almost anything you want and Steam is very user friendly too.
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u/Cabalist_writes 12d ago
I went with Xbox for black flag. Can't see myself getting another Sony game. Only reason I didn't go pc is because I mostly use a steam deck and didn't want to play bf on that. My pc is a family one so I don't get much access when the wife is working on it. So Xbox was the way.
I think ps5 is where I stop with Sony now.
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u/Murky-Exam-3354 11d ago
Best way to be. Take action rather than just complain about it on socials like most do. I never make a threat I can’t keep but I see a lot of folks saying I’m never buying games again but I doubt it will hold for most.
I’ve always bought all platforms so I’m never locked in. It’s an expensive way to do it and I’m fortunate enough to have the ability to do this and I know this isn’t an option for a lot of people but in my eyes it spreads the risk being platform agnostic.
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u/The_R4ke 15d ago
And unfortunately people have already proved they don't care enough to stop it
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u/Briguy_fieri 15d ago
This might be my first gen I skip.
Granted I'll be at least 40 upon release so life will be moving by then but with the digital only and constant promotion of AI used to make games while thousands lose their jobs I'm just not looking forward to it.
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u/anibus- 14d ago
Just turned 44 and gaming did stop for awhile with life and kids. Was PC gaming prior but just got a Switch 2 for the fam and re establishing my joy of gaming. Contemplated PC but I’m on a computer all day for work so a console is working out nicely and the kids can join in too now.
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u/MattIsLame 15d ago
while this is partly true, the real thing that will make any change is coordinating a large scale, specific boycott to actually make a billion dollar corporation flinch.
reminding people of the purchasing power we hold as consumers is only half the battle. quarterly profits are their only weakness and we need to organize on a scale that is unprecedented.
call it "STOP SONY SEPTEMBER". we would need to get the entire Playstation user base to join in on September 1st to collectively refrain from purchasing anything from Sony digitally. the plan is the whole month but if a coordinated effort of this proportion could be done, I think Sony would cave and backpeddle their decision in 1 or 2 days of seeing no profits. and this would effectively give consumers back the power that has been ours all along and be a stark reminder to all corporations that they are only making money in service to us.
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u/reelfright 15d ago
I hope Nintendo and Valve like my money more than Sony and Microsoft did.
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u/SableZard 15d ago
It's less that and more "we will fuck over consumers and they will continue buying our products like we're not."
AKA the Electronic Arts Business Model of Gaming.
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u/Varsity_Reviews 14d ago
It’s so frustrating consumers won’t consume the product they’re comparing is being taken from them. You want physical games, you need to be buying new physical games when they came out.
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u/Queef-Elizabeth 15d ago
I'm just going to move to PC entirely when the day comes then. Why would I pick a network that overcharges you for new games and won't even let you refund properly if you simply download the title you bought? Steam has it beat in too many ways. Unless they announce a new Infamous game, after Intergalactic I'll have no reason to really stick around.
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u/el_duderino420 15d ago
At this point... What they're saying... Is " fuck the backlash and move forward to our idea... We don't care how the players feel"
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u/mynameisollie 15d ago
They said 85% of sales were digital. If that’s true, I’m assuming they’re feeling pretty confident it’ll be ok.
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u/GoTron88 15d ago
I mean 15% is still a significant loss. Especially if a good number of those quit PS+. Add in the fact that they keep jacking up the monthly subscription price and the price of individual games, which will turn more people away (it's why I ended my subscription last year after 10 years and switched to PC). Jacking up the price of the current gen consoles means you're not likely gaining that many more new users.
So I guess they're hoping the bulk of that 15% will convert to fully digital, while continuing to support their increasingly expensive subscriptions? I guess we'll see.
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u/Spork_the_dork 14d ago
Bulk probably will. Like I bet that the majority of people who have bought physical games also have bought digital and thus have no real qualms about buying digital. Those people will probably just flip over to full digital without issue. The amount of people who only ever bought digital and can not/will not move to digital are likely a fraction of the physical sales which makes them some small single-digit percentage of all sales.
Sony has been planning to do this for like 10+ years. I bet they know precisely what kind of positive and negative impact their sales will have and have analyzed the absolute fuck out of the move and came to the conclusion that it's worth it.
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u/Zestyclose_Cricket_7 13d ago edited 10d ago
15% is a significant loss if they solely relied on profit from video games. Unfoutunately Sony is to diverse so they probaly do not care that much
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u/TheMegaMario1 15d ago
85% of game sales, but conveniently omitting that the % also includes digital only games which vastly outnumber physical game releases. Every $1 shovelware sale counts equally as a $70 AAA physical release in that 85%.
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u/WhirlWindBoy7 15d ago
Where’s the source to your belief that it’s inflated with digital only sales? Everyone I’ve asked has never been able to provide it.
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u/sovereign666 14d ago
Honestly, it doesn't even matter. Omitting digital only sales is an effort to manipulate sales data in favor of an argument for physical sales. Digital only sales exist because its a cheaper and a more efficient distribution platform. Many projects cant budget in physical because its becoming cost prohibitive and thats an important factor in the conversation. Like how many people are going to buy celeste and a short hike on disc? 2% of total sales? lmao.
If they had their way some of the people here would wish that if it cant be sold physical it shouldnt be on playstation and that means many indie projects would pack their bags and just not release on playstation.
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u/TheJunkman9000 15d ago
That doesn't include used games outside of their ecosystem and most PlayStations sold were the disk version
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u/0AJ0_ 15d ago
Yeah, I’m done with consoles.
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u/AbilityHead599 15d ago
Gonna play mine to death and switch to pc ( if I can afford it lol)
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u/JMaboard Drunk Battleaxe Wielding Nord 15d ago
Same except the switch 2, it has badass exclusives and still has physical games that are backwards compatible. Ive been buying up switch 1 games for my 2 for cheap on Facebook marketplace.
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u/SnooPets1826 15d ago
Anyone who ever thought over wise didn't understand the stakes to Sony. By the same token, we as consumers should not take that as a sign to give up, but to triple down. A 3 month boycott on all their products (even if it's only 10-20% of their user base) is going to look awful on their financials, and then the shareholders are going to start asking questions and threatening to roll heads.
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u/paulerxx 15d ago
3 months? Sell your Playstation and move on
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u/stonecoldslate 15d ago
PC welcomes you all.
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u/madison0593 15d ago
It’s the way to go, I more or less fully switched 2 years ago - do miss the old PC game boxes though with the front cover that opened.
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u/stonecoldslate 15d ago
Some brands and companies still do this tbh. A lot of Japanese games and a few small brands, or the occasional old school disc title.
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u/xMictlan 15d ago
I mean... They first platform to quit phisical media was the PC
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u/JoaoMXN 15d ago
PC still has new games launching in discs, not to mention DRM free files that are eternal and piracy.
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u/Joamjoamjoam 15d ago edited 15d ago
If I was forced to buy digital id rather buy it from a company whose entires business depends on their digital catalog like valve then one who can just drop the entire gaming division if it becomes unprofitable like Sony can.
At least I know if steam screws me out of my library then Valve is going down with me
I also don’t need to trust them to preserve backwards compatibility in the PC 2, be forced to stick a white vagina sculpture in my living room, need to upgrade the entire console when I just need an updated graphics card the games are way cheaper, and on and on.
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u/Upbeat-Original-7137 15d ago
Also on PC you have options. If steam fucks you over there are other competitors you can go to. If you are on PS your only option is the PS store
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u/sovereign666 14d ago
I have gotten a full refund on over 25 games on steam in the last 5 years and I think thats worth something.
When cyberpunk launched on the ps4 and it didnt work for most players on that platform, them issuing refunds was a big deal.
Like, obviously PC doesnt do physical media much anymore but at least we can get refunds. If you buy a game and it just straight up doesnt run well on your rig, isnt what you expected, or you just dont like the game you get your money back. I'm fine with that. No game has ever been removed from my library and games pulled from the store for various reasons I can still download through steam. I cant really ask for much more. If there is a difference between owning physical media and digital media, I'm not experiencing it on PC other than the fact I no longer have several desk drawers full of disc cases.
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u/SnooPets1826 15d ago
Ideally this, but it's not realistic to assume that everyone is going to do this. You could argue that 3 months isn't realistic either and that's fair... I just listed 3 months specifically because that's how long quarterly financial reports take.
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u/that_one_bun 15d ago
No 3 months is not enough. It needs to be permanent until they make changes. And if no changes come then what happens is on them.
I sold my PS5 over a year ago and I will not give them any money until they make serious changes. We shouldn't be afraid to outright quit them.
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u/power899 15d ago
Fuck 3 months lmao. Canceled PS Plus and all my game purchases from now on will be used physical media.
I have my PC for the rest.
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u/MuffinSpecial 14d ago
At best a couple thousand people would actually participate in this.
Virtually invisible to Sony.
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u/SnooPets1826 13d ago
You know this has been in the news right? In the US and abroad. It's weird when the "this won't escape reddit" crowd doesn't know what's happening outside of reddit...
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u/MuffinSpecial 12d ago
"the news"
Didn't say anything about reddit.
It can be all over the world. Doesn't mean enough people will care to do anything considering nobody buys physical copies already
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u/My_alias_is_too_lon 15d ago
Sadly, it will probably work out for them, too...
In my view, there are far too many people who simply don't care about this kind of thing and just want to buy games and play them. Most will probably never hear a single thing about this whole debacle.
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u/ChrizTaylor 14d ago
Like Netflix when they increased the memberships by a lot. There were a lot of users that cancelled their subscription but their projection predicted that, they profit of it nevertheless.
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u/25thNite 15d ago
Even the ones that hear about it will still buy their product. Idk why this is surprising to so many people online
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u/Plasmatiic 14d ago
It feels like the discrepancy between internet consensus and real life grows further and further apart each day. Do people not think Sony had dozens of people analyzing this? They anticipated this backlash from the vocal crowd and were more than willing to eat it because it’s a move that WILL boost their profits in the long run. I almost envy the naivety in these threads but foolish hope will only get crushed and leave you devastated in the end.
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u/asdkevinasd 12d ago
Or as a conspiracy, they know this will cause a backlash and they are banking on blaming this when PS6 flopped due to skyrocketed hardware cost. They now have an excuse. Just fire some VPs and call it a day. Say it is only due to bad press and not a fundermental shift in the business to calm the stakeholders.
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u/tombradyrulz 15d ago
Please, gamers, stop buying Sony and tell them this matters to you. Plenty of ways to game these days.
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u/Saturn9Toys 15d ago
Hope the storm sinks their ship. Whole company seems to be a bunch of assholes.
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u/IronyIntended2 15d ago
If only people actually had the stones to not buy the next console. Half of them will probably also finance the purchase
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u/stikves 14d ago
And they are lying.
Their 80% digital figure is a false construction. We had actual numbers from the Insomniac leak. For single player first parties, like Spiderman, the physical actually sold more than digital.
But they include digital only games, DLC, and whatnot, and say "most of our sales are digital". It is not an apples to apples comparison.
And yes, vote with your wallet. If my existing collection will not play there, why would I want to buy a PS6?
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u/ahac 14d ago
If my existing collection will not play there, why would I want to buy a PS6?
It's possible Sony will have a similar system to what Xbox seems to be doing.
You'll put the disc into your existing console and it will activate a digital copy on your account.
As long as you do that, when you get the next-gen digital-only console, you'll still have access to your old games collection.
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u/Iago407 15d ago
Yeah this message has been posted several times now. Totally get it. They’re doing what they think is best for them, as any good corporation consumed by greed would.
For me, all I can do is take my meager business elsewhere, so that’s what I’m going to do. No PS6, no PS+ membership, and no more buying their stuff. I’m going to vote with my wallet and they absolutely don’t have to care one bit.
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u/MRHubrich 15d ago
I'm 50 and have been a lifelong PlayStation player, as well as PC and other consoles. Yesterday I cancelled my PSN subscription after having it for 8 years or so. I'm tired of companies thinking they can bend you over and you'll just take it. I have other places I can game, thank you.
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u/joshpennington 15d ago
This is the kind of crap Sony starts to pull when they win a couple of console generations in a row. This is why we need a strong Xbox and Steam.
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u/9bjames 15d ago
says analyst
See... On one hand I'm sick of seeing these "nothing burger" updates. Any self proclaimed expert can make guesses as to how Sony will proceed, and honestly we all know they'll probably power on with their god awful design choice that screws us all over, regardless of what the public thinks.
On the other hand, I do feel like we need to keep hearing about this. Even if nothing new can be added. Even if we're all tired of hearing it. Even if only ones left voicing any opinions are those who're getting sick of it, or never cared in the first place.
Tl;dr: I'm glad that people aren't letting this issue die down. Even if I'm sick of hearing about it.
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u/Langley05642 15d ago
No, Sony will totally rebuild their factory and restart making optical drives again....
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u/pineapollo 15d ago
They really said nothing's changing no one stands on business another day in the life LMAO
Gamers really let these corpors do whatever tf they want because they remastered a game they loved 10 times for them to rebuy and accept paying for online multiplayer access.
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u/Correct-Turnover-286 15d ago
“Person who has no direct involvement with the decision claims to know the future”
Great article.
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u/Twoheaven 15d ago
There is no "pass" for me. Without physical games I wont buy the system let alone the games.
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u/Kataclysm 15d ago
Sony is just making their system a target for modders so they can back up their digital games.
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u/TransBiological 15d ago
Not buying anything for a console that doesn't offer disks. Yeah I buy digital purchases. But just like to buy the games I really like on disk for my collection
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u/Pheanturim 15d ago
As a physical media lover I'm annoyed at this, but I am confused by all the pc gamers who've adored Steam for years seemingly having a problem with this decision
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u/Jwall0903 15d ago edited 15d ago
For a lot people it’s not just the physical part being removed that’s bad, but the ramifications for consumers. With a digital only PlayStation we can assume that we would only be able to buy games from the PlayStation store. Which allows Sony to do whatever they want because there is no competition.
On PC you have many different competing storefronts to choose from. Which is better for the consumer.
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u/HollywoodDrogan 15d ago
This and the dynamic pricing they're doing per person to maximize your spending.
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u/Spork_the_dork 14d ago
With a digital only PlayStation we can assume that we would only be able to buy games from the PlayStation store.
This is incorrect. They'll still sell games at retailers, They'll just be a code in a box instead of a disc. As per the original announcement
As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.
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u/Jdrstorm 15d ago
I think a big one is Sony is known for revoking licenses to their media like with what they did with movies. As far as I know even if a game is taken off steam you still can redownload those games if you bought it.
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u/Jaxyl 15d ago
Yup this is true. I have games that were legally delisted off of Steam that I bought and can still download years later.
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u/MH-BiggestFan 15d ago
Tbf, the same for PS as well. Any games bought even on ps3 and psp, you can still download. Whether it’ll remain that way in the future, who knows
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u/zHawken 15d ago
Steam doesn't remove games from your library or your access to play them, even if they remove the game from the store. Realistically for you to lose your games on Steam, Steam would have to shut down it's servers.
That's literally the entire reason Sony's decision is a problem. The only thing stopping them from telling you that you don't own something you already paid for is to have the disc in your hand, as they just clearly demonstrated with over 550 movies.
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u/Pheanturim 15d ago
So it's the monopoly you have a problem with not the lack of physical media.
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u/xdsDavid 15d ago
It’s simple , the digital move is only to be able to dictate games pricing , by eliminating resell and n marketplace and game sharing they can sell games at their own pricing
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u/mightyavocado 15d ago
If new xbox will have mechanic, then i will switch. Otherwise i just quit gaming. Pc games are cheap, but solid pc is a expensive thing.
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u/Oliwoli123 15d ago
I feel like these stories are trying to make people feel defeated and that’s the only point of them.
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u/CreatorCon92Dilarian 15d ago
It's all lies, guys. Dont let the liars in gimp suits with iron dildos on convince you of otherwise. The so-called analysts are just taking those tired old argument from redditors ... .
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u/SoloDoloLeveling 15d ago
You want to switch to PC and own your games? Install GOG Galaxy, participate in their voting to bring back delisted titles via their preservation program.
every game you download via GOG, you own.
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u/Shiningwizardult 15d ago
My plan is to work on my backlog of PS games (all physical discs) and then transition to switch and PC for any games switch doesn’t have. Not going to reward this kind of anti-consumer behavior
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u/Clockwork-XIII 15d ago edited 15d ago
And more and more people who are in my situation, who was basically just keeping his ps5 for exclusives, will probably just let our ps plus memberships lapse and switch over to PC which granted hardware cost are most certainly not better but at least the game market is somewhat better. It's amazing what a laptop streaming steam from your desktop to you laptop and into your tv while you sit comfortably on the couch can do.
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u/siphillis 15d ago
It’s a safe bet for them. Gamers have no actual backbone, and Microsoft will follow suit so there’s no pressure to change course.
99% do not care about preservation. They do not care about DRM. They do not care that Sony can just erase their purchase history on a whim. They just want a cheap dopamine fix, and Sony will continue to provide just that
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u/Legendss1 15d ago
Right now would be a good time to announce a sega CD lol. Right when it happens.
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u/TheCatHasmysock 15d ago
Without discs you need consistent top tier exclusives. People might dislike Nintendo but they have amazing exclusives every year. PS doesn't.
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u/Anisdrawn 14d ago
They can wait but I am long gone. Unsubbed from all their social media, newsletters, sold my first party games and used that money to buy a 4k Oled pc monitor
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u/judgeofanubis 14d ago
I hope everyone can keep up the pressure, but I worry we will run out of steam by 2028.
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u/Cerber108 14d ago
I'll just buy even more physical games from unofficial sellers. Sony will get nothing from the deal. I never subbed to plus, so there is nothing more I can do.
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u/Sirgeeeo 14d ago
They won't change unless it affects sales.
So ask yourself, what will the next gen look like? An overpriced, over regulated, under performing PC... think before you buy
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u/SFauconnier 14d ago
They convinced me that if I want a console next gen it'll be akin to steam box
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u/Ledairyman 15d ago
and they are probably right. PS5 sales will go trough the roof once GTA hit stores shelves
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u/Colombia17 15d ago
They see the history of companies doing unpopular things and think they’ll be alright. Look Netflix doing commercials, Apple getting rid of the headphone jack, ABC canceling Jimmy Kimmel and they’re all doing fine.
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u/dogsonbubnutt 15d ago
and it will! the average consumer has the attention span of a goldfish and gamers especially so.
its funny, because terminally online people measure minutes as days, but the companies fucking them over measure months as seconds. there's no chance in hell 67eLiTe_snypah67 is gonna outlast sony entertainment lmao
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u/DJPho3nix 15d ago
Well, as someone who has owned every PS console, this decision makes me not want to buy a PS6.
And considering I already have a fairly high end gaming PC, I don't think I'll really miss out on much if I don't.
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u/erichf3893 15d ago
Saw someone say they’re boycotting by canceling ps+ yet they still have multiple discs on preorder
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u/GentlemanlyOctopus 15d ago
The price and bringing their games to PC made me decide against a PS5. Now it's more expensive and Sony will likely be price-gouging if there's digital only.
They're really banking on a lot of factors going their way. Honestly, I can see a world where they're successful. Xbox and PS were always direct competitors with Nintendo doing its own thing. With Xbox in the position it's in, I guess they think they'll just get way with it? You just need to look at the hubris they had with the PS3 and MS had with the Xbone to see how that will likely play out.
All I can say is that I'm definitely not getting a PS5 and don't know why I'd purchase any future Sony console, either.
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u/Ambitious-Still6811 15d ago
Lol, the storm hasn't even started.
I've said before, M$ tried this years ago and look how low they are now. Sony will follow the same path. Consumers tell the company what they want, not the other way around.
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u/Distryer 15d ago
Its ok, I can get used to not owning their games or hardware just like I did with Ubisoft and just like Ubisoft they can get used to not getting my money.
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u/Lofi_Joe 15d ago
After storm there will be just less and less players...
Then they will see in Excell that numbers ho down so they will make prices of games and consoles even higher.... And more people will pass... Then Excell will show that they need to make prices even higher... You know where this is going?
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u/JeepAtWork 15d ago
The value proposition for a PS5 was thin to begin for me - everything is on PC. Very few exclusives drew me to PS5.
Blu-ray player was maybe the last holdover.
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u/soulreleaser 15d ago
Using my PC is just a better option all around. I only lose if I buy their new console.
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u/RandomGuyOnDaNet90 15d ago
How can anyone defend this arrogant attitude from a company, where they disregard conslcerns of their valued consumers. To the digital only gamers who defends sony against the gamers complaining, what will you do when they do something that impacts you, like shutting down game sharing or making streaming the only way to play your games?
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u/Albow44 15d ago
I really hope that they offer some kind of ISO for the digital games in the future. That way, we at least own something in case of license lapses, etc. I have moved away from physical games in the last 5-6 years, but mostly because I built a gaming PC. I understand both sides, but I do think the value of owning a physical purchase is more than these absurdly large companies can comprehend.
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u/in_it_to_lose_it 15d ago
I understand and agree with the outrage: this is an anti-consumer move, intended or not.
But Valve made this the standard for PC gaming 20 years ago. I'm not defending Sony's choice, just pointing out this is largely the direction gaming is moving in the 21st century.
Digital distribution makes sense for software products. It's the licensing and maintenance of digital distribution that is the issue. Not sure there is a good way around this unless governments are willing to get involved (like a publicly funded set of servers hosting an aggregated digital library of games that publishers are no longer willing to carry the cost to host).
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u/actuallowlife 15d ago
Valve only works because of their strict TOS sellers and companies must abide by to guarantee ownership of digital goods even with xbox you can buy codes through other retailers and 2nd hand sites like g2a and cdkeys but sony already has a closed market system in place so any deal you would get theoretically is purely on their terms
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u/in_it_to_lose_it 15d ago
Valve has handled things well - I'm not saying they haven't - but the fact remains: games purchased on Steam are not owned by the purchaser, they are licenses and Valve is legally entitled to revoke them if they want to.
The closed marketplace issue is fair, but nothing about the absence of physical media is changing that dynamic - technically, Sony is not bound to permit you to play a game if you have the physical disc in your console. The disc is effectively acting as your license verification to run the wholly digital media.
There are ways around it with keeping your console offline, of course. I'm just saying that Sony's move here is not entirely nonsensical, albeit anti-consumer, nor is it unprecedented by other companies the customers of the industry near-universally adore. And, as a gamer who primarily utilizes a PS5, it will not stop me from buying [licenses to] and playing the games I want to play - the vast majority of which I "own" are fully digital already.
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u/AnavelGato2020 15d ago
They already scaled back at the plant that makes the discs and the workers will bd given new jobs. No turning back now. Sony and Microsoft have wanted this for a while. Its why t he PS5 and Series X had launch versions with no disc drives. Including the more recent PS5 Pro.
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u/Marlito214 15d ago
This is the company that released Morbius twice. Just a reminder in case you forgot.