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[RexNovis]

I've begun to notice that more and more retail boxed releases are including digital code tokens instead of physical discs. This is increasingly becoming the case with collector's editions as well (see Halo 5 and AC Syndicate, upcoming release of Overwatch etc etc). Often this is not evident in advertising or on the cover of the retail sku with most only indicating in extremely fine print somewhere inconspicuous on the packaging that no physical copy is included. What's even more odd is that some of these collectors editions are including "steel books" or special edition cases yet no physical disc to actually put in them.

So I started to wonder why this was becoming more and more common. At first I thought "oh this is just to save on shipping and printing costs." But that just didn't make much sense in the case of these "collectors editions" that were already so large and including so many extra knickknacks. Then it occurred to me: digital codes can't be resold! What if this is an incredibly underhanded way at combatting the used market by reimplementing the sort of "digital license only" DRM that caused such an outrage with the XB1 reveal? The more I think about it the more this seems to make sense to me and the more I feel like we should be raising hell about it.

What do you all think? Am I on to something here or am I crazy?

 

[Courage]

Nah, it's just a way of cutting costs. You can tell by the way most CEs nowadays are shit quality-wise (see that Tomb Raider thread). Even the pipboy looks like a cheap toy.

 

[RexNovis]

Nah, it's just a way of cutting costs. You can tell by the way most CEs nowadays are shit quality-wise (see that Tomb Raider thread).

But what about the "collectors editions" though? It's not like the lack of a disc is going to decrease shipping costs that much and I doubt the cost of printing is that high. There's also the matter of the limited edition game cases without any discs to actually put in them which just seems bizarre to me.

 

[DownGrader]

No. Publishers give you what you've paid for - a game and a downloadable content. However, you are thinking in right direction - "online passes" of last gen is more like it, though.

EDIT: Whoops, I misread you. It's just publishers cutting costs.

 

[ClosingADoor]

For bundles and collector's edition it's more a cost cutting thing and a production thing. These need to be manufactured and bundled aside from the normal game. So this way, they can get those editions ready before the game is done and printed.

Microsoft can now just make the bundles already, ship them, etc, and doesn't have to wait for Square/Ubisoft/EA/whatever to print the games for them.

 

[jormungand]

Cutting costs and benefit retail. Believe it or not, a constant fight exists between retailers an publishers each time that Xbox announces the Games with Gold montlhy free games because it affects their sales.

Launching CE with voucher codes guarantees a win-win scenario for publishers and retail in certain way and keeps the publishing costs limited to the standard versions of the games that comes in a DVD or Blu-ray disc.

At least that's how it works in my country

 

[RexNovis]

For bundles and collector's edition it's more a cost cutting thing and a production thing. These need to be manufactured and bundled aside from the normal game. So this way, they can get those editions ready before the game is done and printed.

Microsoft can now just make the bundles already, ship them, etc, and doesn't have to wait for Square/Ubisoft/EA/whatever to print the games for them.

Ah this hadn't occurred to me. That makes sense. But isn't it really odd to advertise and include limited edition cases when there is no disc?

 

[DragonSworne]

They provide you a download code that can't be resold? DRM. Anyone saying otherwise is kidding themselves.

 

[texore]

I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Ah this hadn't occurred to me. That makes sense. But isn't it really odd to advertise and include limited edition cases when there is no disc?

I don't get this. Why o why would they give you a steelbook, yet no game disc. If I ever bought a CE like that, I'd get a refund so fast it wouldn't be funny.

 

[RexNovis]

I don't get this. Why o why would they give you a steelbook, yet no game disc. If I ever bought a CE like that, I'd get a refund so fast it wouldn't be funny.

Exactly! It's really bizarre. Normally you would never think to doubt the inclusion of a disc when there's a steel book or limited edition case and yet that's exactly what's starting to happen.

 

[JPS Kai]

Exactly! It's really bizarre. Normally you would never think to doubt the inclusion of a disc when there's a steel book or limited edition case and yet that's exactly what's starting to happen.

Believe me, there was a good amount of backlash with the $250 special edition of Halo 5. Includes everything the $99 edition has (plus statue) but they took the disc out of the steel book case and replaced it with a voucher.

 

[RexNovis]

Believe me, there was a good amount of backlash with the $250 special edition of Halo 5. Includes everything the $99 edition has (plus statue) but they took the disc out of the steel book case and replaced it with a voucher.

Right. But why include a steel book without a disc? It makes no sense. What the hell is the case for?

 

[ethomaz]

I call fucking bullshit these PC DVD with Steam + Key.

 

[womp]

I call fucking bullshit these PC DVD with Steam + Key.

Yep...this was my Star Wars Battlefront. $59.99 (I paid much much less) for a DVD case with a serial code.

The worst is the Fallout 4 PC physical release which had a disc but it only has 1/4 of the game on it....the rest you have to download. WTF?

 

[Orayn]

Yep...this was my Star Wars Battlefront. $59.99 (I paid much much less) for a DVD case with a serial code.

The worst is the Fallout 4 PC physical release which had a disc but it only has 1/4 of the game on it....the rest you have to download. WTF?

I'd imagine publishers do this partially to delay the PC versions from getting cracked from retail if copies get out early.

 

[Cynar]

They provide you a download code that can't be resold? DRM. Anyone saying otherwise is kidding themselves.

Yup. 100%. And all the other benefits of screwing the consumer too like higher profit margins.

 

[Crayon]

Rex, is it that misleading? I never buy ce anything but if it was at all unclear about the digital code and I got it home to find out there was no disc I'd be pissed. For instance do they call these "digital collector's edition " or something?

 

[neogaffer1]

But what about the "collectors editions" though? It's not like the lack of a disc is going to decrease shipping costs that much and I doubt the cost of printing is that high. There's also the matter of the limited edition game cases without any discs to actually put in them which just seems bizarre to me.

the official reason for halo 5, at least, was that they were shipping out CEs before they were printing discs.

 

[RexNovis]

Rex, is it that misleading? I never buy ce anything but if it was at all unclear about the digital code and I got it home to find out there was no disc I'd be pissed. For instance do they call these "digital collector's edition " or something?

No they don't. The only indication that there is no disc is a very small fine print notice on the back of the box. So if you were to see the massive collectors edition box on display at retail there is no way you would know (or honestly even guess) that it was a digital code. It's super sketchy IMHO.

the official reason for halo 5, at least, was that they were shipping out CEs before they were printing discs.

Well I mean that makes sense but then the inclusion of steel books and limited edition cases just makes it odd IMO. It's just a bit too deceptive/misleading. Why the hell would anyone buy a special edition with a case if there's nothing to put in the damn case?

 

[Lucumo]

Yep, it's DRM because publishers want to control what you are doing with their games. If everything would be on disc = no control.

 

[neogaffer1]

Well I mean that makes sense but then the inclusion of steel books and limited edition cases just makes it odd IMO. It's just a bit too deceptive/misleading. Why the hell would anyone buy a special edition with a case if there's nothing to put in the damn case?

I would assume for the same reason my Arkham Knight CE came with a steelbook and the game in its normal case--maybe they don't actually expect you to use the steelbook to hold the game?

Either way, they backtracked anyways and let you trade in the code for a disc so it's not like it really matters.

 

[diffusionx]

Yep...this was my Star Wars Battlefront. $59.99 (I paid much much less) for a DVD case with a serial code.

The worst is the Fallout 4 PC physical release which had a disc but it only has 1/4 of the game on it....the rest you have to download. WTF?

Full game is what, 20 gigs? They filled up one single layer DVD because it's the cheapest and that's it.

 

[soul creator]

Right. But why include a steel book without a disc? It makes no sense. What the hell is the case for?

My guess is that the reasoning is if someone is primarily buying something for display purposes and personal/sentimental reasons, which is arguably the whole point of spending money on an expensive collector's edition or a PC physical copy (since that usually ends up activating on Steam anyway, so the DRM issue doesn't really come into play), then a physical disc is probably the least important aspect of the package. The only use for it in that particular case is faster installs. Otherwise, the disc is either going to be stuck inside the case, or stuck inside of a console. It's probably the least "displayable" part of the package.

On consoles, discs are considered a little more important, but the argument is probably that if you're spending $150+ on a special collector's edition, you're not planning to resell the game anytime soon, and you're probably a hardcore fan, so it's more about sentimental value. That customer does still lose out on the faster install convenience, though they probably gain the longer-term convenience of not having to insert a plastic DRM check every time they want to play their game, while still retaining all the sentimental physical display stuff they want.

A case with nothing in it feels weird, but if it's really just about showing something off on a shelf (which many people routinely use as an argument for preferring physical editions), then a case with no disc accomplishes the exact same goal. It's not like the disc itself is some special unique version of the game.

 

[Caesar III]

Exactly! It's really bizarre. Normally you would never think to doubt the inclusion of a disc when there's a steel book or limited edition case and yet that's exactly what's starting to happen.

Sorry but i like this actually. I did not use a single disc the last few months for my PC game purchases.I type in the code and wait a bit. I even did this for GTA V with its 50gb. I do collect the cases though. Even so that I prefer collectors editions if they are not massively more expensive. I'd like 3DS games to have casing and code.that would be ace!

Edit: what soul creator said!

 

[capitalCORN]

If you use Itunes, Spotify, Netflix, or any other subscription plan, you have no right to complain. This is the way of the future, and all your thoughts can do i believe cynically.

 

[RexNovis]

For those of you arguing that it's only for display purposes physical media also had the advantage of permanence and resale. Both are a very big deal to a lot of consumers. So when somebody is expecting a physical copy with their retail purchase and receive a digital code instead it feels like a bait and switch. To many the whole point of buying retail are the physical copies. If they wanted digital they would just purchase from the respective online stores.

If you use Itunes, Spotify, Netflix, or any other subscription plan, you have no right to complain. This is the way of the future, and all your thoughts can do i believe cynically.

Uhh what? I have no idea what you are getting at here. Not really seeing how streaming services have anything to do with digital copies being sold at retail.

 

[womp]

Full game is what, 20 gigs? They filled up one single layer DVD because it's the cheapest and that's it.

It isn't the 'cheapest' if the same game is the same price on other platforms and includes a full physical disc copy. May as well not include any disc at all in the first place.

Stop making excuses for them.

 

[Maneauleau]

I didn't know Collector Editions with digital codes instead of a real disk existed. That sounds really fucked up!

Hell, even regular edition with digital code is insane too. I think you are onto something OP because even if it saves costs it sounds fishy to me.

 

[TheHolyTurnip]

Yea, is complete crap and I definitely don't appreciate it. The whole point of buying physical is for the disc and taking that away makes it pretty pointless. Also, screwed episodic games that you have to download when you buy the "physical" copy. The push for the digital future is getting kinda disgusting.

 

[fernoca]

Heck, if anything I'd like more special editions with digital copies inside.

I'm all digital on Wii U and 3DS, but bought Legend of Legacy, Chibi Robi and a few others at retails, so have those on carts.

But as noted, is a more efficient way to distribute this editions. So that everything is set months ahead and no need to wait until the last minute to add the discs.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Nah, it's just a way of cutting costs. You can tell by the way most CEs nowadays are shit quality-wise (see that Tomb Raider thread). Even the pipboy looks like a cheap toy.

It is also mainly a way of not having used game sales, preventing a trade in.

It will slowly trickle in to retail over the next several years for games as a service we are headed into.

I was thinking about this back when Destiny the taken King launched. It's basically just a code to play the game, everyone traded in destiny but no one is able to do that with TTK.

Bingo. It is where gaming is headed. That is why you are seeing games requite online (NFS) when it is not even necessary. They are "testing the waters" since MSFT's 'all in or nothing' approach created a shitstorm.

 

[DarthWalden]

I was thinking about this back when Destiny the taken King launched. It's basically just a code to play the game, everyone traded in destiny but no one is able to do that with TTK.

Regarding special editions though I understand the desire to have a digital code for super fans. A game like Halo I play daily in between other games so it's almost a must for it to be digital. Plus Realistically if your a big enough fan to drop 100+$$$ on a special edition you won't be trading that in so a digital code + steel book for your shelf makes a lot more sense.

 

[darthbob]

I was thinking about this back when Destiny the taken King launched. It's basically just a code to play the game, everyone traded in destiny but no one is able to do that with TTK.

Regarding special editions though I understand the desire to have a digital code for super fans. A game like Halo I play daily in between other games so it's almost a must for it to be digital. Plus Realistically if your a big enough fan to drop 100+$$$ on a special edition you won't be trading that in so a digital code + steel book for your shelf makes a lot more sense.

The physical CE for TTK also came with a disc, however it was the vanilla Destiny disc and had a code that contained TTK + the other 2 earlier expansions.

 

[amardilo]

I don't want discs and I'd buy more special editions if they included codes for the digital versions.

Just wish they would make it clear so I know I am OK to buy those versions.

 

[Occam]

Bundles with codes instead of physical games suck for consumers. Separately selling (boxed) download codes physically is even worse. At least when digital games are sold online, the environment benefits (no energy and resources wasted on production and delivery), even though you are deprived of most benefits commonly associated with ownership. Digital games sold physically = bad for you AND the environment.

 

[serversurfer]

Don't underestimate the costs of the discs. Even if they only cost a buck, compare that to printing ten codes for a penny, then multiply that by hundreds of thousands of units. Eliminating the resale is just a bonus.

Personally, I'd rather have the code anyway.