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[Topher]

Only those on PlayStation can own a physical copy of the game, at least for now.

---

We're still processing the fact that we can play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5, but the floodgates are well and truly open for Xbox franchises going multiplatform.

Outer Worlds 2 is coming to Sony's system later in the year, but before then, there's the small matter of Gears of War making its debut on PS5 via the Reloaded edition of the first game.

Revealed last month, the game promises audio and visual improvements, no loading times, and HDR support among other things, but there's one thing it can't do: be found as a physical copy on Xbox.

Despite assurances that the company still has plans for physical media last year, if you want a physical copy of Gears of War Reloaded, you'll need to be a PS5 owner.

While the revamped version of Gears of War is available for £39.99/$39.99 on Amazon right now, Xbox players will have no choice but to buy it digitally if they want to own it (at the time of publication, as this could be subject to change), although there is some comfort.

Not only will the game also be on Xbox Game Pass at launch on 26th August (as well as its PC counterpart), but if you already own the Gears of War Ultimate Edition from back in 2015, you'll get the new version for free.

Gears of War: Reloaded is also getting a cross-platform multiplayer beta, giving players a chance to dive into some classic curb-stomping action ahead of launch.

The first beta kicks off on 13th June and runs through to the 15th, focusing on Team Deathmatch across a trio of returning maps: Gridlock, Raven Down and Gold Rush. A second round follows the week after, running from 20th to 22nd June. Both weekends begin at 12pm PST.

There are three ways to secure access to the beta:

-Pre-order the digital version of Gears of War: Reloaded on Xbox Series X/S, PC (Microsoft Store or Steam), or PS5
-Be a current Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriber
-Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition purchased before 5th May

Microsoft bizarrely isn’t offering physical pre-orders of Gears of War: Reloaded on Xbox, just PS5

You can pre-order Gears of War Reloaded for PS5 at Amazon, but there's bizarrely no physical version for Xbox collectors

www.eurogamer.net

---

Previously posted as a rumor, now confirmed

 

[Mr Moose]

While the revamped version of Gears of War is available for £39.99/$39.99

40.00 British Pounds =

54.401029 US Dollars

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Refundpass it is

 

[tTHANOSs]

Well ain't it just a remaster of a remaster. And those who own the game can just pay to upgrade?

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

Well ain't it just a remaster of a remaster. And those who own the game can just pay to upgrade?

I think if you already own the ultimate edition on Xbox, you get this version for free.

 

[Itchy Tickles]

Does Sony take the same cut on physical media like they do on their digital store? Or is this a way for Microsoft to kinda bypass it? Still a bit poopy for any people who prefer physical media on Xbox.

 

[Punished Miku]

Does Sony take the same cut on physical media like they do on their digital store? Or is this a way for Microsoft to kinda bypass it? Still a bit poopy for any people who prefer physical media on Xbox.

They make more digital. I dont know if Sony's cut is the same at retail but I bet it is. Then the retailers also take a small cut. And cost of supplies.

 

[Elginer]

I got a free copy so thanks Phil

 

[havoc00]

I got a free copy so thanks Phil

Same

 

[Punished Miku]

I got a free copy so thanks Phil

I got 2. Got another copy waiting on PC. Not bad.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

"shady platform things"

 

[ValiantInstance]

They're balls deep on Game Pass paying off. They won't have a traditional console player base left by the time they realise it's failed.

 

[TGO]

Yeah but is it actually physical...

 

[AREYOUOKAY?]

They're balls deep on Game Pass paying off. They won't have a traditional console player base left by the time they realise it's failed.

A big middle finger to every Series X owner.

 

[ValiantInstance]

A big middle finger to every Series X owner.

Mine is just a 360 emulator at this point. I will keep it but it will be my last Xbox, fitting that I will use it to remind myself of when they were at their peak.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Can you even buy an Xbox with a disc drive?

Xbox game displays in shops seem to be disappearing, so this doesn't surprise me one bit.

As someone who recalls the excitement when me and my friend went to GAME to grab our pre order copies of Halo 2 in 2004 this is just sad.

 

[Bry0]

I bet they want you to buy digital because of play anywhere for future devices

 

[AREYOUOKAY?]

Can you even buy an Xbox with a disc drive?

Xbox game displays in shops seem to be disappearing, so this doesn't surprise me one bit.

As someone who recalls the excitement when me and my friend went to GAME to grab our pre order copies of Halo 2 in 2004 this is just sad.

Your stores may vary but the Xbox section at this one Target near me has been completely nuked and wiped out. Best Buy only has old Series X games and GameStop is just as useless. You can't sell games if you don't put them in stores. This is 90's Sega quality fuckery.

 

[Mr Moose]

Thread 'Microsoft also shut down departments dedicated to bringing Xbox games to physical retail'

Jan 25, 2024

• HeisenbergFX4
• Replies: 660
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

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[Goalus]

Good decision.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Does Sony take the same cut on physical media like they do on their digital store? Or is this a way for Microsoft to kinda bypass it? Still a bit poopy for any people who prefer physical media on Xbox.

The split is something like 15-20% to sony and 10-15% for retail.

 

[jm89]

Good.

Otherwise I ain't touching your shit with barge pole.

 

[WoJ]

Mine is just a 360 emulator at this point. I will keep it but it will be my last Xbox, fitting that I will use it to remind myself of when they were at their peak.

Ditto. Pretty much sums up my feelings on Xbox. They used to be my favorite platform.

 

[Sooner]

They're balls deep on Game Pass paying off. They won't have a traditional console player base left by the time they realise it's failed.

I'm pretty sure they already know.

 

[StereoVsn]

Ditto. Pretty much sums up my feelings on Xbox. They used to be my favorite platform.

I wouldn't say they were my favorite platform but they used to have a solid lineup starting with OG. They really dropped the ball on the 2nd half of 360 lifespan with Kinect focus and doubled down with that shit with XBone. And then Phil just kept digging deeper.

At least BC on XSX is pretty great. I really wish MS didn't dump that program.

 

[Isurus]

Do people really still care about this? What is the point of purchasing a physical copy at this point? It's unlikely the game will actually run off the disk, as day 1 patches are so common.

 

[demigod]

Xbox physical is dead folks. Even Final Fantasy Tactics is digital only for xbox.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Do people really still care about this? What is the point of purchasing a physical copy at this point? It's unlikely the game will actually run off the disk, as day 1 patches are so common.

There's still publishers (mostly Japanese) that release games that are playable without patches

Let's tackle this issue instead of just doing away with physical.

 

[NickFire]

Kinda funny if this is their game preservation strategy

 

[Topher]

Kinda funny if this is their game preservation strategy

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Reloaded is just a patch for the previous Ultimate Edition release on Xbox and Windows, why would anyone need to preorder it

It's only new on PS5

 

[GinSama]

Do people really still care about this? What is the point of purchasing a physical copy at this point? It's unlikely the game will actually run off the disk, as day 1 patches are so common.

If that's the case they should do digital only for PS5 as well.
Is kind of ridiculous that one of the big IP for Microsoft does this affecting their own players of their console... I literally have all gow games on physical. For me that's why I'm really disappointed with this decision.


Saying this, yes you are right about nowadays the games don't run off the disc......I'm not against digital, I'm against the lack of options, there should be always options for players.

 

[VolticArchangel]

This is some bad optics. They should have held till next gen, at least for their exclusives, for physical releases, before pulling the plug.

 

[xrnzaaas]

MS just can't help themselves to pull the plug on physical releases before the end of this generation. First they stopped manufacturing Series X models with the drive and now they're no longer releasing first party Xbox games on disc.

The only reason why they do it on PS5 is because physical still has some market share on that platform. But they still do only the bare minimum needed for a retail release and you'll have to download pretty much the entire game.

 

[VolticArchangel]

I got 2. Got another copy waiting on PC. Not bad.

You mean 1 code that is Play Anywhere right? Or did you get 2 codes from the Xbox team?

 

[zaga]

The PS5 disc versions from Microsoft are pointless because they never contain the whole game, they just trigger a download.

At some point the download servers will be turned off and the disc will be unusable.

 

[Punished Miku]

You mean 1 code that is Play Anywhere right? Or did you get 2 codes from the Xbox team?

Just 1 code, PA yeah.

 

[RoadHazard]

I bet they want you to buy digital because of play anywhere for future devices

No, they want you to buy digital because they make more money that way, and they also lock you in.

 

[Goalus]

This is some bad optics. They should have held till next gen, at least for their exclusives, for physical releases, before pulling the plug.

Why?

 

[RetroGamingUK]

No, they want you to buy digital because they make more money that way, and they also lock you in.

Locked into what?

PC?

You can ditch your Xbox for PC next gen, take your library with you, then buy future games on Steam instead.

 

[Topher]

Locked into what?

PC?

You can ditch your Xbox for PC next gen, take your library with you, then buy future games on Steam instead.

A lot of gamers don't want to game on PC. They want the simplicity of console..

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Looks like this time around, MS will be putting the game on the disc, so I'll probably grab it sooner rather than later.

We have consulted Xbox Spain about this physical edition and they have confirmed that Gears of War: Reloaded will have a full physical edition (with the game on the disc) only for PlayStation 5. The Xbox Series and PC versions remain without physical editions, although Xbox states that the game "will be offered through the Digital Code program at participating retailers".

Exclusiva: Xbox nos confirma que Gears of War Reloaded tendrá edición física en PS5 y sólo código digital para Xbox Series

Xbox nos ha confirmado que Gears of War: Reloaded tendrá edición física sólo para PlayStation 5. Ni Xbox Series ni PC la tendrán, sino que se podrá comprar un código para canjear.

vandal.elespanol.com

 

[RetroGamingUK]

A lot of gamers don't want to game on PC. They want the simplicity of console..

Yet most of their customers are being unwittingly steered in that direction.

 

[Topher]

Yet most of their customers are being unwittingly steered in that direction.

Some would say their customers lack wits

Spoiler

 

[RoadHazard]

Locked into what?

PC?

You can ditch your Xbox for PC next gen, take your library with you, then buy future games on Steam instead.

If you buy a game digitally from MS that game is locked to that account.

 

[Judge Magister]

Wait and see if it's physical and not 85MB on disc.
Anyway Sony wants digital too, we got a Disc Drive sold separately this gen, but consumers still buying physical so they keep delaying maybe what is inevitable.

As for Microsoft/Xbox is so confusing. Take P4R trailer for example the platforms appear as: Xbox Series S/X | Xbox PC | Xbox Cloud | Game Pass | Windows and even a Xbox Play Anywhere tag.
An average consumer is supposed to understand all this?!

 

[TheKingOfPain]

They can digitally shove it, then.