GameStop CEO Says Disc Drives Should Be Required On Game Consoles
- Thread starter Thick Thighs Save Lives
- Start date
- Opinion Business
Moriarty1889
Member
I agree completely. Disc drives should always be included. I prefer physical myself and buying preowned saves me alot of money. Digital prices usually remain higher even over time.
I have no doubts in my mind that next generation of consoles will be released as digital only machines with Blu-ray drive as an optional purchase add-on.
72% digital ratio is enough of reason to do it. And we still probably have 5 years left in this gen for people to shift to digital even more.
72% digital ratio is enough of reason to do it. And we still probably have 5 years left in this gen for people to shift to digital even more.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
If they die, physical will decline even further and fasterCan't wait to see GameStop crash and burn
Unknown?
Member
Yay for ruining backwards compatibility and cheaper options.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
Well that's the bad part of sticking with consoles…you never know if Sony and co will support backward compatible and how long.
Sony axed PSVR2 backward compatibility with PSVR and players barely make any noise. PSVR library will eventually be unplayable when and if all PSVR hardware are unuseable
KeepThemEyesOpen
Member
Totally agree lmao
Thick Thighs Save Lives
NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
I'd rather switch back to PC than embrace a fully digital Nintendo or Sony console + ecosystem. Also, hello backlog!
Punished Miku
Banned
Disc drives being required is likely not going to happen. But I could support passing laws requiring 1st party to allow more digital selling options so it's not just 1 store for games.
Unknown?
Member
That's not the problem with getting rid of disc drives. If PS6 plays PS1-3 natively but is digital only, what's the point? 97% of all those games never came to digital storefronts.
The only benefit to PC with no discs is you can pirate old games because those digital storefronts still suffer the same licensing problems.
SportsFan581
Member
It's good to see him giving an opinion here without any kind of ulterior motive of his own. That's refreshing.
Magic Carpet
Gold Member
I bought Sonic Prime figures at Gamestop. No need for spinning media.
ReBurn
Gold Member
I stopped buying there because of this. Wanted a game, only copy left was an open box. They went to seal it with one of their clear stickers when I asked about the online pass code that game publishers used to include that allowed you to play online. The guy said they lost it and proceeded to ring it up as new. I insisted on a discount because I would have to buy the code but he wouldn't budge. So I left and went to Target to buy my game.They seem to make that 100% off their "new" game sales as well
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
It doesn't matter. Games pass gold certification. Most games on ps5 are perfectly playable without patch with some exceptions. Ragnarok or ff16? You wouldn't know you need a patch
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Can't wait to see GameStop crash and burn
Despite being on PC, I like GameStop. I buy my Steam cards from them, as they're one of the few retailers that allow you to buy a gift card with a store gift card.
Amazon is the absolute worst. You can't even buy a Steam gift card off them, except from a third party selling them at inflated prices.
MidGenRefresh
*Refreshes biennially
Funnily enough I would know because I purchased Ragnarok on release day on disc and I returned it after I was soft-locked on a loading section where you run around magical tree in circles. There was a bug in the game and the only to fix it way was to start a new save. So yeah, the game that's printed on disc is far from perfect.
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8BiTw0LF
Consoomer
GameStop here in Denmark is a laughing stock - been for years and they're closing most of their shops these days, cause people buy their games cheaper elsewhere.
Fbh
Member
"Also everyone should be required to buy at least 3 Funk Pops a year"
- Ryan Cohen
While their use for game preservation is indeed diminished (and in some cases non existent). They still give you a higher degree of ownership over them as you can trade them, resell them, lend or gift them to someone else once you are done with them. Accessing them is also not tied to single account which can be hacked, lost and is tied to a fucking 4000 pages EULA
They are also the one thing keeping console makers from running a complete monopoly with their digital stores. Physical games give you more options from where to buy, are often cheaper than their digital counterparts(specially after launch), give you access to more sales and promotions (amazon was just running a buy 1 get 1 free sale recently), etc
- Ryan Cohen
While their use for game preservation is indeed diminished (and in some cases non existent). They still give you a higher degree of ownership over them as you can trade them, resell them, lend or gift them to someone else once you are done with them. Accessing them is also not tied to single account which can be hacked, lost and is tied to a fucking 4000 pages EULA
They are also the one thing keeping console makers from running a complete monopoly with their digital stores. Physical games give you more options from where to buy, are often cheaper than their digital counterparts(specially after launch), give you access to more sales and promotions (amazon was just running a buy 1 get 1 free sale recently), etc
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Mr.Phoenix
Member
There is no real downside... everything becomes BC on PC eventually.
Bumblebeetuna
Member
Bond007
Member
It may seem self serving- and it is.
But he is correct.
Only the gamers continue to allow things to be taxed, overpriced, removed, and we still keep paying premiums happily. I guess its just the demographics of the industry maybe.
We allow game ownership to be taken away and praise convenience of not changing a disc instead. Hurray
We allow paying for playing online. Cause when XBL launched, it was soooo worth it cause the quality. Now its nearly mandatory to get what was previously free. I already pay my internet bill, now i need to pay for access too?
Pay for collectors editions of unfinished games
Pay to play/win.
We keep losing more and more while also losing more of our hard earned money.
Maybe the kids don't care that enjoy this hobby and are more than happy to dump their allowances or birthday money. But the rest of us old heads- nah, i see our ownership continue to be stripped. I will buy physical games for as long as i can. I will own the game, trade if i need to, let others borrow, and have the game for as long as i deem- the owner- as necessary. That outweighs the convenience of having to get up and insert a disc or losing access altogether.
But he is correct.
Only the gamers continue to allow things to be taxed, overpriced, removed, and we still keep paying premiums happily. I guess its just the demographics of the industry maybe.
We allow game ownership to be taken away and praise convenience of not changing a disc instead. Hurray
We allow paying for playing online. Cause when XBL launched, it was soooo worth it cause the quality. Now its nearly mandatory to get what was previously free. I already pay my internet bill, now i need to pay for access too?
Pay for collectors editions of unfinished games
Pay to play/win.
We keep losing more and more while also losing more of our hard earned money.
Maybe the kids don't care that enjoy this hobby and are more than happy to dump their allowances or birthday money. But the rest of us old heads- nah, i see our ownership continue to be stripped. I will buy physical games for as long as i can. I will own the game, trade if i need to, let others borrow, and have the game for as long as i deem- the owner- as necessary. That outweighs the convenience of having to get up and insert a disc or losing access altogether.
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kingwingin
Member
Companies should be required to allow us to patch games through a usb drive
fart town usa
Banned
It's so depressing what GameStop turned into once Babbages and FuncoLand ceased to exist. I can't be bothered to step foot in a GameStop. Plastic crap everywhere, clerks trying to upsell you on everything. It's a truly miserable experience.
Disc Replay is the only game store I seek out now. Basically GameStop but all consoles regardless of year, DVDs, Blu rays, CDs, etc. Awesome store with fair prices. Midwest only though.
Disc Replay is the only game store I seek out now. Basically GameStop but all consoles regardless of year, DVDs, Blu rays, CDs, etc. Awesome store with fair prices. Midwest only though.
Dust-by-Monday
Member
I love the idea of digital only because then you can only get your game from one source so you can't shop around for sales and also, it's amazing how they can take your game away whenever they want and there's a possibility that the game will no longer be playable in the future.
I mean, I can pop in an old PS2 game in my PS2 and play it in 2023, but will your download still be available on your PS5 in 2033?
PS I also forgot that you can't let your friend borrow a digital game. He's gotta buy it too if he wants to play it.
I mean, I can pop in an old PS2 game in my PS2 and play it in 2023, but will your download still be available on your PS5 in 2033?
PS I also forgot that you can't let your friend borrow a digital game. He's gotta buy it too if he wants to play it.
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rofif
Can’t Git Gud
It's a bug
MidGenRefresh
*Refreshes biennially
Yes. That was since patched. So why would I want to play unpatched disc version ever again and risk encountering the same bug? I loved the game but I just couldn't force myself to replay a couple of hours just to get to the same point in the story so I returned it. I will probably pick it up when it's on PC... when it's fully patched.
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
There are many bugs. Many peoples have finished the game unpatched just fine.
Anyway, I don't see the connection to the therad here. Have you fuckig broken unpatched game, whatever.
It is still WAY beneficial to have any ownership over a game rather than 0.
-I can sell it, trade it
-I can play it off-line
-I can NOT PATCH it if I want
-I don't need to be worried about being hacked
-I don's need to be worried about being banned by a company for saying something "controversial".
-And discs are cheaper on release.
MidGenRefresh
*Refreshes biennially
Good for you rofif, good that this option exists. It's not going to last, sadly. I much rather just download the game and play it. I like simplicity of it, don't care about 'owning' a plastic disc.
EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.001
Disc? Is that related to a cd?
Dream-Knife
Banned
He is right because consoles have no set standard and they can be arbitrarily locked out of content.
That being said I bought some switch and ps4 games digitally. It does feel odd playing a console without physical games.
That being said I bought some switch and ps4 games digitally. It does feel odd playing a console without physical games.
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YeulEmeralda
Linux User
Dinosaurs shouting at asteroids.
digital_ghost
I am a closet furry. Don't you judge me.
In other news Targets Ceo says Humans should be required to wear clothes. Sparking outrage in the nudist communities.
Thick Thighs Save Lives
NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Many as in the majority? That's not true: https://www.doesitplay.org/index. The relevant column that you should look at is "Download required".
Also, there's around 900 Nintendo Switch cart complete games that don't require any additional data to download.
This is not aimed at you, btw, but I find it odd how so many here on GAF and other gaming focused forums are so misinformed about the current state of physical media in gaming. I think that's just because they've read a few too many clickbait titles from the likes of IGN or other mainstream outlets.
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rofif
Can’t Git Gud
yeah maybe so... I expect my whole mini collection to be have to be repurchased on ps6....
cinnamonandgravy
Member
optical discs can have multi-TB capacities... if sony really wants to move forward with discs, they can.
midnightAI
Member
Switch would not be the same with a disc drive
Solidus_T
Banned
But it has one... It's just not an optical disc drive.
Switch would not be the same with a disc drive