[Insider Gaming] Only PlayStation Gets Physical Discs of Upcoming Xbox Games

Topher

Topher

Identifies as young
PlayStation users will reportedly get a disk with the physical edition of recently announced Xbox games, but Xbox isn't getting the same treatment.

In May, Microsoft stirred up controversy by raising the prices of games to $80, starting this holiday season, and also raised the prices of hardware, effective immediately. Fans and developers both questioned the decisions, as The Outer Worlds 2 Game Director pointed the blame at Xbox for the price increase.

Microsoft hasn't restored good graces, as upcoming games will only be available on disc for PlayStation.

Xbox-Announced Games Aren't Including a Disc, Whereas PS5 Are


Gaming insider CharlieIntel reported, "Recently announced Xbox games are only offering a disc, physical version for PS5, per retailer listings. PS5 versions have discs included in the box, while Xbox versions of the same games are only including a digital code."

This removes much of the incentive for Xbox users to purchase physical editions of games. A significant appeal for physical media collectors is the ability to have permanent ownership of the product, but only providing a code removes that benefit.

The decision also makes it less necessary to spend more on a disc drive version of the Series X, because most first-party games won't come with one.

It's unclear which games this will impact, but The Outer Worlds 2 is once again in the news, as it's included.




Seems this wasn't a one-time thing with Gears

Matthew Broderick GIF
 
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kazuyamishima said:
Physical games are still a thing here in Australia, at least for PlayStation and Nintendo Systems, and I'm very happy about it
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Not for long.
This is the last generation for physical games, outside of some niche releases.
 
We'll get to the point where PS5/PS6 is the only current gaming platform that plays optical media.

Microsoft want Xbox owners to move over to "Xbox PC" next gen, if they don't own physical games then it makes the transition easier.

As long as the likes of Sony, Nintendo, Capcom, Konami and Square continue to support physical media that's playable out of the box I'll continue to support them.
 
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Makes absolutely sense, they want to push Game Pass even more and disc games are a pain in the ass for every manufactorer and dev and they would love to ged rid off.
 
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Topher said:
Last for Xbox anyway. Obviously Nintendo still supports physical for another generation and I expect the same will be true of PlayStation.
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Yeah, I'll be very suprised if next gen isn't the very last for physical media. Just hope legislatiors wake up soon and gives us some proper digital ownership laws.
 
"Physical" discs of these Xbox releases on Playstation are literally just a tiny file that downloads and installs the game, there is no game data on the disc unlike all other publishers' physical game releases
 
Unknown Soldier said:
"Physical" discs of these Xbox releases on Playstation are literally just a tiny file that downloads and installs the game, there is no game data on the disc unlike all other publishers' physical game releases
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Even if that is true, the disc can be traded or resold. The code is worthless once used.
 
Curious to know what is the percentage of PS5 physical sales. I think SX sold limited quantities and out of those many are probably GP or digital only users. So probably a loss to even make physical copies for it.
 
Topher said:
Even if that is true, the disc can be traded or resold. The code is worthless once used.
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There is no reason to not put game data on a disc other then "Fuck you that's why" because it's not like the disc costs any differently to manufacture either way

The reason "Game Key Card" exists on Nintendo Switch 2 is because flash memory costs actual money and so not including the game data saves the publisher money

Microsoft has no such excuse for PS5 disc releases

If you like physical games, buying a game from Microsoft is like taking your handgun and shooting yourself in the dick with it
 
Celebrate Post Malone GIF by Bud Light


Real men of genius

TODAY we salute you pleather jacket with ONLY stupid ideas guy
 
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Unknown Soldier said:
There is no reason to not put game data on a disc other then "Fuck you that's why" because it's not like the disc costs any differently to manufacture either way

The reason "Game Key Card" exists on Nintendo Switch 2 is because flash memory costs actual money and so not including the game data saves the publisher money

Microsoft has no such excuse for PS5 disc releases

If you like physical games, buying a game from Microsoft is like taking your handgun and shooting yourself in the dick with it
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eh.....I only like them because I can sell them when I'm done, but I get your point
 
Cakeboxer said:
Makes absolutely sense, they want to push Game Pass even more and disc games are a pain in the ass for every manufactorer and dev and they would love to ged rid off.
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The problem is that as a big company you should be taking small steps. See what Sony is doing with making the drive a separate accessory or Nintendo with introducing keys replacing cartridges.

Microsoft just shuts everything down during an ongoing generation. That's not going to convince people to suddenly change their habits. On the contrary, they may decide to buy a PS version and Microsoft will earn less (after Sony's cut) from the sold copies.
 
Unknown Soldier said:
There is no reason to not put game data on a disc other then "Fuck you that's why" because it's not like the disc costs any differently to manufacture either way
Click to expand...

Well it would depend on whether the game would fit on one disc. But I think the reason they do it is so that they can manufacture the discs before the game is actually ready.
 
Topher said:
PlayStation users will reportedly get a disk with the physical edition of recently announced Xbox games, but Xbox isn't getting the same treatment.

In May, Microsoft stirred up controversy by raising the prices of games to $80, starting this holiday season, and also raised the prices of hardware, effective immediately. Fans and developers both questioned the decisions, as The Outer Worlds 2 Game Director pointed the blame at Xbox for the price increase.

Microsoft hasn't restored good graces, as upcoming games will only be available on disc for PlayStation.

Xbox-Announced Games Aren't Including a Disc, Whereas PS5 Are


Gaming insider CharlieIntel reported, "Recently announced Xbox games are only offering a disc, physical version for PS5, per retailer listings. PS5 versions have discs included in the box, while Xbox versions of the same games are only including a digital code."

This removes much of the incentive for Xbox users to purchase physical editions of games. A significant appeal for physical media collectors is the ability to have permanent ownership of the product, but only providing a code removes that benefit.

The decision also makes it less necessary to spend more on a disc drive version of the Series X, because most first-party games won't come with one.

It's unclear which games this will impact, but The Outer Worlds 2 is once again in the news, as it's included.




Seems this wasn't a one-time thing with Gears

Matthew Broderick GIF
Click to expand...

That's PR.
 
It's funny how xbox slowly boiled the frog with exactly what xbox one was trying to do while suggesting they're listening and only temporarily backtracking. In the end they still killed second hand games and require an online connection. They just did it by prioritising a console with no disc option at all and made you download crap even when you buy a disc version. All while pretending they're about "choice".
 
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Topher said:
Even if that is true, the disc can be traded or resold. The code is worthless once used.
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I have traded in a lot of games over the years especially yearly release type of titles and some once I beat I know I will never play again

Xbox keeps trying to push away as many of its gamers as it can
 
They're making it even easier for me to buy my games on PS5 instead.

This is expected, though. The split between physical and digital among Xbox gamers is brutally in favor of digital.
 
Cakeboxer said:
Makes absolutely sense, they want to push Game Pass even more and disc games are a pain in the ass for every manufactorer and dev and they would love to ged rid off.
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Say it ain't so. I've been reliably informed by dozens of gaffers that game discs practically manufacture themselves and it's an industry that all the major publishers are glad to be a part of. The replication lines are entirely unmanned, and the buildings don't even require facilities personal like maintenance and office managers. If anything it's way more work to host the game files on a server somewhere.
 
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It's getting hard not to console war when Xbox keeps teeing us up like this. I mean come on. Just mentioning this is such a funny but dumb move from Xbox. Like when Xbox actually became the thing fanboys claimed it was normal reactions seem like hate. Like you cannot parody xbox. You cannot fanboy hard enough to make them look dumber than they are. They are immune to haters like the haters can only help at this point.
 
Cakeboxer said:
Makes absolutely sense, they want to push Game Pass even more and disc games are a pain in the ass for every manufactorer and dev and they would love to ged rid off.
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Not to mention the discs are essentially worthless without internet connection because by the time the game comes out there's a constant stream of patches that are required in order to play most games. And *any that are online, which is also most.

This whole argument that physical disc=owning is disingenuous nowadays because in most cases you cannot simply place a disc in your console and immediately play the game. That hasn't been true since like PS3/ 360.
 
Dr. Wilkinson said:
Not to mention the discs are essentially worthless without internet connection because by the time the game comes out there's a constant stream of patches that are required in order to play most games. And *any that are online, which is also most.

This whole argument that physical disc=owning is disingenuous nowadays because in most cases you cannot simply place a disc in your console and immediately play the game. That hasn't been true since like PS3/ 360.
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Factually, the physical disc allows me to sell or trade the game. Nothing disingenuous about that.

Cakeboxer said:
Makes absolutely sense, they want to push Game Pass even more and disc games are a pain in the ass for every manufactorer and dev and they would love to ged rid off.
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So you are ok with this because it is a "pain in the ass" for a $3 trillion corporation to treat their own direct customers like they do PlayStation's?
 
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Topher said:
So you are ok with this because it is a "pain in the ass" to a $3 trillion corporation to treat their own direct customers like they do another PlayStation's?
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I'm a pc guy, what other choice do i have? And from a corporate perspective it's understandable, that's all what i'm saying. Devs wouldn't be sad too.

simpatico said:
Say it ain't so. I've been reliably informed by dozens of gaffers that game discs practically manufacture themselves and it's an industry that all the major publishers are glad to be a part of. The replication lines are entirely unmanned, and the buildings don't even require facilities personal like maintenance and office managers. If anything it's way more work to host the game files on a server somewhere.
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The biggest issue is the second hand market, especially for singleplayer games.
 
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Cakeboxer said:
I'm a pc guy, what other choice do i have? And from a corporate perspective it's understandable, that's all what i'm saying. Devs wouldn't be sad too.
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I'm a PC guy as well, but I can look at this from a Xbox gamer's perspective and say it is shitty. I just don't get taking up for corporations first over gamers.
 
But I mean, are the full games on the disc? If not, its completely worthless to me. Wasn't Doom Eternal just basically a key?

Edit: whoops, I meant Doom TDA
 
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Topher said:
I'm a PC guy as well, but I can look at this from a Xbox gamer's perspective and say it is shitty. I just don't get taking up for corporations first over gamers.
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Never said i like it, just that i can understand it from their perspective. I would be glad if they would still make those cool pc boxes with manuals and gimmicks like the Larrry 7 Sniffmaster, but it it what it is.
 
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There must have been half a dozen threads almost identical to this one in the past couple of days. It's puzzling that people are suddenly feigning surprise at Xbox's direction of travel.

It's also not entirely accurate. Where was the PS5 "physical edition" (these discs are no more than license keys) of Forza Horizon 5?

889842889321_l.jpg
 
The malignants in my hobbies should be excised, including those who cheer shitty anti-customer choice moves.
 
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m14 said:
So a game that released just six weeks ago is irrelevant because it doesn't fit your concern trolling narrative?
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There were articles/threads about that as well. It ain't my "narrative". I didn't write the article. Calm yourself.
 
Topher said:
Factually, the physical disc allows me to sell or trade the game. Nothing disingenuous about that.



So you are ok with this because it is a "pain in the ass" for a $3 trillion corporation to treat their own direct customers like they do PlayStation's?
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True. That is the one thing you can still do. As GameStop declines further and also moves further away from games and into trading cards and other things, I think this will be less and less common. Eventually it'll be diminished to just FB marketplace and second hand independent shops. But also as physical media sales ratio vs digital falls further behind, the entire medium of physical video games will ultimately vanish. You already can't even go to a Target or Best Buy and buy TV shows or movies on disc. And even at Walmart, the world's largest retailer, the physical movie section is getting smaller and smaller. Physical video games will out-survive films and TV, but not for much longer.

The existence of physical media of any kind is…I'd say maybe 5 (?) years away from being entirely gone outside of enthusiast hobby collectors? It's not long for this world, that's for sure.
 
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Dr. Wilkinson said:
True. That is the one thing you can still do. As GameStop declines further and also moves further away from games and into trading cards and other things, I think this will be less and less common. Eventually it'll be diminished to just FB marketplace and second hand independent shops. But also as physical media sales ratio vs digital falls further behind, the entire medium of physical video games will ultimately vanish. You already can't even go to a Target or Best Buy and buy TV shows or movies on disc. And even at Walmart, the world's largest retailer, the physical movie section is getting smaller and smaller. Physical video games will out-survive films and TV, but not for much longer.

The existence of physical media of any kind is…I'd say maybe 5 (?) years away from being entirely gone outside of enthusiast hobby collectors? It's not long for this world, that's for sure.
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Yeah....physical is on borrowed time. There's just no doubt about that. I've decided to move to Steam myself so that my son's and I can build up a shared library. That's about the best we can do these days.
 
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