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[ProgenitorCastle]

 

[Rac3r]

So no ability to buy used and/or resell.

I’ve been saying this for months now. The next step for MS will be removing physical and digital ownership entirely for new releases. Everything will be tied to digital subscriptions, and services will rapidly increase in price once they’ve established dependence on it (we’re already seeing it with Xbox service and console price hikes before Starfield). Don’t be surprised when other companies conform to the same BS.

This is why ABK needs to be blocked. Consolidation is bad for the consumer, whether it’s Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, etc.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

These big corporations don’t care about the environment, but they like it when people think they do.

I don't think this is what's driving the change, but I do think it's a small positive.

 

[SportsFan581]

Might as well just buy it digital.

This is the digital version for people who love a good box.

The one with the watch and the case and all that I figured, but if they've actually released Blu-ray case standard packages with a code that is certainly a choice. But, in all seriousness the disk isn't much more than a code anyway and some people love those boxes. Looks like they didn't want to do a physical release, but wanted the retail shelf space at the same time if this information is correct.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

There's an environmental positive in not making more plastic discs. So that's one possible reason.

That's not a good enough reason. Maybe better recyclability options should exist instead?

The hilarity that comes from people thinking corporations actually care about the environment. Believe me, they don’t. And their elimination of discs makes zero difference.

They only "care" so much that they can improve their ESG scores with large investment groups, and attract more investors.

But yeah in terms of the principal, they couldn't care less. They're the biggest offenders of any greenhouse effect, climate change & excessive carbon footprints anyway (but somehow the average Joe and Jane takes the blame).

 

[gothmog]

Not a big fan of physical (wasteful) but if someone is buying it why not include a disk.

 

[adamsapple]

Sounds like something the EU could and should fine them heavily over given the acquisition is still pretty fresh and this is clearly an anti-consumer consequence of the acquisition, because Zenimax could never afford to pull such a move because of the lost sales from consumer pushback.

this is satire right ?

right ?

 

[Mister Wolf]

You guys might as well get a PC at this point. At least then you will be able to get digital code discounts. I have already preordered Starfield for $57 off CDKeys.

 

[Makoto-Yuki]

These big corporations don’t care about the environment, but they like it when people think they do.

If not the environment then money. They could save money from not buying plastic/paper and paying manufacturing or shipping costs.

If they already sell games digitally then why not just go all digital? Plus, forcing people to buy digitally means you control the price. If you want to charge $70-80 then you can if it's the only place to purchase it. You decide when it goes on sale and for how much.

AND you wont lose money on second hand copies or sharing. 1 disc sale could be $70 but over time multiple people might play that disc. Say that disc passes through 5 people then would you rather make $70 or $350? If it passes through 10 people then you could get $700!

I know Sony had a laugh at Microsoft with the second hand game video in 2013 but don't think for a second Sony (or anyone else) give a shit about you. If they can make more money off you then they will. The only reason Sony made fun of Microsoft back then was because it benefited them.

 

[Makoto-Yuki]

Kindly fuck off. Thanks.

There is an ignore button. Make use of it?

 

[a multicultural team of v]

There's an environmental positive in not making more plastic discs. So that's one possible reason.

So they will gladly sell you all this metal and plastic junk, but a tiny ass disc is too far?

 

[GHG]

The Environment™

These people must think all those cloud servers are powered by thin air.

Because these corporations really care about the environment right? Right?

 

[Dr. Samuel Hayden]

This thread once again proving why digital zealots are some of the absolute worst. Great for the ignore list though.

Anyway, between this and the 30FPS lock, there's really no reason to buy it on console.

 

[Three]

Putting stuff in your recycling bin doesn't mean it doesn't end up in the ocean or landfill.

Physical media is a complete waste of material and should be banned completely. We have too much plastic so if we can reduce usage then we should. The less trees we need to cut down the better. There is no point in physical games anymore so that's one thing we should get rid of ASAP.

How many game discs do you see taking up space in the landfill for them to be banned before all non-biodegradable plastic bags or food containers you throw away on a daily basis? How often would people be throwing working games away?

 

[LordCBH]

So they will gladly sell you all this metal and plastic junk, but a tiny ass disc is too far?

Yup. And doing away with discs wouldn’t make ANY environmental impact. Especially not with places like China dumping obscene amounts of pollution and toxins into the environment.

 

[Krathoon]

Yeah. Just get the game on Steam. Bethesda games are intended for the PC. They are always buggy and need fan patches.

Also, NeoGaf wins the award for most functional forum when you have a slow internet connection.

 

[Chukhopops]

We aren't talking about company choice, because financially this makes no sense, much like cancelling the PS5 version made no financial sense. This was a $7b acquisition that had to meet approval from regulators and this is anti-consumer and a negative of the acquisition. The EU would be well within their rights to force Microsoft to change their stance or fine them a large amount to discourage such anti-consumer actions for high-end AAA games, where expectation is to physically own a version on the disc and all the advantages that brings to consumers.

Based on what exactly?

Again, a lot of physical game boxes are sold today without any physical media inside. As long as it’s labeled properly there’s no legal issue.

This is giving me flashbacks of the ABK thread.

 

[Sub_Level]

There is ZERO reason to buy it physical, then. Just get it on game pass or steam. If you want the box on your shelf you can print out a cover insert for a plastic box.

 

[reforen]

Only standard version will have a physical disc

 

[MikeM]

That's the windows store version, not the PC version.

Isn’t the windows store version a PC version? Gears 4 that I bought on Xbox I can download and play on my PC (have done it) through the Xbox app. Maybe i’m missing something…

 

[Ozriel]

this is satire right ?

right ?

He’s serious.

 

[Lucifers Beard]

Why bother shipping a physical box? Just make it digital only.

The only purpose this serves is to end up in landfill or ocean. At least if there is a disc, it can be traded or sold on and last longer.

 

[Nydius]

The Environment™

Over the last 15 years, possibly more, I’ve thrown away a whopping TWO game cases — both of which were damaged in transit and needed to be replaced. I’ve never thrown away a single disk or blu-ray.

Meanwhile, I throw away eight of my wife’s #6 plastic prescription bottles every month because her insurance won’t do 90 day supplies, no pharmacies take bottles for recycling, my municipal recycling only takes #1 and #2 plastics, and I’ve yet to find a reliable online option to recycle them.

But sure, my physical games are the problem… I’m destroying the planet with my collection of games that aren’t sitting in a landfill!

 

[DeepEnigma]

These people must think all those cloud servers are powered by thin air.

Because these corporations really care about the environment right? Right?

It's a bs false virtue single from the environment™ marketing.

 

[Fess]

Only standard version will have a physical disc

So a steelbox with a code in the Constellation Edition?
This is just making it weirder.

 

[GHG]

Isn’t the windows store version a PC version? Gears 4 that I bought on Xbox I can download and play on my PC (have done it) through the Xbox app. Maybe i’m missing something…

I wouldn't class games stuck in the UWP wrapper as PC games.

 

[SportsFan581]

These people must think all those cloud servers are powered by thin air.

There are some DCs that run on green energy 24/7. Most of the major networks are already running 50% green and I believe both MS and Google have made public statements about moving to 24/7 green power. Maybe not entirely on air, though there is some of that, but on solar and hydro as well.

 

[Facism]

God I love it when companies remove choice.

/s

also lmao at "bUt ThE PlAnEt" like any choice you make is going to change things.

 

[MikeM]

I wouldn't class games stuck in the UWP wrapper as PC games.

Yeah I don’t know what any of that means. All I know is that the game has settings adjustments just like anything else I have bought off Steam.

 

[PaintTinJr]

Based on what exactly?

Again, a lot of physical game boxes are sold today without any physical media inside. As long as it’s labeled properly there’s no legal issue.

This is giving me flashbacks of the ABK thread.

Because absent the acquisition this was never happening for a high risk, new AAA IP from a company financially struggling and wanting to capture every sale possible.

It is only resulted in an anti-consumer situation because the EU approved the acquisition of a mega publisher, and had this been listed as an issue, remedies would have been sought.

 

[reforen]

So a steelbox with a code in the Constellation Edition?
This is just making it weirder.

Seems to be a practice now, some of the latest collector's edition don't have a disc, the game is a digital code

 

[Sub_Level]

Only standard version will have a physical disc

Muchos gracias por setting the record straight Bethesda Espanol.

 

[Hudo]

Stop buying plastic that ends up in our oceans. We don't need more plastic. What a fucking waste of resources.

Fuck the oceans, I want my clutter.

Best manual ever:

 

[X-Wing]

It will most likely have a disc and it was just a mistake by whomever answered that question. It's on the tweet btw.

 

[FrankWza]

Whoever thought of this has asked the question "do you do Netflix?"

 

[Topher]

Yeah I don’t know what any of that means. All I know is that the game has settings adjustments just like anything else I have bought off Steam.

Are you going to actually buy the game or play it off of Game Pass? You have an Xbox?

 

[GHG]

There are some DCs that run on green energy 24/7. Most of the major networks are already running 50% green and I believe both MS and Google have made public statements about moving to 24/7 green power. Maybe not entirely on air, though there is some of that, but on solar and hydro as well.

You might want to look into what "green" means and what the threshold for that definition is. As with many things, it's little more than a buzzword in many cases. The environmental impact of datacenters and cloud computing is a huge issue that is only accelerating as we become more reliant/dependant on those services.

As with many things, emissions just shift rather than become eradicated.

Yeah I don’t know what any of that means. All I know is that the game has settings adjustments just like anything else I have bought off Steam.

The problems begin the moment you want to start making any changes/adjustments to the games files. If you plan on modding the windows store version to the extent that you will be able to the normal PC version then good luck. As far as the windows store version of skyrim or fallout goes anything that involves or requires SKSE is a big fat no.

 

[SportsFan581]

It will most likely have a disc and it was just a mistake by whomever answered that question. It's on the tweet btw.

That's certainly a real possibility, probably the most realistic one. Support agent might have just said the wrong thing.

@ GHG I was just referring to electrical usage, that is true. Certainly the environmental impact of manufacturing the batteries/turbines/even the server racks etc. is another issue.

 

[Zuzu]

This is rubbish and it's so sad to see physical slowly passing away. Physical still has many positives. It increases competition and is often priced lower than digital versions. It can be resold and shared. It can be good for game preservation purposes and it can be good for gifting (like for giving a birthday gift).

With that said I would probably buy Starfield digitally because it's a Play Anywhere title so I could transfer the save between console and PC if I wanted to play on both some time in the future.

 

[twilo99]

Ultimately common sense prevails and physical copies will disappear so enjoy while you can.

 

[acm2000]

i mean MS uses 50GB discs so even if it comes with one it wont run, its likely a 75GB odd download on top

so a disc is kinda pointless

 

[Topher]

i mean MS uses 50GB discs so even if it comes with one it wont run, its likely a 75GB odd download on top

so a disc is kinda pointless

Not pointless when it comes to resale or trade.

 

[Drizzlehell]

Color me surprised.

 

[FrankWza]

Are you going to actually buy the game or play it off of Game Pass? You have an Xbox?

 

[Majormaxxx]

Good. They should just rip the bandage right off and make it 100% digital. If boxes only have a code in it then why even bother? It's a waste of materials. Just force everyone to buy it digitally!

Next gen is 100% going to be all digital and I can not wait!

Why can't you wait? Who forces you to buy discs? Bizarre

 

[Nydius]

Ultimately common sense prevails and physical copies will disappear so enjoy while you can.

Because removing options and being completely at the whim of corporate copyright and licensing is “common sense”.

Please, stop speaking. You’re polluting the world worse with your hot takes than any physical game manufacturing ever will.

 

[crazyriddler]

i mean MS uses 50GB discs so even if it comes with one it wont run, its likely a 75GB odd download on top

so a disc is kinda pointless

Why would it have to come on a single disc?

 

[Topher]

You're scaring me, man

 

[MikeM]

You might want to look into what "green" means and what the threshold for that definition is. As with many things, it's little more than a buzzword in many cases. The environmental impact of datacenters and cloud computing is a huge issue that is only accelerating as we become more reliant/dependant on those services.

As with many things, emissions just shift rather than become eradicated.



The problems begin the moment you want to start making any changes/adjustments to the games files. If you plan on modding the windows store version to the extent that you will be able to the normal PC version then good luck. As far as the windows store version of skyrim or fallout goes anything that involves or requires SKSE is a big fat no.

I never mod so that explains why I don’t see the difference. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[FrankWza]

You're scaring me, man

GP goes well with some fava beans and a nice chianti