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[mckmas8808]

You can still sell it

 

[AmuroChan]

i wouldnt want to buy more expensive hardware by including parts that you and other 11 prople care about.

I don't think you'll need to. PS5 Pro showed that. My guess is next gen, the standard SKU will have no disc drive, but if you want one you can buy an optional addon drive.

 

[TGO]

It's a good question. Still enough physical market share to justify it would be the most obvious answer. Even a low percentage for a franchise that sells multiple millions would bring back plenty of money to make up for the expenses, I would think. Not sure what else there is. Perhaps retail incentives? No clue really.

Which reminds me I need to pick up those physical disc versions

 

[Goalus]

Makes a lot of sense.

 

[Fabieter]

I don't think you'll need to. PS5 Pro showed that. My guess is next gen, the standard SKU will have no disc drive, but if you want one you can buy an optional addon drive.

I dont think Sony will ever change this at all. They will sell 4k blue rays for years to come and its nice to have that option with their console. We might see less physical releases but I doubt they will stop giving the option completely.

 

[Dr Bass]

I will be done with gaming and finish my transition to movie only collecting. On the movie front we have plenty of boutique releases in place of standard studio releases. I worry more about lack of quality 4K blu ray players as brands exit the market and existing brands rarely put out new hardware.

This is the kind of response I don't understand. You'll stop playing games if they are delivered only over a wire vs a chunk of plastic?

Isn't the important part what happens when you, you know, start the game up?

 

[consoul]

The year is 2025.

Microsoft Game Studios only produce discs for PlayStation 5. Even those discs are only keys, containing no game content.

Third-party publishers on Nintendo's Switch 2 platform are distributing otherwise empty cartridges containing only a key.

Sony still publish games on disc, but are selling Collector's Editions with download codes only, as the majority of their consoles now ship without a disc drive.

The physical era is over.

 

[Fabieter]

This is the kind of response I don't understand. You'll stop playing games if they are delivered only over a wire vs a chunk of plastic?

Isn't the important part what happens when you, you know, start the game up?

It's part of the experience for some people. Its easy as that. People gain nothing over digital only, so why should everyone be pleased by less options.

 

[yogaflame]

I dont think Sony will ever change this at all. They will sell 4k blue rays for years to come and its nice to have that option with their console. We might see less physical releases but I doubt they will stop giving the option completely.

That is why I believe Ps6 will still have two versions on launch, digital and with discdrive.

 

[Fabieter]

That is why I believe Ps6 will still have two versions on launch, digital and with discdrive.

They would be stupid not to they will even make a nice profit on every drive sold.

 

[yogaflame]

The year is 2025.

Microsoft Game Studios only produce discs for PlayStation 5. Even those discs are only keys, containing no game content.

Third-party publishers on Nintendo's Switch 2 platform are distributing otherwise empty cartridges containing only a key.

Sony still publish games on disc, but are selling Collector's Editions with download codes only, as the majority of their consoles now ship without a disc drive.

The physical era is over.

 

[HYDE]

It's pretty much a guarantee that the next Xbox will be digital only, so be prepared, folks.

Are you sure there will be a next box

 

[xrnzaaas]

It's a shame that Sony never introduced a rule that a playable build of the game must be included on the disc. I'm not going to buy any of Microsoft's new PS5 releases if they'll be sold as launchers.

 

[Plies]

Are you sure there will be a next box

Does the Pope shit in the woods?

 

[Three]

This is the kind of response I don't understand. You'll stop playing games if they are delivered only over a wire vs a chunk of plastic?

Isn't the important part what happens when you, you know, start the game up?

A lot of people rely on buying and selling games to fund their hobby, others rely on gamefly and the like to experience expensive games, some enjoy the physical collection of rare/vintage games they acquire over the years more than playing the game itself. All of those who rely on this for their hobby would likely be deterred from continuing if physical disappeared. Evrybody is different.

 

[m14]

I dont think Sony will ever change this at all. They will sell 4k blue rays for years to come and its nice to have that option with their console. We might see less physical releases but I doubt they will stop giving the option completely.

Hopefully that's not dependent on sales figures for their own movies.

 

[Unknown?]

It's part of the experience for some people. Its easy as that. People gain nothing over digital only, so why should everyone be pleased by less options.

Not to mention, without a disc drive, you can kiss any hope of PS1/2/3 backwards compatibility goodbye.

 

[HYDE]

Does the Pope shit in the woods?

With a disc drive. Also no one will buy it

 

[TKOFromTokyo]

This is the kind of response I don't understand. You'll stop playing games if they are delivered only over a wire vs a chunk of plastic?

Isn't the important part what happens when you, you know, start the game up?

Yep, I have plenty of games to play without needing to download them.

Sure, the point of gaming is playing the games, but if I don't like the way the hobby has shifted in limiting users' ability to physically posses their games, then I can move on. I enjoy the fact that I can go into my collection and legally play a random game like Gun Nac for the NES whenever I feel like it. There is not that same guarantee with digital console games.

 

[Fabieter]

Hopefully that's not dependent on sales figures for their own movies.

Sony also has alot of catalogue movies still selling so I dont think it's a problem.

 

[Goalus]

It's a shame that Sony never introduced a rule that a playable build of the game must be included on the disc. I'm not going to buy any of Microsoft's new PS5 releases if they'll be sold as launchers.

From your perspective they'll still be Xbox exclusives then.

 

[xrnzaaas]

From your perspective they'll still be Xbox exclusives then.

*Game Pass titles to play "for free"

 

[Dacvak]

It sucks, but it's gonna happen with Sony and Nintendo soon enough, too.

We'll survive. Most other entertainment mediums have gone primarily digital at this point. It sucks in terms of personal ownership, but I'm not worried about preservation. We luckily live in an age where everything is backed up, and the moment something is no longer available digitally, enthusiasts will find a way (legal or not) to consume that media.

I'm making a lot of broad statements, though, and there are probably specific instances I'm not thinking about.

 

[Puscifer]

Did everyone suddenly forget what happened with Xbox One? This was the plan all along.

 

[Fabieter]

It sucks, but it's gonna happen with Sony and Nintendo soon enough, too.

We'll survive. Most other entertainment mediums have gone primarily digital at this point. It sucks in terms of personal ownership, but I'm not worried about preservation. We luckily live in an age where everything is backed up, and the moment something is no longer available digitally, enthusiasts will find a way (legal or not) to consume that media.

I'm making a lot of broad statements, though, and there are probably specific instances I'm not thinking about.

Well as long as streaming offers shitty bittates for movies and shows I sure hope physical never leaves the table.

Its like a generation ahead if you watch a good 4k blue ray compared to streaming.

 

[AREYOUOKAY?]

So great the only way you can get physical games for Xbox now is basically Limited Run and Sega who are usually good about printing physical Xbox games? I only hope that Ninja Gaiden 4 will release on the Switch 2 in the future.

Microsoft's Phil Spencer on Xbox growth, recent job cuts and the future of games on discs

Plus: A brief chat with legendary Nintendo composer Koji Kondo

www.gamefile.news

 

[ArtHands]

Make sense, since everyone's heading to digital now. Even Nintendo is pushing for it.

Physical console people might want to find a new hobby soon.

 

[Rusty Shackelford]

If both next generation consoles are digital only, then it's purely PC for me then. But I can totally see MS being only digital while the PS6 will have a version with a disc drive though, because hey, MS and their brilliant ideas ..... That will be the final nail in the Xbox coffin. They're out of the console business at that point.

 

[ReasonBeing]

The only people who will support this philosophy are shills and apologists. Reasonable people will always want the choice of both physical and digital media.

But it's okay. I will continue to not pay full price for digital games. I will wait for 50% or more off. I'll go to shite GameStop and buy a used physical copy from them first. I'd rather support their shitty business model if I have to choose a shitty business model.

There is a large portion that may not support the directive, but just not care. I like the idea of physical, but all my retro consoles have a USB or HDD attached full of my "rips" and I use remote play too often to invest in a physical version of a game.

 

[Fake]

What a sad end.

 

[Judge Magister]

This is inevitable... Isn't it?

 

[Soren01]

How will selling a used game work in this model?

 

[Codes 208]

I feel like Ive brought this up before in a very similar thread but yeah, I felt this was inevitable. The walmart I work at dropped xbox games from 15 slots (which was already low compared to playstation's 48 slot and Nintendo's 100, plus 15~ S2 games) to a measley 8…

Eight. We only have 8 physical games now, and most of the new releases weve been getting for the better part of the past year have been almost exclusively ps5 and/or switch

I cant speak for every walmart but Ive heard many of them are going to be retracting xbox games in favor of an extra cabinet for nintendo.

 

[Moriarty1889]

Sadly, it's been their plan since the Xbox One was first unveiled

 

[AREYOUOKAY?]

How will it work to sell a used game in this model?

 

[Ozzie666]

Not sure this move would work so well for Playstation. But since Xbox doesn't sell well in many countries, they could potentially get away with digital only. Plenty of places in the world with shit internet where physical games are still needed.

But gaming is truly dead.

 

[Mattyp]

The implosion of Xbox as a brand has been incredible to watch over the last 5 years.

There is nothing they won't do to push Game Pass as much as possible, and when this doesn't work either Microsoft will have to decide whether to just be a publisher of all these expensive developers they've acquired, or sell them and cut their losses.

Makes more money then ever before 'implosion' lol.

 

[schaft0620]

The year is 2025.

Microsoft Game Studios only produce discs for PlayStation 5. Even those discs are only keys, containing no game content.

Third-party publishers on Nintendo's Switch 2 platform are distributing otherwise empty cartridges containing only a key.

Sony still publish games on disc, but are selling Collector's Editions with download codes only, as the majority of their consoles now ship without a disc drive.

The physical era is over.

The year is 2025:

Nintendo just launched the new Mario Kart, when you insert the cartridge, no update required. The same can be said with the two Zelda games. Oh and CDPR had the #1 selling third party Switch 2 game because it came compete on disc. Sega is eating shit right now for not following their lead.

Amazon has an exclusive version of the Final Fantasy Tactics remake, the definitive edition to add to your library forever.

IOI re-released all three current-gen Hitman games on disc. Crystal did the same for Soul Reaver and Gex. Not to forget about Tony Hawk and Marvel VS Capcom.

The physical era is back baby.

 

[ArtHands]

It's a shame that Sony never introduced a rule that a playable build of the game must be included on the disc. I'm not going to buy any of Microsoft's new PS5 releases if they'll be sold as launchers.

Because Sony themselves is also in on the digital push. There is a reason why they are the only platform that doesn't sell digital game on 3rd party retailers.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

As are 90% of consumers, going by sales figures.

Not true and only partially true depending on the platform.

 

[MikeM]

Xbox play anywhere makes sense and is in line with the death of physical from their side. Still hate it.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Man, PC gaming used to be incredible, games at launch that you couldn't dream of running on a console

And you got awesome manuals back then too. Well, to be fair a good chunk of it could be Install/Troubleshooting sections (lol), but you got lengthy manuals, maps, and cheat sheets. In some of those early Heroes of M&M games they came with a big laminated sheet showing all the creature stats.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Planogram at a BestBuy last week.
PlayStation had a two isle facer and Nintendo has three isles including their new Switch 2 isle.

Xbox physical media had 1/2 of a 4ft section with 3 elite controllers and some headsets in lock up beneath the physical games.

There was a four foot section header for CoD but no games…only a few pre-paid cards.

 

[kapshin]

This is inevitable... Isn't it?

No it won't we still have boxed PC games everywhere! Notice how no one complains about Steam but consoles people act like the same result isn't on the brink. The companies aren't going to change, let it go. I don't like it either but it is what it is.

 

[Nydius]

How will selling a used game work in this model?

It won't.

Unlike physical media (even Nintendo's Game Cards), there is no consumer right in copyright law to transfer or resell a fully digital license. It's another reason companies want to do this. It finally kills the resale market, making their storefronts the only shop in town. It also kills rental services (e.g. GameFly) leaving only their own subscription services to fill the rental void.

 

[DeepEnigma]

<--- Original alpha test of Star Wars Galaxies for Alpha 1 that came on 7 CDs

Fun times going through the entire install process only to get an error on disc 5 or 6 and have to restart

Still have my alpha testers kit stored somewhere in all my old gaming stuff

Still got my free collector's boxes as well. Good times.

 

[Gambit2483]

Make sense, since everyone's heading to digital now. Even Nintendo is pushing for it.

Physical console people might want to find a new hobby soon.

Nintendo isn't "pushing" for digital. They are allowing publishers to still release games "physically" on the system even if the file sizes are too big.

Also If game cards were less expensive this wouldn't even be an issue on Switch 2

 

[SomeNorseGuy]

The writing has been on the wall for quite some time now, the end of physical media is getting closer year by year.

The question I ask myself now is which platform lets me easily backup my digital games. Which platform will easily give access to user run servers after publishers shut down official ones. What platform lets the userbase install community made patches to fix lazy developers games. What platform can theoretically play every game from every other platform, past and present.

Whatever that platform is, that's where I'll spend most of my money. If I'm not supposed to own my games anymore then I sure as hell will choose the one who's the most consumer friendly.

 

[Camper182]

And the games that DO release physical on PS5 will just hold a license, and you need internet to download the actual game. Just like Doom the dark ages.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

And the games that DO release physical on PS5 will just hold a license, and you need internet to download the actual game. Just like Doom the dark ages.

And I doubt that would have happened if not for the acquisition.