They are so afraid of us owning anything.

CornyOCThey are so afraid of us owning anything.

When was the last time people actually owned something?
That had to be back with the cartridge days, and ever since then, it's been going downhill

As was mentioned, pretty much everything these days needs a day-0 patch to actually work, so having a physical copy 50 years from now won't work "as is" anyway

I don't see a good solution to this problem without going back in time, everything is a rental now, even the hardware itself, while you "own" it, Sony (or...) can ban the console, and then you're SOL

AthenaWhen was the last time people actually owned something?
That had to be back with the cartridge days, and ever since then, it's been going downhill

As was mentioned, pretty much everything these days needs a day-0 patch to actually work, so having a physical copy 50 years from now won't work "as is" anyway

I don't see a good solution to this problem without going back in time, everything is a rental now, even the hardware itself, while you "own" it, Sony (or...) can ban the console, and then you're SOL

I think the last days when you could actually own a console game was PS2 and original Xbox era, no internet need to play games.
With almost every game needing a day 0 patch and a day 1 update to fix a rushed buggy mess, the only way to own games is to get a full copy of the game saved to the SSD that doesn't require a subscription or internet to play. But of course Sony and Microsoft doesn't want anyone to own anything.

AthenaWhen was the last time people actually owned something?
That had to be back with the cartridge days, and ever since then, it's been going downhill

As was mentioned, pretty much everything these days needs a day-0 patch to actually work, so having a physical copy 50 years from now won't work "as is" anyway

I don't see a good solution to this problem without going back in time, everything is a rental now, even the hardware itself, while you "own" it, Sony (or...) can ban the console, and then you're SOL

Hecate91I think the last days when you could actually own a console game was PS2 and original Xbox era, no internet need to play games.
With almost every game needing a day 0 patch and a day 1 update to fix a rushed buggy mess, the only way to own games is to get a full copy of the game saved to the SSD that doesn't require a subscription or internet to play. But of course Sony and Microsoft doesn't want anyone to own anything.

Wrong. Ace Combat 7, from 2019, is fully playable on disk with no internet access and no patching needed. The vast majority of PS3/360 era games also worked without patching.

In fact, ReviewTechUsa got in some major hot water for making the same claims you guys are, then immediately getting proven wrong and refusing to pay up on the bet.

Makes me wonder, when is the last time you guys actually BOUGHT a physical copy of a game? I didnt have high speed internet as a kid, yet my 360 and ps3 worked perfectly fine.....

Game preservation has been a massive worry of mine since the inception of Steam more than 20 years ago. It took a good while for someone to address this, but I'm glad that it's being addressed. Better late than never.

@TheinsanegamerN, iirc Kirby and the forgotten land on the original Switch not only came entirely on a physical cartridge, but was launched at version 1.0.0 and never recieved or needed an update until the switch 2 came out and there was an upgrade to the switch 2 edition with DLC. Admittedly a rarity but still, that was 2022. I'd need to check if the switch 2 edition cartridge that contains the DLC came in the same state, but a cursory check indicates yes and that came out in August 2025.

GOG; own your games.

Still gotta DL them on GOG no??
As long as you dont lose your PS, Xboox, Steam WHATEVER account, you own any game you purchase.
Imagine having a 100k+ collection and your house burning down....yeah xtreme example but its possible.
BTW, Its the internet era... games are 'preserved' ...

RetroGabeStill gotta DL them on GOG no??
As long as you dont lose your PS, Xboox, Steam WHATEVER account, you own any game you purchase.
Imagine having a 100k+ collection and your house burning down....yeah xtreme example but its possible.
BTW, Its the internet era... games are 'preserved' ...

Technically, you don't own any of them on your PS, Xboox, Steam WHATEVER account. You own the licence that gives you permissions to play it, not ownership. Big difference.

And no, I'm not supporting it, I also hate it so much that it's "licence to play" rather than ownership... It's screwed up.

Let's see, true digital ownership:
- Will count as an independent legal binding that access to a copy of the edited item is brought "as is" and permanent, so as long as the ower proves its ownership (akin to books, you do buy the edition at the time).
- No dependency in the form of a variable availability medium, such as a network connection, a server or a content platform to access and consume the content at will.
- For first access, it is understood that redundant means to download the content are a responsability of the provider and should the provider cease to operate, the IP can be acquired by a second party and resume the distribution of the content in it's existing form.
- Universal usage, there by being that where the intended usage format exist, there will be no propietary platforms in this format to use the content ("platform exclusives", "having to pay for every new storefront/service".)
- Storage of a copy of a digital title in a medium outside of the platform is possible and allowed, using commonly available media formats ("servicing", "using removable media, consuming it in different systems").
- Sharing the content doesn't constitute a transfer of the title and the ownership remains with the entity sharing it (i.e. "not a sale").
- Sharing isn't limited in the number of events or of individuals accessing the content by sharing, pertaining that the content is still the property of the title owner ("having a serial number to identify the title", "a copy is immutable").
- Resale of a title is possible if the current owner can provide the content in full, unaltered. And post-completion of the transaction, the prior title owner will proceed in agreement that any access to the content is not a right anymore as a fact.

See, keeping it general.
8 major guidelines (or rules) that don't apply just to video games. Maybe GoG fills in the criteria, Bandcamp... But regarding shows and movies, forget it.
And like stuff bought up until, I don't know, 2015... If you owned it, nobody would question you.
I guess SOPA/PIPA are very alive and well and the DMCA protected companies really don't like that individuals own copies of stuff that was made for enjoyment without making them exceedingly wealthy. All of those entities couldn't be happier.

Yeah its not easy or 'fun' to own a huge collection of hard copy games.
You need to catalogue them, store them somewhere, insure them, SECURE the valuable ones and then if they burn down you MIGHT get a payout you wont get the game back.
Its just basically a 'backup' incase you need money.
And then selling them isnt the easiest thing either, especially the rare ones.
Lots of variables involved, you dont really want to advertise to the world what you have and its not like you can display them like a museum.

Digital copies are just so much easier lol.
Oh and if you only live in a flat / appartment or sharing with people ... good luck.

As a 'senior gamer', I feel like I'm being forced out of the market by this change of direction, enough is enough, and I'm not alone. I think Sony and Microsoft are making a fatal mistake because this will cause them to lose a significant segment of their customer base.

faquinoAs a 'senior gamer', I feel like I'm being forced out of the market by this change of direction, enough is enough, and I'm not alone. I think Sony and Microsoft are making a fatal mistake because this will cause them to lose a significant segment of their customer base.

In this country, it is said: "Adversity sharpens the ingenuity." But I know that this isn't limited to national borders. :D
I don't have the knowledge, but I'm just waiting for random individuals to crack open the PSN and XBGP ecosystem and rip the content into offline format, plus good-old jailbreaking the consoles even if that means that the serials get "banned from the online platform" because:

1. Multiplayer is over the Internet, period. Any MP barrier between platforms is artificial.
2. Dedicated servers can be created over P2P, thus being decentralized. For one example, Burnout Paradise originally did not require EA dedicated servers. You'd transperantly self-host your session, having just one reference address to broadcast it first. The netcode worked really good, especially for crappy connections (I mean, 28.8kbps over ISDN-DSL, no). Otherwise, there's the 1996-2010 method of hosting a dedicated server for games and slap a TeamSpeak there as well for good measure. Back then, you'd be the GOAT to have a 2nd computer powerful enough to run the dedi server, plus your own computer to game. Today? I bet a Raspberry Pi or your NAS could host the dedi server alone while you play on a computer.
3. If the service sucks, what's to lose, really?
   1. The hardware is still very ok not to waste.
4. It's more likely to turn the now x86-64 based consoles to any other OS than before. That means they can all be potentially converted to Bazzite, for example.
   1. I know, I know, the EFI on those isn't the same and drivers don't exist as we speak. That didn't stop the concept, like Codemasters did with the Game Genie. It just requires...uhm, motivation!

TheinsanegamerNWrong. Ace Combat 7, from 2019, is fully playable on disk with no internet access and no patching needed. The vast majority of PS3/360 era games also worked without patching.

In fact, ReviewTechUsa got in some major hot water for making the same claims you guys are, then immediately getting proven wrong and refusing to pay up on the bet.

Makes me wonder, when is the last time you guys actually BOUGHT a physical copy of a game? I didnt have high speed internet as a kid, yet my 360 and ps3 worked perfectly fine.....

Yeah, kids nowadays absolutely have no ideea how to have physical copy of games, with booklets, maps, etc
I do have my full collection which works flawlesly:
DeusEx 1/2, Unreal 1/2, Descent 1/2, Diablo 1/2, StarCraft, Warcraft 2/3, Descent: FreeSpace 1/2, Star Wars games, ROTT, One Must Fall, Mortal Kombat 1/2/3/4, Quake 1/2/3, Monkey Island series, all Command & Conquer games, Max Payne 1/2/3, Mafia 1/2, GTA 1/2/3, FEAR 1/2, Half Life 1/2, GP 2/3/4, NFS 1/2/3/4/etc...

Cpt.JankFollowing the recent controversial announcement that Sony will no longer be making physical games media for new games as of early 2027

I am utterly confused;

physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028.

Source

boidsonlyGOG; own your games.

Games that had DRM removed after release could also be found on Steam. See, for example,
*Batman: Arkham Knight*.

The base game is DRM-free when launched directly from the game executable.

Source

Let it be mentioned, at least in passing.

Regards,
Fred.

faquinoAs a 'senior gamer', I feel like I'm being forced out of the market by this change of direction, enough is enough, and I'm not alone. I think Sony and Microsoft are making a fatal mistake because this will cause them to lose a significant segment of their customer base.

PC gaming wasn't hurt by going fully digital, even though many of us were and still are on the same opinion as you. We are the minority unfortunately. Never underestimate people's ability and willingness to be sheep.

they sure know what they are doing.

Except licenses which came with amd hardware purchases or amazon prime I never bought any digital games.

No box means no fun. And no fun unpacking and reading the paper manual. the high average sale price of games allow even more usb sticks in a paper box with manuals.

Those electronic stores need certain operating systems only, certain operating system versions and certain hardware to even run in the first place for a digital license.

I never bought a console, and I will never do. that stuff belongs to the pc as physical media or as temporarily free epic game of the week. For free games I judge it differently, it is free, therefore they can remove it at any time in the future. Like Ubisoft did with the Crew game, free giveaway game and than later removed

-- I did the same, not by choice, but it happened that way, with physical music. no discs, later there were no shops with discs which lead to no music purchase in years. music should be also in flac + mp3 format without drm on usb sticks in store with a box. When it is a high quality usb stick, not a trash one, than it will sell at some point in time when someone needs an usb stick

boidsonlyGOG; own your games.

Certain games do not run. They do not test those games or fix the long term issues, even in w11 pro they do not run. Can not safe, open etc.

gog begs too much for money which annoys me. gog has the advantage it gets audience and public views with the paid amazon prime game store.

yesterday i got a captcha because i activated more than 3 amazon prime games per hand when logged in my gog.com account on the website. i bought a week of amazon primes a few hours ago.

AthenaWhen was the last time people actually owned something?
That had to be back with the cartridge days, and ever since then, it's been going downhill

As was mentioned, pretty much everything these days needs a day-0 patch to actually work, so having a physical copy 50 years from now won't work "as is" anyway

I don't see a good solution to this problem without going back in time, everything is a rental now, even the hardware itself, while you "own" it, Sony (or...) can ban the console, and then you're SOL

I’ve been telling people the same thing. This is just one of the more obvious signs of a situation that’s been present for nearly 20 years now. This really doesn’t change much at this point as it’s been a while since a PlayStation disc really means much.

Here’s something for a bit of amusement:
Microsoft GitHub is burning free CDs of your public code to troll PlayStation, and Xbox should take notes.

GitHub’s X post reads: “We heard you. And we agree. In light of recent developments in physical media, GitHub is proud to announce that you can now obtain your public repo on CD-ROM. Keep it. Lend it to friends. Pass it on to your children. Your code is physically yours, forever. Until you lose it—let’s be real.”

In my opinion, physical media hasn't made sense from an economic standpoint for quite some time now—at least not when it comes to games. With other media like music and movies—which I could easily play even in the next life—the situation is different, at least to my mind. And let’s be honest: aside from the economic aspect, isn't it just much more convenient? By the way, the last game I bought on disc was the Limited Edition of *Forza Motorsport 5*. I’m holding onto it—for whatever reason.

Regards,
Fred.

My feeds are festered with that reaction coming from several origins:

1. Actual gamers + collectors (so, the ones buying and enjoying games).
2. <Insert App here>-er trying to get clout due to the drama (that would be otherwise just playing an online-service game).
3. Companies from the same corporation that is pushing for streaming-only content at a premium.
4. Other companies that aren't even related to video gaming, or Playstation, but feed penetration is a KPI.
5. GoG.

I find predictable and sad that social media managers/external actors working for the companies pushing the very same "licensing" services have almost in unison started a "make fun of it" campaign which achieves always the same thing, dismissing the importance of it and why reacting now to Playstation (and not sooner to all of them) still matters, when the bigger push comes at a moment of a higher valuation of a good, not to mention the investment needed, that for the next Sony console, we're being announced +$1000 to then own nothing on it (i.e. it's also valid for netflix, hbo max, disney+, etc. but the cost for entry is lower, no matter what).

let's bring back games on tape ! cpc 464 , my beloved 😍 . Just a joke,ofc.

TheinsanegamerNWrong. Ace Combat 7, from 2019, is fully playable on disk with no internet access and no patching needed. The vast majority of PS3/360 era games also worked without patching.

In fact, ReviewTechUsa got in some major hot water for making the same claims you guys are, then immediately getting proven wrong and refusing to pay up on the bet.

Makes me wonder, when is the last time you guys actually BOUGHT a physical copy of a game? I didnt have high speed internet as a kid, yet my 360 and ps3 worked perfectly fine.....

I said THESE days, not from back in 2019...

Look at RECENT things, like Crimson Desert, that came on discs, and people went to install it, but, they COULD NOT PLAY IT, since it needed a day one patch to even run the game on the PS5

AthenaI said THESE days, not from back in 2019...

Look at RECENT things, like Crimson Desert, that came on discs, and people went to install it, but, they COULD NOT PLAY IT, since it needed a day one patch to even run the game on the PS5

DoesItPlay tracks games that are playable from disk, and even on the PS5 66% of the tested games work perfectly from the disk with another 16% being buggy, but still playable to the end. That still is a pretty significant number of games being playable completely offline with only the disk.
Games like Pragmata, RE Requiem, Silent Hill F, Lego Batman, Ghost of Yotei are some examples from the last year of games that are completely playable from the disk.
While there's a increasing amount of games that require patches and internet connection to work, there still are many games that have no issues working from the physical media alone.

I have zero love for physical games. None. But Louis Rossmann nailed it: physical games are worthless. Digital media is not your enemy, DRM is. The whole principle relies on the acceptance of DRM. Even the whole "resale of games" and "sharing with friends" argument relies on accepting the fact that DRM is imposed. The argument that you'd have to buy from the PlayStation Store? Again, DRM. Not digital media.

If you could copy and install your games at will, you wouldn't need to purchase them second-hand. Your friends could get a copy from you to try if they want to buy them for themselves. It's the GOG format, essentially.

What we should be fighting against is tightly controlled distribution and overzealous copy protection schemes.