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[JaseC]

Update (07/04): Confirmed to be partially true as WB will only be honouring physical pre-orders placed on or before March 30th.

-----ORIGINAL POST-----

The claim comes from the editor of GAF's favourite UK retailer, ShopTo, who says he was told by suppliers that there'll be no physical stock for Arkham Knight PC:

Arkham Knight is no longer being released on PC on Disc. Digital only.

@el_hatcherino Were told by our suppliers.

(Thanks to dex3108 for the heads-up.)

 

[Toki767]

Might want to tell all the retailers selling Arkham Knight CEs for PC.

 

[darkness_s]

I didn't even know they still released PC games physically.

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Isn't this how folks get it way cheaper at release in Europe? That sucks if so, especially for a release as big as Batman.

 

[MetalSlug]

The one PC game I've pre-ordered physically as well... no problem, I will just get it on Steam.

 

[InfiniteCombo]

In the age of Steam, GOG, GMG, etc, do people still buy physical games for PC?

 

[yatesl]

Physical copies still sell in mainland Europe, despite being Steam keys.

 

[bomblord1]

There's really no point when even the "physical editions" are just a disc that installs the game and then connects you to the same online service as if you downloaded it.

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

Aww! I wanted to smell the manual

 

[Tampler]

There's really no point when even the "physical editions" are just a disc that installs the game and then connects you to the same online service as if you downloaded it.

Except in most cases, it's cheaper, and is a big help for those on slow Internet connections or Connections with download caps.

I myself am stuck on a 1.8Mb connection, with no signs of upgrading, so I rely a lot on physical disks.

 

[KainXVIII]

Aww! I wanted to smell the manual

Digital manual?

 

[Kezen]

The claim comes from the editor of GAF's favourite UK retailer, ShopTo, who says he was told by suppliers that there'll be no physical stock for Arkham Knight PC:




(Thanks to dex3108 for the heads-up.)

Maybe it only applies to the UK ? Amazon Fr has the physical edition in stock.

 

[Dynomutt]

Might want to tell all the retailers selling Arkham Knight CEs for PC.

What's if it's all of the CE items and a digital code for the game? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

 

[fredrancour]

There's really no point when even the "physical editions" are just a disc that installs the game and then connects you to the same online service as if you downloaded it.

If you lived in a place with atrocious internet speed or harsh bandwidth caps, then installing off a disc would sound much more significant.

 

[Daedardus]

There's really no point when even the "physical editions" are just a disc that installs the game and then connects you to the same online service as if you downloaded it.

PC games are usually £10 cheaper than their overpriced digital alternatives, even though the case is only a download code. Silly that a good that has a larger actual overhead still costs less than one without.

 

[LiK]

Code in box

 

[JaseC]

Maybe it only applies to the UK ? Amazon Fr has the physical edition in stock.

Quite possibly, but the game is still a few months away so a retailer's stock status isn't exactly proof to the contrary.

 

[injurai]

Aww! I wanted to smell the manual

I've had to resort to huffing toner.

 

[Seanspeed]

If you lived in a place with atrocious internet speed or harsh bandwidth caps, then installing off a disc would sound much more significant.

If the entire game was on the disc, then sure. But its usually just a glorified key.

 

[Carlius]

good, the physical on pc just brings no money, its the digital. get on with it. physical on pc needs to die.

 

[Netherscourge]

Steam or Die.

 

[batman2million]

I remember the last time I got a physical disc on PC - it just ended up downloading the digital version.

 

[FoneBone]

Physical copies still sell in mainland Europe, despite being Steam keys.

I was never really clear on why that was the case - download caps?

 

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

In the age of Steam, GOG, GMG, etc, do people still buy physical games for PC?

Data caps, shitty speed, or both.

Also, it sometimes costs less.

 

[Kezen]

Quite possibly, but the game is still a few months away so a retailer's stock status isn't exactly proof to the contrary.

You are right it might change, I'm one of the last few who still buy physical PC games because my internet is very stable but slow (1.5mb typical download on Steam).
I'd really like to completely abandon the physical format though, digital is just soo much more convenient.

 

[KHlover]

I remember the last time I got a physical disc on PC - it just ended up downloading the digital version.

Same, got Portal 2 on DVD for christmas a few years ago. Klicked "Install" and it just downloaded the game on Steam XD

 

[Hamster Plugin]

I was never really clear on why that was the case - download caps?

Digital downloads are horribly overpriced in Europe for reasons unknown. Retail is always cheaper, on both consoles and PC.

 

[Auto-Reply]

In the age of Steam, GOG, GMG, etc, do people still buy physical games for PC?

The bigger they get (games), the more I feel tempted to return to discs so that I not rely that much on my crappy internet conecction.

 

[JaseC]

You are right it might change, I'm one of the last few who still buy physical PC games because my internet is very stable but slow (1.5mb typical download on Steam).
I'd really like to completely abandon the physical format though, digital is just soo much more convenient.

I know your pain: 1.5Mb was the maximum widely-available ADSL speed here in Australia up until late 2006 or so.

 

[Arafo]

I was never really clear on why that was the case - download caps?

Physical version is usually cheaper than digital counterpart.

 

[Kandrick]

In the age of Steam, GOG, GMG, etc, do people still buy physical games for PC?

PC games shelves are as big as PS4/Xbox one here in certain shops. And in others, it still has pretty good space.

 

[Megasoum]

In other news, Warner Brothers finally realized we were in 2015.

Good news

 

[Arsenic13]

But I like physical copies....

Not many of us left.

 

[Polk]

I was never really clear on why that was the case - download caps?

I haven't heard about data caps in Poland (not counting mobile internet of course) in this millenium.
I think it's about "owning". Not to mention physical releases are way cheaper here in Poland.
Pillars of Eternity on Steam costs 42 euro vs in store 34 euro.
Mortal Kombat X 50 vs 36 euro.

 

[stan423321]

I can bet 5€ that it will release as a Steam key with discs box here in Poland.

I should probably not warn anybody thinking they could win this bet that Vanishing of Ethan Carter released as a box here too.

 

[Kandrick]

I can bet 5€ that it will release as a Steam key with discs box here in Poland.

I should probably not warn anybody thinking they could win this bet that Vanishing of Ethan Carter released as a box here too.

Lots of indie games are released at retail, things like Super Meat Boy, etc.

 

[curiouscharles]

uh, they release PC games physically still?

haven't been able to buy a single PC release in the past year at a store...

 

[KillerMan91]

I was never really clear on why that was the case - download caps?

As far as I know European countries generally have a lot better internet connections than US (We haven't had data caps ever here in Finland). It's mostly about the price. Day one retail is cheaper than digital for 99% of the times. At least if you just buy from the Steam and compare it to retail price.

 

[patapuf]

uh, they release PC games physically still?

haven't been able to buy a single PC release in the past year at a store...

If you live in mainland europe PC shelves are still as big as console shelves.

 

[Kezen]

If you live in mainland europe PC shelves are still as big as console shelves.

Not where I live, PC shelves are almost empty save for the very big releases. It's easily 1/5 of one console's space.

 

[BPoole]

I haven't bought a physical PC game since Skyrim. I don't think there's a large enough market monday to justify it

 

[patapuf]

Not where I live, PC shelves are almost empty save for the very big releases. It's easily 1/5 of one console's space.

I'm in switzerland, i guess it could be different in shouthern europe and france but i know it's similar in germany and eastwards.

 

[ClaptoVaughn]

I have the other Arkham games on Steam so I would have done the same for this, anyways.

I guess they're not offering any physical goodies/toys for the pc version? I never get that stuff but I imagine there'd be a lot of people who would get a special edition that comes with a Batmobile or something.

 

[jwk94]

I didn't even know they still released PC games physically.

Wow, neither did I.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Aww! I wanted to smell the manual

Sarcasm? We don't get manuals anymore. We hardly get pamphlets. The standard edition for Dragon Age came with nothing but the disc and cover art, and on the inside cover was the manual. lol

They really are trying to cut corners this generation.

 

[Nzyme32]

I have a 300kb/s connection at the moment - and I still don't buy retail. Since moving to where I am now with this connection, I've planned around that download time since more often than not, I simply don't care about having to wait a day or more for the download to complete since I am pretty busy anyway. Most of the larger games have had preloads that negate this pretty well; I'd assume Batman Arkham would have a preload

 

[Currygan]

eh, ok then, wasn't planning to buy a boxed copy

 

[Kezen]

I have a 300kb/s connection at the moment - and I still don't buy retail. Since moving to where I am now with this connection, I've planned around that download time since more often than not, I simply don't care about having to wait a day or more for the download to complete since I am pretty busy anyway. Most of the larger games have had preloads that negate this pretty well; I'd assume Batman Arkham would have a preload

And probably a compressed download as well.

 

[Woo-Fu]

If you lived in a place with atrocious internet speed or harsh bandwidth caps, then installing off a disc would sound much more significant.

His point is that you don't really install from disc, even if there is a disc in the case.

Example: XCOM: Enemy Within is a 7GB expansion. You install a tiny stub off the physical disc and then it downloads 7GB from Steam.

 

[Veritigo_X]

I'm surprised they still make physical copies of PC games outside of collector's editions.