Elder Legend
Banned
I think that was a rumor for a PS5 Slim, not for the Pro but not sure.
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Do you agree with Microsoft that physical media will die this generation?
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FunkMiller
Banned
Only if consumers are fucking dumb enough to let it die.
PropellerEar
Member
Hope not, I buy most of my games on disc.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Next gen, it'll die.
Elder Legend
Banned
I mean... if you look at statistics most people buying digitally. Does that mean every consumer is dumb?
TheUsual
Gold Member
I'd like it if there was an economically viable way to go to a cartridge system again and not disc based.
I can definitely see next gen for Sony and Microsoft having digital only boxes and a disc drive add on sold separately. Major titles get the physical release at launch and the collectors editions of smaller games as well having a physical, and probably higher cost, version.
When I can download faster than an installing off the disc, I will go that route almost all the time unless I got a deep discount off the physical version.
I've already been doing this with PC for the last 20 years. Retailers can probably fight back demanding to be able to sell game codes in place of disc games in exchange to stock the systems.
I can definitely see next gen for Sony and Microsoft having digital only boxes and a disc drive add on sold separately. Major titles get the physical release at launch and the collectors editions of smaller games as well having a physical, and probably higher cost, version.
When I can download faster than an installing off the disc, I will go that route almost all the time unless I got a deep discount off the physical version.
I've already been doing this with PC for the last 20 years. Retailers can probably fight back demanding to be able to sell game codes in place of disc games in exchange to stock the systems.
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nemiroff
Gold Member
Already looking pretty dead to me. I had no horse in this race though.
Edit: It just occured to me (...) that not everyone has access to fast internet like I do. I don't wish for anyone to lose practical access to games. But I mean, day one patches are sort of killing physical anyway, no?
Edit: It just occured to me (...) that not everyone has access to fast internet like I do. I don't wish for anyone to lose practical access to games. But I mean, day one patches are sort of killing physical anyway, no?
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RickMasters
Member
Pretty much what I been saying for the longest time. The data has been there for ages showing this trend. And now we are at the point where digital is the preferred way of owning games.
I do feel bad for people who love physical media as a lover of vynil but just like me….. you have to accept the change in times. Overall it's not going to affecc your experience playing games. And honestly At 38, the last thing I want to do is have to explain the wall of games to the women that come into my house. I love gaming but it's not like it's some hobby I put on display like my album collection. Lemme just hide it one sleek box and be done with it. I am not so enamoured with gaming that I feel a need to fight against any of the changes in what is essential a technology driven industry….. the main thing in tech industries is that constant state of change in both tech and the way the consumer consumes it. If I looked at games as art I could maybe feel that sense of attachment to the plastic it comes in. But I don't. I don't think most people feel that fluffy about physical games media anymore either for obvious reasons. That said….. I recall owning special editions of halo 3, mass effect, forza motorsport, bio shock ( what a year 2007 was) . But you get older and grow out of all that shit. The last time I bought physical games was in the x360 generation. As more games got a digital version I got those instead….. download to console and. Order a pizza while it installs. That convenience was a game changing moment for me because that's how I would button my big releases and smaller frames ever after.
Why waste gas money, and line up for a video game? Who even goes to game stores anymore? I'm ok to just buy the console and controllers/ accessories at my local supermarket ( eg. The walmarts and tescos of the world ) or just get those off Amazon too and not deal with shops at all. The consoles and Accories maybe because I can pick those up while doing a grocerie run in the exact same store. But I'm not bothering to go to a dedicated game store anymore. Those days are long gone.
Topher
Identifies as young
I wouldn't go that far, but at the same time I'm not understanding the appeal of buying digital licenses of a physical product that can be resold or traded at a significantly high percentage of the retail price. Console makers want digital only and for good reason. It eliminates competition from the used market. Gamers prefer digital due to the convenience. I think it is short-sighted even if it is inevitable.
Firestartah
Banned
Unfortunately I think this is the last gen with physical media.
Even worse, it might be the last gen where you actually own the game, like digitally, at least downloaded on your console. I'm afraid games will be mostly cloud-dependant, always-online so that if you got no net or their servers are shut down since publisher abandoned the game, they will literally be unplayable. Dark times ahead imho, gaming as we know it will cease to exist. But people will welcome it with cheers cause new games will have a bit better graphics. We deserve what's coming.
Even worse, it might be the last gen where you actually own the game, like digitally, at least downloaded on your console. I'm afraid games will be mostly cloud-dependant, always-online so that if you got no net or their servers are shut down since publisher abandoned the game, they will literally be unplayable. Dark times ahead imho, gaming as we know it will cease to exist. But people will welcome it with cheers cause new games will have a bit better graphics. We deserve what's coming.
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charles8771
Member
Does that include PC and mobile games?
How many sales were from consoles only
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Topher
Identifies as young
U.S. computer and video game sales - digital vs. physical 2018| Statista
In today’s increasingly digital world where information can be accessed in seconds, gamers do not want to waste a second before getting their hands on the latest releases.
www.statista.com
RoadHazard
Gold Member
This generation, no. Next, possibly. I would hate it, but we're obviously heading in that direction.
Except maybe Nintendo. I don't see them going fully digital anytime soon.
Except maybe Nintendo. I don't see them going fully digital anytime soon.
dem
Member
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charles8771
Member
If you exclude Mobile, PC games
U.S. computer and video game sales - digital vs. physical 2018| Statista
In today’s increasingly digital world where information can be accessed in seconds, gamers do not want to waste a second before getting their hands on the latest releases.
Its another story
The Wii for example never got full games with digital releases, as Wiiware had the file size limit of 40MBs
How many sales of consoles games from 2010 to 2018 were digital in percentage?
March Climber
Gold Member
GamesIndustry.biz presents… The Year In Numbers 2022
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
www.gamesindustry.biz
Mr Reasonable
Completely Unreasonable
Well, they mostly don't buy physical games...
Elder Legend
Banned
For me personally there are many reasons why i made the jump to digital:
1 - I can download and pre load the game before it launches which saves me time and gets me into the game immediately.
2 - I don't have to clutter shelves or my room with more boxes and conserve space for other important things or cool decorations
3 - I have been digital since 2019 and I have yet to experience any kind of weird theft or "the game is not truly yours anymore" fiasco. I have access to everything and anything that I've bought at any time I want.
But yes you are right console makers want to eliminate physical to save get rid of the used market for 1. Also, they won't have to worry about putting physical disc drives in future systems which allows them to put money into better hardware or Rae power instead. It's good for publishers also because save money on disc and cases productions and they can get higher profit margins.
The reality is, you (you as in people in general) will never make everyone happy. There is a positive and and a negative for everything. You may choose to support it and play games as you always did or just give up and quit gaming, but no one will really care because the statistics and the market has already spoken.
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Topher
Identifies as young
Fair points and I agree that the market is clearly heading in that direction. I'm too much of a gamer to give up my hobby so when it goes all digital eventually then I'll more than likely only game on PC since Valve has allowed the market to grow beyond its own ecosystem. I'm still holding out hope that PlayStation gives us a another generation of physical, but somehow I don't see Jim Ryan going along with that.
ChuckeRearmed
Member
It is already 70-90% dead. Hell, we even have disk releases that require another 70GB of download...Which makes disks useless.
Topher
Identifies as young
No, it doesn't. I can still sell that disk.
Topher
Identifies as young
GamesIndustry.biz presents… The Year In Numbers 2022
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
28% is a significant chunk of the market.
Elder Legend
Banned
Also what is your opinion on game sizes - fully installed Ark Survival Evolved with all the DLC and expansions is 400 gigabytes. FF7 Rebirth is also on 2 discs and it's the year 2024 for that game. I personally see this as another problem for physical discs, I don't think there are blu rays that can handle that much data. Games are getting too large. This is not the 90s or early 2000s anymore, even back then a game like WoW came on 4 discs but that was on regular CDs I think and it made sense at the time.
Imagine if MS and Sony had to come up with another physical media disc drive that's more advanced than the Blu Ray, that will be more cost for very little unworthy gain when you can put that into actual hardware instead imo.
It's rumored PS5 Slim will have a detachable disc drive but in my opinion I don't see that being the thing moving forward for PS6. Just a waste of money and if MS goes full digital by 2028 it will be very strange for publishers to mass produces disks for Sony but not for MS. Sounds very counter intuitive for the publisher. I believe that this is the last generation of physical media.
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March Climber
Gold Member
SenkiDala
Member
Wait what ? How ? They just release a digital version of the XSX, no ? Where does it says that all their consoles will be digital only ?
The PS5 digital didn't make the PS5 digital only...
ShadyAcshuns
Member
Nintendo might keep physical media, if we're lucky.
Elder Legend
Banned
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ShadyAcshuns
Member
In 2028 MS will have a new system that is "hybrid cloud" which means a combo of a digital and streaming platform.
Topher
Identifies as young
I think it is pretty clear that console makers are not going to move forward with anything other than blu ray. There will be more and more cases where significant chunks of the game is downloaded after the disc is inserted. There is still value in that, however, as the license is tied to the physical media and can be resold.
lol....dozens of us who are generating $14 billion in sales revenue based on the graphic you posted?
My gif in response....
ShadyAcshuns
Member
Nostalgic Nightmare
Member
Most people against it are those who actually see what GAAS actually is, a bullshit paywall with overpriced games that rarely go on sale. Go on and keep believing in their amazing tech that will supposedly revolutionize gaming.
The only thing that will be revolutionized is how much more money the corps make off the lazy ass rubes who can't be bothered to swap a disc, or sell it once they are done - yet are quite content paying stupid amounts of cash for a console/sub/storage.
I really don't care at this point, the dopes that actually think they wont get fucked in the near future once it goes all digital deserve the gaming future they helped usher in.
The only thing that will be revolutionized is how much more money the corps make off the lazy ass rubes who can't be bothered to swap a disc, or sell it once they are done - yet are quite content paying stupid amounts of cash for a console/sub/storage.
I really don't care at this point, the dopes that actually think they wont get fucked in the near future once it goes all digital deserve the gaming future they helped usher in.
Morrie’s wig shop
Banned
It's hard to say for the industry, maybe IDK.
But for me, I'm done buying boxes, in fact the last box I purchased was the the OG PS3 TLOU on release day.
Both my kids are well functioning adults now and I just don't want the fucking clutter of racks, shelves hanging on walls, bookcases filled with game cases.
TLDR; I haven't purchased a physical game in a decade.
But for me, I'm done buying boxes, in fact the last box I purchased was the the OG PS3 TLOU on release day.
Both my kids are well functioning adults now and I just don't want the fucking clutter of racks, shelves hanging on walls, bookcases filled with game cases.
TLDR; I haven't purchased a physical game in a decade.
dem
Member
I think it is pretty clear that console makers are not going to move forward with anything other than blu ray. There will be more and more cases where significant chunks of the game is downloaded after the disc is inserted. There is still value in that, however, as the license is tied to the physical media and can be resold.
lol....dozens of us who are generating $14 billion in sales revenue based on the graphic you posted?
My gif in response....
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March Climber
Gold Member
Edit:
Topher
This gif isn't me conceding the point, it's me communicating that the clock is ticking. Stock up on physical while you can.
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Elder Legend
Banned
Speaking of Blu Ray and potential successors here is what I found. A company called Folio Phontonics. They Showcased their stuff at CES 2023 so very recent. $3 per 1 terabyte for their discs, but the catch is that you need a special drive to read them called OOD and it costs starts at $3,000 to $5,000. Yeah, not happeningI think it is pretty clear that console makers are not going to move forward with anything other than blu ray. There will be more and more cases where significant chunks of the game is downloaded after the disc is inserted. There is still value in that, however, as the license is tied to the physical media and can be resold.
lol....dozens of us who are generating $14 billion in sales revenue based on the graphic you posted?
My gif in response....
Source - https://www.techradar.com/news/excl...isc-but-youll-need-a-dollar3000-drive-as-well
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Virex
Banned
Why do the "digital only" guys get so upset and/or a bunch of smug cunts, whenever someone likes physical media and not digital media. More choices are good for everyone. Also buy physical then you can get your fat fuck ass up a little bit for the 2 seconds it takes to change a disc and get some exercise.
What's wrong with liking physical media? Instead of being a cunt and wanting it to go away. You smug fucks
What's wrong with liking physical media? Instead of being a cunt and wanting it to go away. You smug fucks
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existensmaximum
Member
Find a way to let us trade or sell digital games then. I'd still always prefer physical but at least the idea wouldn't be as retarded.
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March Climber
Gold Member
I'll half-nswer this post for them, even though I don't really care, because this could be fun. They're making fun of the physical owners because those guys are denying the impending reality of the matter. It would be like defending Blockbuster or Circuit City 2 decades ago. The writing is on the wall and people are covering their eyes so they don't have to see it.
There's also a slight hypocrisy because physical owners have a slight overlap with PC gamers, and PC gamers have all moved to steam.
This doesn't matter. Amazon exists.
Nothing. I personally don't care if it exists or not. I just like displaying the factual data. If data is making you feel a certain way, that's on you.