Gamers thoughts?? The end of an ERA

TrialKing

PlayStation releases statement say that in 2028 they will stop all production of disc games permanently.

I'm not sure how I feel about it because that means we can no longer trade in games that we buy I guess I'm okay with that because I'm more intentional with the games that I buy as I grew up gotten older but I wonder how this is going to affect GameStop in game boutiques

IronicMaiden

It will stop people from borrowing games from the library.

Piper6728

Well, goodbye playstation, it will force people to buy digitally and according to them that doesnt mean you own it

AmazingEmbrace

Hard to tell, depends on the market.

The discs themselves may become more valuable, while businesses that rely on selling and trading those discs could face lower revenue unless they adapt.

SelfMadeJay

The market is pretty unpredictable. Also I admit that I've become more open to buying digital even though I have a fairly content physical library of about 40 games split between the PS4/PS5 and Switch. What irks me about this move is that people should still have the CHOICE of whether they want to buy physical or digital.

What makes me somewhat discontent about an all digital future is not only that there is no true ownership of the games we purchase, but we only have them for a finite about of time and this has been an issue even back during the PS3/X360/Wii era where certain games have been decommissioned and few of those not seeing the light of day again.

I would have absolutely no issue if we truly owned our digital purchases (which is why I'm a fan of emulation because there's no threat of another entity taking ROMs away from you), but since that's not the case, there's always the looming possibility that the game you've spent countless hours on maybe rendered useless as the developers that made it seems fit. Now it's also come to the point that even single player digital games require constant online connection, this is why it's important to also have the choice of physical content because that's always constant as long as that's in good shape.

Thankfully I live in a metropolis such as NYC where the retro scene is pretty strong but other smaller market towns are less fortunate and have to rely on middlemen stores like Gamestop that have seen much better days. Then there's ebay which is a mixed bag as well and with physical games soon to be undone, that market price is definitely going up. I fear for the future of gaming.

notFromOhio

Businesses like Gamestop will fade out like a blockbuster unless they fundamentally change their business model. Maybe they can sustain fhe business from console / hw sales, but buying used games for peanuts and reselling for high markup is gone. This was a business death announced.

Vintage games trading and collectibles will exist as a market - "pink gorilla" is a sustainable business and my local used books store sells gameboy games, and I love they exist but that is gamestop in nature or scale.

Goonie4life

Game Stops in the last 5 years have started displaying more toys than games anyways, especially since most of them only carry current gen and the prior gen game content only.

I went to a Game Stop store in Aurora, CO last week and was surprised to see that they had used games for the PS3, Wii, and old Nintendo handhelds. This definitely isn't the norm

disneysamurai

GameStop is a horrible company judging by how they treat their employees and intentionally try to rip off their customers.

wilderdude

Vintage gaming is still quite robust.

So long as people can continue to rip games and archive them nothing will be lost ultimately.

SqueezeBuddy

No trade, sell, rent, share anymore

ksb30

It just makes me think that they will still probably charge near 1000 dollars for a ps6 with no drive.

BearCraft

I've been playing since the original PlayStation, which still works. I've never liked the idea of digital only game and much prefer physical media. To me this whole, buying doesnt mean owning is complete BS. I bought my car, its paid off, that means its mine, the dealership or manufacture cant come by and just reclaim it. I can see removing it from the store, but every single person that purchased it should be able to keep there copy of it. I do have a Steam account and 1 of the game I have is no longer available for purchase through steam, but I am still able to play it so there is no reason why it cant be the same for the PS

wilderdude

@ksb30 the drive was never a very expensive part of it. Consoles are basically PC's at this point..$1k starting point for decent gaming system is about par.

disneysamurai

We’re not too far away from the PlayStation 9 coming out!

IronicMaiden

@BearCraft On a side note, I'm going to keep my current car as long as I possibly can. It's getting harder and harder to buy a car and own it. They keep putting more features behind monthly paywalls.

team_cuddle

My two cents, Playstation did this announcement. Some are panicking and buying or plan on buying a lot of used games to have before 2028. Playstation can reverse their stance at anytime due to backlash or other concerns that we are not aware of yet. If I see a game I like ,I will buy it. If this truly happens, then we will all have to adapt or continue playing our old games till they break. But in a few years our understanding of gaming may change, either for the good or for the bad. Im hoping for the good.

Jubal

You don't own digital. You rent it, and the owners/makers can always edit/delete/revise it. Same goes for "e-books" - they're certainly convenient, but I like having the unaltered print copies of some books in my possession.

I'll stick with my older cartridge & disc games if this announcement ends up being accurate.

TheFunCartel

@IronicMaiden Volvo and some other car manufacturers are already toying with subscriptions. You pay like $600/mo or more depending on the level you want and it covers insurance and repairs and you can change out the car anytime you want. But you never own it. It is like a time share in many respects and if more manufacturers convert, you will always be making payments on a car you never own.

Glurbletron

@Piper6728: "Well, goodbye playstation, it will force people to buy digitally and according to them that doesnt mean you own it"

Completely agree, as evidenced by them (Sony) removing media people paid for from their accounts.

great_pillow08

I’m not even a gamer and I KNOW this is a HORRIBLE idea because what happens when there’s a service outage? You’re just STUCK without your favorite game to play!! I have a 16 yr old nephew and unfortunately he lives in an area where service is already sketchy. I’ve even had to buy him an internet booster! 🤕

IronicMaiden

@TheFunCartel So they've reinvented the lease? Though honestly if it includes insurance and repairs, I'd consider it, especially if I lived somewhere I didn't need a car and could essentially just rent it for a month.

Either way, still better than spending a huge chunk on a car and then having to pay monthly to use features like cruise control.

TheFunCartel

@IronicMaiden Well I stand corrected. Volvo dropped their subscription program. It was a way of getting people into monthly payments for perpetuity. In addition there was like an annual $250 renewal fee. But Porsche has one for $1700 a month. Under these types of services you can get a new car every month if you want.

CSnMUS87

It looks like ps5 might be the last PlayStation console I'll own then. It'll be Nintendo and PC at that point. I saw some GameStops started being labeled as retro and selling older games again as well as all the video game merchandise so I think they'll adapt in some way. I also read that stores will be able to sell games by selling a code to download it but I can't see why someone would choose this over just buying it from their console directly unless it was a gift for someone, they wanted to pay in cash or gift card for a specific store, or there was a discount for doing so.

disneysamurai

@CSnMUS87 unfortunately I can see Nintendo and pc following in Sony’s footsteps. Nintendo at the very least.

cudbud95

I’m a pc gamer and haven’t had a physical game disc in probably 10 years

Dcuddler4U

As someone who grew up blowing into cartridges to get them to work, I like owning a physical copy of my games. And hearing I won't OWN games rubs me the wrong way.

But I thought about it... I have a subscription to Netflix, I don't own Stranger Things, or Cobra Kai, or Bojack Horseman, or The Diplomat, or like a billion jillion other movies and tv shows. And you know what, sometimes those shows and movies I love, they disappear, and it sucks, but I accept it as the cost of doing business. I legit don't remember the last movie I actually bought.

So if this is the way of the future, I may not like it, but I'm willing to accept it.....AFTER, we talk about the price.

Netflix subscription is $20 a month so in a year it's $140. A PS5 cost $600, and then you still have to pay for each game individually.

The reason you lease a car instead of buying it is the lower price, the reason you rent a house instead of buying is the lower price.

I'm not paying $600 for a console, then $70 or more for each game, just to rent.

BriGuy1701E

I don't care about losing physical games since I buy all games digitally unless there is a good sale. However, I do use the PS5 as my movie DVD/Blu-Ray player.

CSnMUS87

I prefer physical copies of games, shows, and movies even though I do stream. If a show goes off a streaming platform that I really enjoyed, I'll be able to watch it later, or if my internet goes down like has happened on occasion then I'm set. Also I'm aware that most PC gaming isn't physical, but IF I have to go only digital then I'd rather have a wider variety of choices of who to purchase from rather than be stuck. I'll be looking at GOG or other DRM free avenues before settling with something like Steam or other online gaming services. But at least I will have more than one choice than being stuck with Sony for something that isn't in the format that I want. I'm not much of a PC gamer at the moment, but that may change in 2028. At the very least I know I have plenty of physical copies of older games that I haven't yet beaten, so I may finally go back and just do that rather than be stuck with only digital playstation or nintendo. Never been much for Xbox ( I had a 360 once and had less than 10 games for it).

Pasquia

I find it a little distressing. I still have the play station 3, never felt like upgrading, just recently got ride of my wii, not looking forward to the change. I bought a switch, still have gotten the switch 2 (probably won't), but I have been doing more computer games. I still have some disk from some of my older computer games. I'm not fond of everything going digital, nor that most need online access. I travel alot abd find myself in some remote places without connection and can't play in my down time. So, not a fan.

DarenPNW

I appreciate the preservation of all old school / vintage physical mediums, especially console game CD's, cartridges, etc. I've grown to like digital these days but I'm sure - like any major change - this will be annoying for many. I do cherish the OST CD's of my older Final Fantasy games in a box somewhere. Maybe I'll sell them in a few years.

KindredSpirits

Miss the days of arcades and quarters!