Digital exceeds physical for the first time ever on PS4 (the future is here)
- Thread starter Kolx
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I jumped back to Playstation after mainly using a 360 last gen and sinking probably more into that ecosystem than I have this gen, so yes it can happen.
I doubt it'll go away on console anytime soon.
Like movies, books, and music the rise of digital didn't truly kill physical media.
I stick to physical for series that I'm already invested in but for multiplayer games and series with low personal investment I have no problem going digital.
Some of these companies don't let you return digital games after buying them. So it's weird to see people responding positively to these news that digital sales are booming.
This is the biggest advantage. I'm 90% physical with Switch, but digital with One X and PS4.
Yeah pretty much. Plus digital sales in Europe are pretty good.
Different times, different situations. Digital was new, building strength last gen, it boomed this gen. Also the XB1 didn't have 360 BC out of the gate.
I buy most games digitally though day 1 full-priced games are still mostly physical since it's cheaper.
Seeing a game for 69€ on PS Store when it's 50-60€ at physical stores is weird, I wonder why there's not a 10-20% discount for pre-orders.
Seeing a game for 69€ on PS Store when it's 50-60€ at physical stores is weird, I wonder why there's not a 10-20% discount for pre-orders.
I actually don't mind the digital turn. But I do miss the smell of a new PC big box, but those times are long gone
Not much point to physical media now if you've got the internet for digital. Manuals are paper-thin, and discs are merely security passes that save you no storage space.
It's also probably only a matter of time before they start releasing SKUs without disc drives, leaving BC only available through digital.
It's also probably only a matter of time before they start releasing SKUs without disc drives, leaving BC only available through digital.
PS4 certainly, PS1-3 not so sure. I am not an expert, but previous PlayStations had different type of CPUs and hardware in general, bc is not that simple to achieve with good performance. Perhaps with the power of PS5 that won't be an issue - but we may never get PS1-3 BC, no matter how long you wait. Of course, I could be completely wrong here.
Personally, not an issue for me, since PS4 was my first PlayStation ever :) But, I guess if you have some good PS3 games that you want to revisit....
I mean yeah if Sony completely shits the bed with a PS3-like (or XB1-like) reveal for the PS5 or something. If it's just a regular box for 4/5 hundred and without any major shifts, theres no way Sony doesnt maintain its momentum with user retention. People are hundreds or thousands of $ deep on a collection they cant take to gamestop, it's the same situation you see where people are locked into the Apple ecosystem
I've got over 200 PS1 games, over 200 PS2 games and almost 200 PS3 games. Unfortunately my CECHA01 PS3 broke, I still have a PS1, PS2, PS3 (slim) and PS4 but it'd be nice being able to play everything on one console.
I personally think it's great because it means an inevitable reduction in the production of plastic.
This guy will continue to buy physical copies 99% of the time. If they want someone like me to eventually go all digital, then I want the ability to resell my game license like I can with a physical disc, or at the very least gift it.
Of course. It would be nice, of course, and for your sake I hope we get it - but I wouldn't be surprised that we don't get BC for earlier generations. I don't think Sony has a purely business reason not to include it, meaning it's probably too costly to do it in terms of making a good enough emulation.
Give up your rights for convenience! Give up your rights for convenience!
Physical is still cheaper on the whole and you actually own your games. I'm glad that Sony will still support physical next gen.
Physical is still cheaper on the whole and you actually own your games. I'm glad that Sony will still support physical next gen.
Went digital a few years ago and haven't looked back. Still selling some of my physical games now I had so many and the space it saves. Not sure why I didn't do it sooner as I jumped on digital reading instantly.
Haven't the EU been pushing back on this? I can't imagine no refunds for digital lasting forever.
That doesn't necessarily mean it's better for the environment. It takes a decent amount of energy to handle all those downloads.
I'd actually be really interested to look at the break down of what method of playing games is more eco friendly.
I think this is a reasonable viewpoint. Instead of expecting Sony (and others) to hold on to physical forever - which is probably unrealistic - consumers should put pressure on these companies to allow transfering digital copies to others. I'm not saying they would agree (of course they won't), but that is the real issue here. And who knows, given enough pressure.... governments may bring regulation that requires them to do so (I think this is the only way). But with a future that is most certainly 100% digital and probably streaming, too - I think we should push for this instead of insisting on physical media for all eternity.
I guess the recent increase of better digital games deals on PSN has contributed to it, but I don't think it's necessarily a good thing. I'm all physical but I think both formats can and should coexist as long as possible so everyone would be happy.
I think people shouldn't be negative towards digital sales themselves (there are certainly some benefits there), but towards the practices you mention. No-refund policies are not inherently tied to digital. It's up to governments to ensure you can get digital refunds, just like anything else.
But, surely, that won't be a choice, sooner or later. How long before there are no more physical games? Better to insist on fixing the issues with digital games (full ownership, refunds, returns, transfer of ownership, not being able to 'loose' them) than trying to halt the future. Look at it this way: holding on to physical is a battle that you'll loose sooner or later. But if enough people push their governments to regulate digital ownership, we may actually get somewhere.
Considering Sony and Microsoft have done everything they can to reduce the advantages of physical games this generation, this isn't surprising. I'm a little surprised it took this long, if anything.
Other than resale/trade in functionality, physical has been useless for years now. The majority of games, especially on PS4 and Xbone, require so many patches and updates that the physical disc provides on its own provides almost nothing of value. That's not to mention how many games require an online connection.
I've been buying digital more and more, especially for games that I know I'd like to hang on to. It's great. Is there a chance that at some point in the future it'll bite me in the ass? Probably, and I honestly just don't care that much
I've been buying digital more and more, especially for games that I know I'd like to hang on to. It's great. Is there a chance that at some point in the future it'll bite me in the ass? Probably, and I honestly just don't care that much
I've gone full digital, it's just too damn good. Only thing I wish is for the prices to go down to the same level as physical or below.
Agreed. Steam already solved most of these issues, but consoles are behind.
People still buy hard copy books, they just order them online. I think there's obviously a decent chunk buying ebook versions, but it's no nearly the extent music has gone.