Andy House talks about the gaming industry and the Playstation 4.
Hanzala from eXputer says, "PlayStation's recent bug is a critical reminder of just how uncertain digital games are, and why physical media and ownership are crucial."
And now that discs can hold an entire library of games there's no need for digital licenses.
Physical is where it’s at!!
Same reason paying with cash is my preferred option..
I always go physical unless it's something that will never get released on disc like some small indie game that will never get a physical release.
Always go physical when you can. Let this be a lesson. Digital is more convenient but has serious cons.
Mostly agree, though digital is not in itself inferior.
The issue from what I gather is that prices are the same and you only license those games. The pro consumer approach would be to either "sell"you games cheaper OR, preferably, give you the ability to do whatever you want with the digital copy you have. If I want to burn a game I bought from a USB drive to a blank Blu-Ray to generate a physical copy, I should be able to do that. If they have to develop some proprietary tech to enable one burn to prevent or mitigate piracy, fair enough.
But that's the issue people generally have with digital: they're moving toward digitizing everything without doing anything to address digital rights. The way it is now, we would pay more for less.
The only time I don't think much of it is when I already own a physical copy and buy it again on more modern hardware digitally (I did this with Persona 3, Persona 4, and Valkyria Chronicles).
Outside of that, people should avoid digital until the companies properly address the lack of ownership rights.
Disc based will last as long as there is disc drives i do not see disc drives being a thing next gen.
The best selling console this gen the switch has very few games 100% on the sd deal alot of digital sales.
Pc has been full digital for a good 8 years now.
48.2% digital sales. So your telling me they're going to take the chance and not have a console that takes physical games which accounts for more than half of their sales? I doubt it.
Physical will still be a thing next gen. It will probably be detachable like the current ps5. Probably sell ot as an add on with the base being digital only. Too many old heads like me, who will be bitter about no Physical media mext gen.
@raven @engima
Wow you can type numbers your a goat how about a source link.
Wait what is this? digital sales rose by 13% 2022-2023? key to companies making billions now?
https://www.prnewswire.com/...
Blindboys out there
You can scream to the mountains disc will always be here but with game services/mobile/GAAS being the future and year to year digital sales are eating up disc sales there is a very small chance ps6 will have a disc drive.
Oh and walmart removing disc video games now selling those plastic code cards to kill the environment 20 times faster
https://www.techtimes.com/a...
Oh also that uk supermarket tesco
https://www.gamesindustry.b...
bestbuy/gamespot are also doing the same
https://thedigitalbits.com/...
I will also leave this here
https://www.destructoid.com...
Buy hey this is n4g 90% of you are in a post jim ryan shell
I mean does anyone here actually know that little big planet servers were shutdown 2 months ago? oh right sony they do no wrong.
https://www.reddit.com/r/li...
https://www.reddit.com/r/li...
jan 7th 0 news coverage
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
I think your off by a bit. Doesitplay.org will also show you most games are on the SD. You have some flyers sure but most are there
I'm not gonna reply to all your links but Walmart still getting in new games for ps and Nintendo. It's xbox that is clearing house.
I can't buy physical because my PS5 is digital. So is my PC. And my media players. And my refrigerator. Haven't bought a physical console game since before PS4 came out.
Thank you for logical response
This right here is many gamers right now like it or not
I’m always physical on console and wish I could be on PC. Thankfully Steam handles licenses better than most digital stores. Even if the game gets pulled from the store for some reason it’s still available to me to download.
Last time I checked, I can still download my digital copy of Deadpool for PS4 and that's delisted. That and the Driveclub dlc are the only delisted stuff I think I have on PS4/5.
I always buy physical when available. Unless it’s the 1.99 snow mobile game I bought digitally last week. If I’m making an expensive purchase it’s always been a physical copy I can put in my library
I am physical all the way.
All of my digital stuff I have is from PS Plus since PS3 days when it started. I got it day 1 for storage. I did get Minecraft for my kids since we were out of town and they forgot their disc many years ago but that’s about my digital library. I have hundreds of games but never bought them.
I agree with the main point of the article. You should never lose the right to choose.
Ding ding ding. Why are digital fans so against options. They hate us that prefer physical for some reason. Atleast were saying there's room for both but most digital fans wanna see physical die I swear
Around 2015 my internet speed was finally at the point where I could download a digital game in an hour or so. At that point I spent time selling off my physical PS4 games and rebuying the digital equivalent.
I regret that decision now and around the start of the ps5 generation the price of digital games skyrocketed vs physical in my region so I've gone back but I do worry about the futures there's absolutely going to be a day where I want to play GTA v in 20 years but with the state of modern gaming who knows if I could actually do that with a digital download
I'd honestly love to see government intervention that garuntees a platform holder ensures that digital content is accessible for 7 years similar to tax law you need to hold your records for 7 years in Australia so why not make a company selling digital goods in that country required to make them accessible for 7 years.
I'm sure the EU would push something like that eventually
7 years isn't enough though. You paid for that. I've got access to my physical forever
The one thing that really annoys me about certain physical games is there is a mandatory download before you can even start playing. Hogwarts Legacy, Avatar, Starfield, Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, the newer COD titles. This is a disgusting trend that I worry will become more commonplace.
I remember RedDevils made a comment about this and I shrugged off his comment. Guess I'm eating crow. My bad
Physical has a lifespan too. Tbh the best long term is emulation or PC store fronts.
Piracy you mean. Steam removes and restricts access to games all the time. Piracy is the only true preservation of media.
It would be annoying and spiteful if Sony didn't embrace higher capacity discs for the PS6. They already have cheaper discs that can now hold petabytes of data. But they would rather force consumers to go digital rather than be pro consumer. Ignoring a good piece of technology for corporate greed and control is not good.
Not sure if it's "spiteful", but it's in the interest of all publishers to move towards an all-digital landscape. The market is moving in that direction, and unless there is some sort of significant backlash that impacts their sales, there is no incentive for them to cater to a shrinking base.
This is from someone with a huge physical collection.
The problem with digital isn't digital or physical but the lack of proper reglementations regarding digital ownership.
For example. Sony just bought Funimation and decided to merge the service to Crunchyroll but they decided to remove all digital purchases despite that Funimation used to claim OWN it Forever.
A digital code that came with your Blu-ray disc won't work after April 2nd.
https://arstechnica.com/cul...
https://help.funimation.com...
Like I said the issues here is that the lack of proper laws does not force Sony to honor past agreements by providing a solution.
Loss of licenses is why I love PC gaming...there's ways around silly issues like that
I buy physical mostly, but...
Talk about being dramatic. This only affected a tiny amount of users and Sony can easily fix it. Nobody really lost anything
Article talks about needing receipts to get your stuff back, but that is a load of bull.
"that's why I buy physical" (as if it is some kind of modern still-relevant flex [maybe in a bunker in Idaho]) Meanwhile, their physical copy triggers a download and required update in order to play.
Holy hell and your helping this doof double down. "Is Why I Never Trust These Licenses". Withough understanding them aparently. Do you tie your shoes before running?
Jawad from eXputer says, "Xbox's decision to share its exclusive titles with PlayStation marks a major change in the gaming industry, in a good way."
No it isnt in a good way. Lets not pretend XBOX chose this please. Years of mismanagement led to this.
So I guess Xbox's mismanagement led to PC gaming now having decent games since MS started to care about Windows and forced Sony to do so too.
Care to also elaborate on how gaming is worse now since PC gaming is again relevant?
We talking about XBOX here. The console not XBOX as a service. But very soon XBOX will likely only be a service in any case. Toodles, I'm off to play Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth now.
Not sure why its relevant. PC technically does not compete with consoles. You dont really lose anything in terms of competition. But consoles not having any exclusives = no competition = less quality.
Ps: I wouldnt think xbox on PC has revolutionized PC. More like a drop in a bucket.
Are you implying PC games weren't good until MS/XBOX started putting their games there ? Are we ignoring every game that was available on the PC before they started to give a sh** ?
Linux says HI enters by Valve and Steam Platform that doesn't depend on windows anymore.
@S2Killinit
“PC technically does not compete with consoles. You dont really lose anything in terms of competition.”
I disagree, Sony lost a value of 10 billion as a company because they forecasted 2 million less in sales of the PS5. My point, PC has an impact and people are buying. To say the market doesn’t compete is to ignore the blending of both markets. The fact that Sony put games on the pc started the shift. Now the first title from Sony to go day and date (helldivers2) has moved the needle even farther towards this blend. With a new ceo I feel more change is coming. The margins for tripple A games has thinned significantly and profits have to come from somewhere and I see a future where more day and date for the pc increasing.
Hopefully I’m wrong, but the firing of so many industry workers speaks volumes that times are changing.
No forcing there. Sony chose when and how in both PC and Xbox. It wasn't the other way around.
Xbox is ahead of the game in this mark my words sony fowolling is proof this it makes sense for both parties oh and final fantasy rebirth is only a timed exclusive it's coming to pc
Sony isn't following anything. One puts there games on another platform from day 1. All of them. The other still has plenty of titles that have yet to come to PC.
Totally different strategies. Only one of them has worked. That's why Xbox games are coming to Nintendo and PlayStation platforms.
BehindTheRows
I’ll say what I said before.
Microsoft made instant acknowledgement that their exclusives were cross gen at the start of Series life. Sony had cross gen PS5 games but tried to cover it up. They started releasing on PC because they saw Microsoft doing it. Then they released certain games day 1 in certain cases.
They are SAYING AND DOING the SAME THINGS as MS in every case. This won’t be the exception. If you think they aren’t watching how people react to buying their exclusives on PlayStation you’re mistaken. They are watching it as well because there is actually a possibility the world might accept playing competing exclusives while a hardware brand still exists. If you think they aren’t toying with the idea of releasing their games on Xbox that’s why you don’t work for Sony
I fail to see why ppl are mad about this like they are losing something because other gets to enjoy the same game.
Like honestly do you go hate on Google because they are releasing their apps on iPhones?
Did Google Android OS become irrelevant?
And likewise with the iPhone?
It reminds me of when Playstation fanboys were against crossplay with other consoles because they believed that losers (owners of other brands) should just be forced to buy a PlayStation.
Yet tks to Crossplay some small games like Evil Dead, Texas Chainsaw, etc are still playable today.
You are comparing operating systems to consoles, and not many people buy a console because of it's operating system.
So why do you pick an iPhone over an Android since there's no big exclusive?
Same thing here why would Playstation or Xbox collapse if you could play their games on other systems?
Last I checked a console was made to play games and a smartphone was made to use apps
And it's not like ppl who own a Xbox will suddenly have their friend on PSN and vice versa.
Because cellphones you buy based on the operating system. Consoles you buy for the games. No one cares that much about the console UI. We want a good interface, but that's it.
If cellphones were only about the apps, Apple wouldn't exist in the cellphone space anymore
@pete
People that pick iphone over android are pretty ignorant...so yeah not a good comparison...unless you love being robbed.
"It reminds me of when Playstation fanboys were against crossplay with other consoles because they believed that losers (owners of other brands) should just be forced to buy a PlayStation."
When did you start playing games?maybe research who refused first over crossplay. Ill give you a hint - when microsoft were leading.
there's a element of well why did I buy this because I could have brought the ps5 and played both
If you remove the pressure from M$ to make cutting-edge AAA games by giving them Sony games instead, then you remove the pressure from Sony as well to make AAA games to stay competitive.
A lowered bar for M$ means a lowered bar for all console makers. I want Sony’s bar kept high so they don’t stop making $350 million games like Spider-Man 2.
Keep taking risks for the art form, you fat cats.
Well they are not getting the sales they want on Xbox and PC. So they have decided to port titles to other consoles there's nothing else to it.
U do realise that helldivers is selling more on pc I don't about other games sony will start releasing more games quicker to pc in fact they said that already what u all don't realise is its a bout money sony and xbox want max profits they don't care if they upset fan boys
Max profits would be to release the $70 must have game on console for a period of time and then when that well has run dry, tap the PC market. Like Sony is doing right now.
Helldiver's 2, while a good game, is not a $70 ($40) must have game and Sony probably thought it was going to bomb which it did, on console.
“Corny? I know.”
A bit, lol. Lots of kumbaya, but if you want Halo that bad in 2024, the old ways still apply. I don’t see Hellblade 2 dropping on PS this year either.
Microsoft making some, key word SOME of its games available on other platforms is being over blown. Then again, we live in an era we’re
journalists focuses on sensationalism and promoting drama, instead of analysis and professional reporting.
The cross-platform availability of Xbox games on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles marks a significant shift in the gaming landscape, fostering an environment of inclusivity and accessibility. Firstly, it expands the gaming community, bringing together players from different platforms, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity among gamers. This interconnectedness not only promotes healthy competition but also encourages collaboration and shared experiences across diverse gaming ecosystems.
Moreover, the availability of Xbox games on competing consoles enhances consumer choice and flexibility. Players no longer feel constrained by their choice of gaming platform, as they can access their favorite titles irrespective of the console they own. This freedom empowers players to focus more on enjoying the gaming experience rather than being limited by hardware restrictions.
Furthermore, the cross-platform availability of Xbox games promotes innovation and healthy competition within the gaming industry. With developers striving to optimize their games for multiple platforms, there's increased emphasis on performance, optimization, and user experience. This competition drives technological advancements and pushes the boundaries of what is achievable in gaming, ultimately benefiting players across all platforms.
In essence, the convergence of Xbox games on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms represents a positive step forward for the gaming community, promoting inclusivity, choice, and innovation while fostering a more connected and vibrant gaming ecosystem for players worldwide.
MS is pretty smart with hood they are doing this. Sure that’ll make fanboys mad and they will never admit it but it’s smart. So is Sony for moving more into PC releases.
I suspect Microsoft is only doing it because day one on Game Pass is quite expensive to maintain.
It's not about bringing more games to more people. It's about supplemental income.
It's not like Phil hasn't said multiple times that the goal is to put Game Pass on every platform. The difficulty right now is Nintendo and PlayStation aren't going to allow them to do it the way they want (which is with Sony/Nintendo getting practically nothing out of it and Microsoft getting as much as possible, similar to those cloud deals they've been making for CoD).
I'd garuntee if they were in the top spot they would not be shipping a single game to a rival platform at least one that wasn't already on a rival platform before they brought the studio
But everyone needs to stop expecting that Xbox is paving the path for gaming for the future. This mentality has to change, and this isn't a democracy. Xbox is taking this route because they've lost consumer trust and continue to try and take advantage of their customers. They haven't been able to recover from this and are trying to restore their name. Coming in dead last every console generation isn't what Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer wanted, they wanted to compete and be on top, but this hasn't happened and it's getting worse, so Spencer has made this move for those reasons. But, he doesn't want to go down alone so he's stirring up the crowd just like the Trump Insurrection on January 6th stirring up everyone to think just because Xbox has decided to do this, that everyone else should too.
Right now, this isn't the path PlayStation and Nintendo want to make. Heck, if Nintendo hasn't even published on PC yet, they're obviously not too worried about the future of gaming and if Nintendo, where this is their bread and butter, aren't worried about it, neither ought PlayStation who has an end-to-end ecosystem. PlayStation doesn't even really need to be on PC so, stop thinking, and fan out and spread the word and make it clear, because Xbots are pushing with all theyve got to make Nintendo and PlayStation look like the bad guys here starting with the Helldivers 2 (a PlayStation IP) drama, when that's not the case and that message is: This is Xbox's choice to do this, PlayStation and Nintendo are not obligated to follow.
Spencer had his chance a few years ago when the MLB approached him. He has his chance to stand up for gaming and the importance of console exclusives and what they do for their individual platforms. But, his own platform was suffering bad enough and he was desperate enough that instead of saying "I'm sorry, that not how we do things on this business," he wanted quality software from Sony themselves so badly that not only did he go against the rules of the gaming business and accepted it rather than standing up for console exclusivity, but he gave Sonys game away to bulster his own business model. They call that kind of stunt "dirty pool". So, what goes around eventually comes around. That's karma. So, don't expect, at this point, PlayStation and Nintendo are doing the same thing. Eventually, console gaming will die and go back to PC gaming. Game consoles are really just smaller PCs after the death of the PS3 when everyone started using off the shelf parts rather than using innovative and proprietary hardware. That all came to an end and now we're just seeing the same thing on every console. We're consoles really aren't that much different, but is things move more to PC-based gaming? Then you'll start to see Sony come back pushing the Sony Vaio as selling their own hardware in that way, but still selling PCs, but not at this point. Xbox stands alone here as the first to bail out. That needs to be made clear. Yeah, Xbots are sore, but you don't dictate how the competition does business just because the side you chose failed. It's that simple so cut it out, this ain't no democracy
Xbox is desperate, that’s why this is happening. Xbox has put exclusives on the Switch in the past, do you see Mario and Zelda on Xbox? No. Sony isn’t putting Last of Us or Spider-Man on Xbox and let’s be f*cking real here, Xbox isn’t putting any heavy hitters on these competitor platforms.
Exclusivity is the only thing that forces people to choose a console over the other. I wouldn’t own three consoles if all games were on every console.
I can’t see this being a positive for the industry unless you’re fine with one console to own because I have no idea why you’d pick all three when they all have the same games.
“ Exclusivity is the only thing that forces people to choose a console over the other. I wouldn’t own three consoles if all games were on every console.”
A lot of people want to act like ‘exclusive’ is an ugly word now. If you are trying to entice consumers to buy your console over the competition, you first need exclusive titles (or features) to do so, bottom line. That’s what Nintendo and PlayStation are doing successfully and it shows in console sales. Xbox would have sold more consoles than they have if they didn’t release their titles day one on PC, guaranteed. Who can argue against that?
This is why people want Xbox to hurt: because Xbots need to wake up and realize they made a choice. They chose Xbox to make games for their console, even though they knew Xbox has not done that well for over a decade.
If Xbox isn’t forced by the market to make games, then that is bad for all of us gamers, in two key ways:
1) By removing the market’s expectations for the best games on their console of choice, this then lessens pressure on Sony to make the best AAA games that a Nintendo console would never fund.
2) ditto for M$
That article was terrible. Nobody is bagging for xbox's crummy games, their own fanbase won't pay for or play their games that's reality. All of Microsofts most important ip historically has been created by someone else then it's bought by Microsoft and promptly ran into the ground, see halo/gears. We will be able to add cod to the list soon. Microsoft should stop pretending to care about gaming in general and bow out gracefully.
Poor wording. It isn't a merger. It's one company bringing their select games to another company.
Ms has no choice, they are in a distant 3rd place and because of gamepass get just a fraction of actual game sales. With Gamepass subs leveling out, they need to find ways to get more revenue without backpeddling on their slogan "day 1 on gamepass". Sony being the market leader and selling millions of copies of its games is not nearly as desperate to do the same.
Well my trade would be HALO REACH and ODST to PLAYSTATION for Killzone 2 and 3 to XBOX. I have played HALO 1 2 and 3 but not Reach and ODST.
Here is a look at some of the great stuff Sony had to share at their booth at CES 2024.
Skip to 1:25, is that another jab at Microsoft? Jack did the same thing with 1080p 60FPS lol.
Andrew House - "The man who speaks many languages, all with the gamers in mind"
Is that who I think it is on set?
http://i.picpar.com/sMz.png
http://replygif.net/i/1049....