Technology

Shit man I'm old and would've dropped a good chunk of money on a complete, single-player GTA6 physical disk, at launch.

I might've even gone and bought a PS5 as crazy as that sounds. I already have a great PC and haven't gotten a console in a decade but I've gotten so much enjoyment from the franchise I'd feel pretty safe buying.

But the lack of a physical disk might actually be the thing that makes me completely reverse my decision. I tolerate it on PC because there are so many indie games it doesn't really make sense to have a physical copy every time but with a huge AAA title from a proven money hungry powerhouse like R* it's completely unacceptable. I want to be able to dig that disc out in 20 years and play forgotten games. I want to take my console out into the woods and play the game completely disconnected from the modern world if it suits me.

A few things.

One is that steam frequently has actually cheap games more readily than the console digital stores.

Another is that if I'm buying a digital entitlement anyway, I'll go with the ecosystem with the greatest track record for long term compatibility. A game purchased 20 years ago on steam is still generally playable in brand new system. A PlayStation game purchased then is not playable on a new Sony system. It is in fact only playable on PC through emulation, so PCs have been covering for console incompatibly.

Once upon a time, consoles brought some unique values. Easy to plug into TVs, consistent gamepad experience, and just turn on and play.

Nowadays PC operating systems and console operating systems act the same, tv output is just HDMI, gaming controllers are well supported on PCs... The last reason to bother with the console gaming was the physical media. So while sure, they can go digital only, but then why bother with a console at all? They've already lost every other advantage.

I wish I could still buy physical PC games. It took me a god damn month to download Doom 2016.

It is also impossible to store a lot of these games on CDs because of the size. That said, as someone else said, the companies that make these consoles have shown they will screw over consumers any chance they get, so at some level I get it. But I am mostly a PC gamer and most of my library is old games I emulate anyways.

I've been thinking about this since the announcement from Sony. I see alot of friends complaining when I fully know they have massive steam libraries and no optical drives.

And I think it comes down too we have Steam. Steam is run by Valve a non public company with no shareholders. And Valve not only says but does. They keep things open and accessible. Game removed from Steam, that's file you can still download it and play. Things like GoG where you can get an offline installer. And we can pirate probably fits in There some where

But console you only have the maker and not a single one can be trusted. Sony removed movies and TV shows a couple times at this point.

I'd be more fine with it if it translated to lower prices for the consumer but I have doubts the shareholders will allow for even the tiniest hit to their profit margins.

I’m not sure there’s a great argument for why it’s different that’s not just vibes but the case for owning a console is getting smaller.

A console is basically a single purpose computer. The reasons to own one are that they’re cheaper, plug and play, you can buy and trade physical games, and the exclusive games. Seems like they’re converging towards PCs to the point that the only real benefit next gen will be ease of use and exclusives. And both of those reasons are fragile. Steam has pretty much solved the barriers to getting games running.

Nintendo figured out how to sell consoles based on exclusives but I don’t know that Sony will be able to make the transition. Third party developers will just go elsewhere if Sony can’t sell the hardware. As a child of the 80s/90s, I like the excitement around consoles. The hardware is cool, having a shelf of games is fun, I like going to GameStop and trading in old games and finding weird used games to buy. But the kids now don’t have that nostalgia. They have a Nintendo Switch and a gaming PC.

Maybe I don’t understand the vision but it seems like Xbox tried the whole “it’s just a computer! Play on your computer too!” and people said “good idea, I don’t even need an Xbox.” I need a computer to do computer things but I don’t really need a second computer that doesn’t do computer things besides games. Maybe I’d consider if I could install Linux on the PlayStation 6.

But I think a lot of the backlash is from people who like to buy consoles and remember how fun it was to own an N64 or PS1. Are consoles fun anymore? It feels like they get a bit worse every generation. Maybe the master plan is to ruin the business so they get out of making the PS 9 with the butterflies that fly in your ear, if anyone remembers those commercials.

PC hardware is not vendor controlled. They can't delete your game because sales of the sequel are low or a license agreement ran out. Buying is owning on a pc where the game can be backed up, reinstalled on new machine etc. without any need for the agreement or permission of the publisher. You bought it. Can't do any of that on console. Cant back up to your own systems, cant copy and if the console vendor decides to withdraw it from your library and delete from your device, you cant stop them (short of never connecting the device to the internet again) Historically console physical media has had a good second hand market, no such thing without physical media.

You'll hand your money over, own nothing and have no recourse.

The arguments are all over the place but in quick. You can't resell digital games. Also PC is an open platform, Xbox and Playstation are not. Steam might feel like a monopoly but they have to keep in mind the competitors like Epic and can't rip you off too much.

Push back but won't boycott. Tread on me harder daddy.

I hate Nintendo as much as the next guy, but I'm pretty sure they were the last to adopt $70 games. Then you had Mario Kart World at 80, which is indeed dumb. Not as dumb as shitty yearly sports titles being $70.

I would be fine with digital only, but only if there was no DRM.

Lol, never going to happen.