The Physical Copy vs. The Digital Copy, and some thoughts on Play Anywhere

[TakahiroSama]

1. I like physical copies and I still buy them for my ps4 but I find myself buying them in a physical form less and less these days. I buy digital only on my PC already to the point I don't have a DVD drive in it.

2. Probably. As more and more people get better and better internet access companies will probably ditch out physical media for their games. They won't have to deal with stores, will save on costs and it will probably easier to set up game launches logistically if it's all digital. There are even collector's editions of games that don't give a physical copy of the game already if I recall correctly. On the PC side of things, a lot of physical copies of games only have a steam installer on it and a code so it's not far from what you said already.

3. No, I wouldn't. I don't do that with PC games already when I know all that's on the DVD is a steam installer. I just buy them in digital form.

4. For me, it will depend if they put their best exclusives on that program since I have a PC but I have no Xbox and I'm not thinking of buying one any time soon. It will be good for people with PC's but Xbox sales could tank a bit but I'm not too sure it will happen.

[Balta666]

Some places have adopted a refund policy for digital titles. Steam and Epic, for example, offer a 14 day full refund for games played two hours or less. Two hours may not seem much, but I think it's ample enough time to know whether you'll like a game or not.

It is a start but there are games that I played for 10, 20 or 30 hours that I don't want anymore and that I like to trade in and that is something very unlikely to come to digital platforms as there is no need for a used items market

[Gemini73]

It is a start but there are games that I played for 10, 20 or 30 hours that I don't want anymore and that I like to trade in and that is something very unlikely to come to digital platforms as there is no need for a used items market

I can appreciate that, absolutely. Whether the ability to trade digital content will become a thing is probably unlikely

For myself I stopped trading games a few years ago when I realised I was spending more long term after regretting my trade and buying said games back at a later date.

[Gloomy64]

1. What do you think about physical copies?

I mainly play on PC so 100% of games I buy are physical but when it comes to consoles I have always prefered physical over digital because I can resell them but since the release of the Switch I prefer to get my games digitally now as there's no physical media to carry around and all my games are in one place and no annoying sitting down getting comfy only to realize the game you want to play isn't in the console.
Most of the time though Nintendo games tend to be cheaper to buy physically on places like eBay then the eShop so while I prefer digital I still buy physical because cheaper.

2. Do you think eventually discs may stop being sold, maybe we'll get a case with a code in it, or not even that?

This is a tough one to answer, I have to say I really don't know.
I think expansions like the Sims expansions may move specify to digital only (if that hasn't happened already) but I would say we might see less physical copies made as more and more people buy digital but I think they'll still be around for a long time if enough people keep buying them.
Also I think online only games will move specifically to digital download only or even cloud only as cloud gaming becomes the mainstream.

3. Would you even go to the store and buy a case with a code in it for that matter?

If the game was cheaper to buy in a brick and mortar store or you got some type of exclusive for buying a physical case with a code then yes if not then no I'd just buy it online instead.

4. What do you think about Xbox Play Anywhere or something with the same idea?

I don't know what Xbox Play Anywhere is I'm guessing it's xboxs cloud gaming service?
If that's the case I do think that cloud gaming really is the future of gaming as the internet becomes faster and more widely avaible to people.
Right now I don't know how I feel about cloud gaming as internet speeds can be unrealible, imput lag is a huge thing that could be annoying and servers can go down meaning I can't play the game I've purchased.
Although gaming from the cloud would be really cool when prefected so lag is almost non-exsistant as you wouldn't have to spend thousands on a decent gaming rig because all of the heavy lifting is done from the cloud which could mean that gamers on a budget could enjoy games at max settings on very limited hardware if they had a really good internet connection.
Assassins Creed Odyssey was avaible on the Switch in Japan a game that would be too graphically intensive for the Switches hardware but cloud gaming made it possible, Japan does have insane internet speeds though which is why I'm guessing it wasn't avaible outside of japan.

[Raggsvettma]

Physical only, unless there's no option. Im not keen to pay for licenses. I've had my xbox account hacked and i lost alot of stuff.

[Hopeless Wombat]

1. What do you think about physical copies?
I'm fully understanding that physical copies are well on the way out the door, and despite that, I still have a collection of PS4 games that goes well into the hundreds. I'm guessing that my collecting habit is probably from being the poor cunt out of my gamer friends when I was little, having no more than 2 or 3 games per console/handheld that I had. I'll admit that I have no business having this many, but it's nice. It's not like I haven't got the same "why the fuck are you" eyes when I see people housing large book and movie collections, or sports memorabilia, or more than one electric guitar. I guess sometimes we as human beings override logical choices (every fucking day) and this happens.

What I do like about physical copies is that they aren't account tied. Except Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D for the 3DS. That might as well be, what not being able to initialise the cart. Capcom so smrt.

2. Do you think eventually discs may stop being sold, maybe we'll get a case with a code in it, or not even that?
They already sell digital game codes at stores. Have their own special advertising case on the shelf. Or if you wanna go further, they sell digital store top-up cards basically anywhere, like supermarkets, service stations and newsagents (which falls under the same subject except with a significantly older age bracket). That's more or less the same thing.

3. Would you even go to the store and buy a case with a code in it for that matter?
No. I wouldn't even be able to take the case home. I might as well digitally download for cheaper.

4. What do you think about Xbox Play Anywhere or something with the same idea?
I had to google this because I don't play on PC or Xbox. To me, it sounds pretty much like the old PS3/PS Vita cross buy titles (Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, Ratchet and Clank All 4 One, Playstation All Stars Battle Royale). It's more or less legalised emulation. I'm all for more power to the gamer. Nintendo won't do this though lol.

[PaXXXman]

1. What do you think about physical copies?
I LOVE PHYSICAL COPIES!! My Xbox 360 (best console ever made) collection is beautiful! I wish I could do this for my PC

2. Do you think eventually discs may stop being sold, maybe we'll get a case with a code in it, or not even that?
There is no doubt about this, they will stop selling physical copies. Consoles are just late in everything. Also, codes won't exist any more like windows 10 and more than half my games on PC. They are linked to an account and they never gave a code. CD-keys are unsecured regarding piracy

3. Would you even go to the store and buy a case with a code in it for that matter?
Not sure about this one. When thinking about it right now I would say no but that is because i got used to not having a phsysical copy. If I was collecting them since I started playing PC, I would probably continue to go get the physical copy. When I started playing PC i had some physical copies. First game I bought (because I was on MAC please don't troll me guys i know... I know) was Starcraft II physical copy (Blizzard games were playing on MAC). Then I quickly switched to PC at like 14 years old and built my first one at 15.

4. What do you think about Xbox Play Anywhere or something with the same idea?
Don't really care since all Xbox games comes out on PC. My Xbox One is taking dust. Even my Xbox pro controller is connected to my PC if I ever want to play a game with controller (Like the Witcher 3 or Dark souls series). The Nintendo Switch was a better fit for me in terms of console since I can play on the go. Love Steam though. Now that I'm used to it I cannot go back . I can play my games anywhere I connect and download the game. So anyway I think going digital is a natural course but it's a bit sad because you loose the collection factor

Now that I have a Switch though I buy physical copies when I can because not all game shave their physical copies, But I got Mario, Zelda, Smash and Xenoblade in physical

[M1st3r_Luna]

1. What do you think about physical copies?
I personally love the tangibility of having the games in my hands. I find it nostalgic to walk over to my consoles to switch discs or cartridges. I love Limited Run games because they go above and beyond to release digital only games onto discs and cartridges.

2. Do you think eventually discs may stop being sold, maybe we'll get a case with a code in it, or not even that?
There seems to be a push for digital games, nowadays. I'd say that it's likely. I hope developers don't waste time and resources just to give us plastic cases with codes. It just makes more sense to just put them out on the digital stores. I noticed that Target, Best Buy, and Walmart sell cards with digital codes for games as well, but that seems to be a bit of a niche way of buying games. This being said, perhaps a somewhat cheaper cost for digital goods vs physical goods would be ideal.

3. Would you even go to the store and buy a case with a code in it for that matter?
Personally, I wouldn't. It seems like a waste of time.

4. What do you think about Xbox Play Anywhere or something with the same idea?
We're always on the move and sometimes, a hot new release comes out and a trip may prevent you from playing the game immediately. So I understand the concept and am okay with something like this. It reminds me of the whole Vita to PS3 "transfarring" feature for the Metal Gear Solid HD collection.

[Octy94]

I do like to hold them in my hand. It does bring back memories that is for sure but for me is more about where can I find the best deal for a game. If the game on the PS Store is 45$ and the physical copy of that game in an online store or a physical store is cheaper then you know were my money goes! my 2 cents

[Lehran]

When I buy a physical copy it's nice to know that I actually own the game. Digitally you're paying for a license that can be taken away at the whims of the company you bought it from.
If that consoles store gets shut down you paid for nothing.
If you do something that upsets someone and they ban you, you have nothing.
If you decide the game is awful afterwards and want to resell it, you have nothing.
If you want to try to refund a game digitally outside of steam it's just not going to happen.
The only downside I see to physical is physically damaging the game, and at least I know that's my fault if it happens.

[GeminiSprk]

1. What do you think about physical copies?

I actually prefer physical copies BECAUSE I have the option to trade them in for a new game. On the matter of getting little back for them, I rarely experience this phenomenon. A lot of the games I trade in would have a retail value of 35-45$, but tend to have a trade in value of 10-23$.

2. Do you think eventually discs may stop being sold, maybe we'll get a case with a code in it, or not even that?

Physical copies have been on the decline, but I'm not convinced we'll ever completely lose them.

3. Would you even go to the store and buy a case with a code in it for that matter?

Nope. If all I'm getting is a code, then there's no point in going out to get it. Might as well stick to getting it over the internet.

4. What do you think about Xbox Play Anywhere or something with the same idea?

No comment.

[scottypops]

I find the presence of the physical disc reassuring; it gives me a more solid feeling of "I own this; it won't disappear." Of course, discs can go bad, in which case I'm not really sure that physical copies are any more secure than cloud copies.

[Jokerthefoolio]

I like physical copies for the value of owning the game and not having to worry about a game company striping the product you paid for away from you. Digital however is cheaper easier for indie studios and allows more people to play games so I'm conflicted on the recent trends in the industry

[House Money]

1. What do you think about physical copies?
2. Do you think eventually discs may stop being sold, maybe we'll get a case with a code in it, or not even that?
3. Would you even go to the store and buy a case with a code in it for that matter?
4. What do you think about Xbox Play Anywhere or something with the same idea?

1. Physical copies are still the only way I buy a game-- if possible. I think people just like having something to hold. It certainly "feels" more worth your dollar IMO...
2. That is the most likely future. Eventually discs will be completely obsolete. In the meantime, some sort of system should be established that allows the consumer to play physical copies of the game they purchased-- without the disc. Perhaps some sort of CD and One-Time-Code combo. How to go about ensuring only the original purchaser can access these games without the disc? I'll leave that to developers and security experts, but it's an idea the consumer would benefit from.
3. I wouldn't go to the store to buy a case with just a code in it. If a system similar to what I mentioned above were implemented...I'd continue to visit brick and mortar locations.
4. I think it's great! You bought the game! Why should anyone dictate how, when, or what you play it on?

At the end of the day digital should be cheaper than physical. How much cheaper? Well, that is up for debate. At the end of the day it costs developers less to get the product to me-- so it should be cheaper for me. I think if digital started out this way...there would be no debate. It would truly be preference.

[Cheeky]

1. What do you think about physical copies?
2. Do you think eventually discs may stop being sold, maybe we'll get a case with a code in it, or not even that?
3. Would you even go to the store and buy a case with a code in it for that matter?
4. What do you think about Xbox Play Anywhere or something with the same idea?

1 ) I personally enjoyed having physical copes. It was like having a collection and you always had something show for it. Although I do like having virtual copies to clear up my living arrangements so there isn't unnecessary clutter...

2)I don't think discs will ever stop being sold. I think it will work in the matter of just being an activation disc being said. It seems as if when you buy game discs currently works in that way.

3) I currently don't buy hard copies anymore. Unless I buy it for my sister's ps4. I'm sort of a hypocrite in this matter. i like the idea of hard copies, but I buy virtual copies.

4) I personally like game services like this. It gives players the chance to play a game with a cheaper alternative without having to fork-out a full 60$.