-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Physical vs Digital on consoles. Which do you prefer and why
- Thread starter rofif
- Start date
Roberts
Member
I have been digital only for around seven years now and have no interest in physical at all. The older I get the less crap I have in our apartment and it was a pleasure to get rid of all the physical copies, consoles I don't use and other unused shit related to gaming. I'm also not worried about losing my digital copies.
BlackTron
Member
Really depends on the game, platform and unique situation. There is no hard and fast rule on this, trying to live by one will just drive you insane. I have a physical copy of Halo 1 for the first Xbox...that's enough...I don't really need a physical copy of the Master Chief Collection to play the lame remake. Especially when you see it on sale on Steam sometimes for ten dollars.
Nintendo releases finished games, never lowers prices, have good resale value and buying one feels like a momentous event. So yeah get your physical copy of TotK instead of dumping 70 freaking dollars on a non-tangible license.
Nintendo releases finished games, never lowers prices, have good resale value and buying one feels like a momentous event. So yeah get your physical copy of TotK instead of dumping 70 freaking dollars on a non-tangible license.
FoxMcChief
Gold Member
Subscription service
Ibara
Member
Switch - all physical
PS4/5 - it’s a split
Series x - all digital and gamepass
As I get older I care less and less about the fight to “own” the game. I love physical media and I understand what people feel they are fighting for but I just don’t care that much anymore.
I look at my shelf full of hundreds of discs and carts and I’ll never touch 95% of them ever again anyways.
PS4/5 - it’s a split
Series x - all digital and gamepass
As I get older I care less and less about the fight to “own” the game. I love physical media and I understand what people feel they are fighting for but I just don’t care that much anymore.
I look at my shelf full of hundreds of discs and carts and I’ll never touch 95% of them ever again anyways.
buenoblue
Member
I prefer digital for the convenience. But buying physical let's me play games that I wouldn't normally pay full price for because I know I can sell it or trade it in.
Earlier this year I said in another thread I bought Hogwarts legacy for £58 day one physical. Played it for 60 hours over 3 weeks or so then traded it in for £52. I then got last of us remastered, then resident evil resident evil 4 which I sold after a month for £50 cash.
So yeah I played all thee of those games for like £25.
Earlier this year I said in another thread I bought Hogwarts legacy for £58 day one physical. Played it for 60 hours over 3 weeks or so then traded it in for £52. I then got last of us remastered, then resident evil resident evil 4 which I sold after a month for £50 cash.
So yeah I played all thee of those games for like £25.
TLZ
Banned
Rocco Schiavone
Member
Physical copies of games are not junk.
It is a cultural asset fool.
Just like Vinyl, CDs or even cassettes.
Last edited:
kiphalfton
Member
Hey, look this topic again.
fart town usa
Gold Member
I was mostly physical until last year. I just don't care anymore. Digital for me now, I've reached the point where I don't want a bunch of game boxes and it sounds dumb but I have got too lazy to change the disc, lol.
However, I still want physical copies of games that have received updates that drastically alter the game. There's value in having the vanilla version, sometimes for posterity (CP2077), other times because you enjoy the OG version (Ghostwire: Tokyo).
However, I still want physical copies of games that have received updates that drastically alter the game. There's value in having the vanilla version, sometimes for posterity (CP2077), other times because you enjoy the OG version (Ghostwire: Tokyo).
Last edited:
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
Ghost wire oh is better? I have it on disc but not played yet
Deerock71
Member
FTFY
Vox Machina
Banned
Not a console gamer. The last game I bought a physical copy for was probably Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty
Shake Your Rump
Member
This is the precise reason to buy physical. You can sell your unused games.
SenkiDala
Member
For day one games : physical, for sales : digital.
I dunno elsewhere but in France day one games (for exemple recently FFXVI/Diablo IV/Street 6) can be found day one in physical at 47€. Which is a way better price than on the Xbox Store or PS Store (reminder here those games are 69.99€ for SF6 and 79,99€ for Diablo IV / FFXVI).
What I like in physical games :
- Being able to sell the game.
What I like in digital games :
- Everything is launchable right away no need disc swaps.
I personally don't care about looking at games shelves, it doesn't have any effect on me, even my older SNES games or things like that, I don't care at all. Seeing the icons in emulators or in my consoles is as satisfying for me as the boxes on shelves. To me what's important is the game content, that's all, nothing more. That's also why I don't give a fuck about collectors editions. 10€ worth of papers and plastic sold 250€, not the best way to spend my money I guess.
Both are not "permanent", a digital game can be delisted, a physical game can be destroyed/stollen and will eventually disintegrate whatever it is a disc or a cartridge (many PC engine games self destroyed like this, same as many Saturn games).
I dunno elsewhere but in France day one games (for exemple recently FFXVI/Diablo IV/Street 6) can be found day one in physical at 47€. Which is a way better price than on the Xbox Store or PS Store (reminder here those games are 69.99€ for SF6 and 79,99€ for Diablo IV / FFXVI).
What I like in physical games :
- Being able to sell the game.
What I like in digital games :
- Everything is launchable right away no need disc swaps.
I personally don't care about looking at games shelves, it doesn't have any effect on me, even my older SNES games or things like that, I don't care at all. Seeing the icons in emulators or in my consoles is as satisfying for me as the boxes on shelves. To me what's important is the game content, that's all, nothing more. That's also why I don't give a fuck about collectors editions. 10€ worth of papers and plastic sold 250€, not the best way to spend my money I guess.
Both are not "permanent", a digital game can be delisted, a physical game can be destroyed/stollen and will eventually disintegrate whatever it is a disc or a cartridge (many PC engine games self destroyed like this, same as many Saturn games).
fart town usa
Gold Member
It's not that it's better, it's just that Tango has really gone above and beyond with adding things so I'd like to get the physical to have the option to play it how it originally was when I first played it at launch.
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
Oh yeah I like checking stuff like this too!
It's very cool sometimes to compare gold disc to patched
IRBaboon999
Member
That smell of a newly opened physical game. Like a new book.
Don’t get that sense triggered with a digital copy….
Don’t get that sense triggered with a digital copy….
Swagballs717
Member
Physical, because I like actually owning the things I receive in exchange for giving the money I had to work to earn
Roberts
Member
I wish it was so easy. I live in small European country where there is no big demand for games. I’ve done it and it is a hassle, tbh.
Last edited:
MiguelItUp
Member
For consoles I always try to buy physical only. Because for the same price as digital, owning physical just feels like my dollar goes further. Having something I can hold in my hands just makes more sense when it's the exact same price. Even if it takes up room.
Last edited:
Sleepwalker
Member
I used to buy digital when PSN didnt charge tax and when I had someone to game share with, now they charge tax and my buddy doesnt have a PS5 so I'm disc only.
I like looking at my collection of games and knowing that theyll still be playable no matter what happens on the PSN.
I got a permanent ban on xbox live because I had my account on someone else's xbox and that person got his whole console banned, lost my library (small, thankfully), my saves and my gamepass sub with no avenue for recovery. I'm too old for that shit now, discs all the way.
I like looking at my collection of games and knowing that theyll still be playable no matter what happens on the PSN.
I got a permanent ban on xbox live because I had my account on someone else's xbox and that person got his whole console banned, lost my library (small, thankfully), my saves and my gamepass sub with no avenue for recovery. I'm too old for that shit now, discs all the way.
fart town usa
Gold Member
lol, I did that earlier. I got a PS3 copy of Lords of Shadow in the mail the other day, brand new from Amazon. Still in the plastic wrap. Gave it a nice sniff.
Sleepwalker
Member
Please post it in the FFXVI thread lmaolol, I did that earlier. I got a PS3 copy of Lords of Shadow in the mail the other day, brand new from Amazon. Still in the plastic wrap. Gave it a nice sniff.
Mr Reasonable
Completely Unreasonable
I'm really surprised how regularly this comes up here. I think this might be the only place that seems to care about physical games, and even in these threads half the people don't care for physical media.
I'm mostly all digital except for Nintendo because I think they're the least likely to make my purchases available to me in the future.
Everyone else I trust to let me play my old games for longer than I'll want to.
I'm mostly all digital except for Nintendo because I think they're the least likely to make my purchases available to me in the future.
Everyone else I trust to let me play my old games for longer than I'll want to.
RyanEvans21
Member
Physical for me except for Cross-Gen Bundle & Digital deluxe edition or something that you cant buy on physical disc.
Plus Physical disc get discount fast compare to digital version.
Plus Physical disc get discount fast compare to digital version.
Shits_McGiggles
Member
If the game is a re-release/remaster (I.e the mega man battle network collection), I like to buy physical because I place higher value on older games and the re-releases/remasters are usually more likely to not need patches or updates. If it is a brand new game, I buy it digitally.
I generally prefer digital because of easier storage and not having switch out disks or cartridges.
I generally prefer digital because of easier storage and not having switch out disks or cartridges.
KiteGr
Member
Physical.
I want to buy games. Not licenses. They also make for a nicer collection
Digials are entirely depended on the service you bought it from. If PSN goes down temporarily or permanently for some grim X, Y or Z reason, then whatever collection goes to hell. Physical are here for the long run.
Still, physical are very discouraged these days. If I have (am forced) to pick a store, I'd choose steam.
Their platform is the most friendly to older games. Their prices the best. There's lot's of "support" from 3rd party sites that sells keys even cheaper. The store's interface and functions are the best. Their policy on adult/uncensored content is 1 step before a dedicated porn site's. And generally they are the most likely to survive a platform war, and so is your game "collection" (licenses) on them.
I want to buy games. Not licenses. They also make for a nicer collection
Digials are entirely depended on the service you bought it from. If PSN goes down temporarily or permanently for some grim X, Y or Z reason, then whatever collection goes to hell. Physical are here for the long run.
Still, physical are very discouraged these days. If I have (am forced) to pick a store, I'd choose steam.
Their platform is the most friendly to older games. Their prices the best. There's lot's of "support" from 3rd party sites that sells keys even cheaper. The store's interface and functions are the best. Their policy on adult/uncensored content is 1 step before a dedicated porn site's. And generally they are the most likely to survive a platform war, and so is your game "collection" (licenses) on them.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Physical for most single player "one and done" games.
Digital for certain ones that take my fancy but primarily service games or games I plan to come back to frequently.
Physical as much as possible on switch and ps5 apart from the few outliers.
Digital for certain ones that take my fancy but primarily service games or games I plan to come back to frequently.
Physical as much as possible on switch and ps5 apart from the few outliers.
phil_t98
#SonyToo
I am trying to get 100% games physical on ps4/5 and as I did on 360.
But recently I have a lot of doubts around this topic. Let me explain my view.
My physical positives:
-Always cheaper at launch. 70$ games are 55-60$ usually at local retailers and chains
-Physical box to display on your shelf
-Rare nowadays but you get goodies like maps, postcards and so on. With Elden Ring I got plenty of stuff including a woven patch. Nothing beats saints row. They added a map, postcards, cloth bandana lol and even a keychain. They thought the game will sell lol. But anyway - way more bang for the buck.
-Fully playable off-line even if it's only 1.0
-Don't care if I get banned or hacked, don't care about PSN speeds.
Physical negatives:
-Can be damaged or stolen.
-Discs are loud
-Require shelf space
-only v1.0 which is a fun curiosity but also a drawback
-Does not get as much discounted as digital games on sales
-Clearly is a dying format. I doubt ps6 will support discs, so the whole collection might be for nothing
-Can be hard to find here. nothing locally, I need to order on-line. Big problem sometimes
Digital positives:
-Easy access
-Fast downloads (in theory since psn sucks ass)
-Good low discounts
-No room required
-2tb nvme is super cheap nowadays. You can store your games ready to play.
Digital negatives:
-More expensive at launch
-Discunted only when store owner says so. With physical, people control the market
-games can be modified, have content removed, music removed etc
-you own nothing
-servers can die, you can get banned or hacked. ps3 servers were supposed to be disabled. What happens to people wanting to play their libraries on their ps3s ?
So clearly I have some doubts.
When buying physical I am happy that I get to own something to display and paly no matter what happens in the future.
But I am also aware that it's a dying format that will go away.
edit: of course hundreds of games on steam but there are no options
Say what you think and what will be your next purchase!
edit: There is a website to check how off-line playable releases are. very useful
DoesItPlay? - Home
Working to ensure games remain accessible now and always!doesitplay.herokuapp.com
Why is it people who are always against digital say things like the games de-listed, when a game gets de-listed and you own it digitally you can redownload it any time you like. I can still download outrun 2 on my 360 I can still down load the previous forza games I own.
Always gets brought up you own nothing, well you own a licence to the game, the only thing you don’t have is a plastic disc.
Another benifit of owning the games digitally is game sharing. When you buy digitally if you set up Xbox’s or PS you can share games with a friend and can both play the game at the same time which you cannot do with a single disc
People are wanting games to look better and better, higher res textures and even upto 8k textures. They won’t fit on discs very soon and digital will be the only way
Last edited:
CrustyBritches
Gold Member
I’m all digital. When I buy games it’s mostly on PC from Steam or gog. I try to download all the EGS free games as a backup library, or to add to GeForce Now. I play Xbox mostly on PC via Game Pass. Also on Steam Deck both locally and via xCloud. I play mostly PS+ Extra games on PS5. Although I’ll buy an occasional game like FFXVI.
TLDR:
-Buy on PC
-Xbox and PlayStation via subscriptions
TLDR:
-Buy on PC
-Xbox and PlayStation via subscriptions
BootsLoader
Banned
Oh another thread about this......like dualipa says, Physical.
Jadsey
Member
I don't really understand collecting games in either form.
Me, I've been gaming since the late 70s and I must have replayed a dozen games at the most. Once I have beaten a game (and/or had my fill it), I move on to the next one...there is always so much coming out I want to play.
I honestly think 99% of physical collections sit on shelves and literally never get replayed. They are vanity projects for people who get sucked in by seeing vast collections behind YouTubers, and think 'Ooh that looks nice.'
There is nothing wrong with that by the way.... it's your money, waste it as you please. Just know that when you die, your kids will put in all in bin bags and it will be land fill by the end of the week.
Me, I've been gaming since the late 70s and I must have replayed a dozen games at the most. Once I have beaten a game (and/or had my fill it), I move on to the next one...there is always so much coming out I want to play.
I honestly think 99% of physical collections sit on shelves and literally never get replayed. They are vanity projects for people who get sucked in by seeing vast collections behind YouTubers, and think 'Ooh that looks nice.'
There is nothing wrong with that by the way.... it's your money, waste it as you please. Just know that when you die, your kids will put in all in bin bags and it will be land fill by the end of the week.
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
Who says that? I have plenty of delisted games that I can still download. That’s not the point. The point is that the game CAN be delisted, servers killed and so on. You have no control over it.
And what about disc size? You can make new discs or memory cards or use 2 discs. Not enough room on the disc is a poor excuse to give up ownership and control over your property
P.Jack
Member
I have three setups, at home, at work and in the studio, two of which I have limited or no internet access. Without physical games I wouldn’t be able to rotate between them since you can only have one primary console. And I can’t download new games either. With discs I just pop it in and play. Besides, even at home where I have a high-speed connection, it takes ages to download 50gb since there are no Sony servers in my country. I’ve finished 100s of PS4 games without ever connecting to the internet. Version 1.0 is not what some people claim it is.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
Because some folks are trying their futile attempt to revive physical. But we all know that’s meaningless. Its like trying to reject smartphone in the modern world.
At the end of the day, physical is dead (or on the way there) regardless of preference.
Last edited:
Mibu no ookami
Member
There is no increased quality in physical media in gaming like there is in movies.
Digital games in this case don't stream and aren't subject to the limitations of streaming, nor are they subject to requiring internet access (except for online always games, which don't matter if they're digital or physical).
They don't require the clutter or storage.
And they can be more assuredly forwards compatible regardless of whether future consoles take the same physical media or not.
If PS6 has a digital and non digital version, I can buy either and play my digital games on either. If I buy physical discs, I'm locked into buying the physical version.
If the PS6 doesn't have a physical drive, I can't play any of my games at all, which sucks if they're enhanced on PS6 or maybe I'm forced into buying an external disc drive cancelling out some of the savings people hoped to achieve in buying the disc versions to begin with.
Digital games in this case don't stream and aren't subject to the limitations of streaming, nor are they subject to requiring internet access (except for online always games, which don't matter if they're digital or physical).
They don't require the clutter or storage.
And they can be more assuredly forwards compatible regardless of whether future consoles take the same physical media or not.
If PS6 has a digital and non digital version, I can buy either and play my digital games on either. If I buy physical discs, I'm locked into buying the physical version.
If the PS6 doesn't have a physical drive, I can't play any of my games at all, which sucks if they're enhanced on PS6 or maybe I'm forced into buying an external disc drive cancelling out some of the savings people hoped to achieve in buying the disc versions to begin with.
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
It’s only dead because people keep repeating that.
It is superior over digital in many ways.
Why would people give up their ownership over their property. Give up pricing market, give up value… over what?
It’s not smartphone vs old phone. That’s the stupidest hyperbole ever.
There is nothing wrong with physical games. Maybe disc itself is a bit antiquated but it’s still 100gb and provides faster speed than psn most of time. But be it as cards or whatever else, I want to own my purchases
rofif
Can’t Git Gud
Well if you buy electric car next, you won’t be pouring petrol into it. What logic is that.
Mibu no ookami
Member
How is that in any way analogous?
Gasoline is a consumable not a fixed asset.
An EV model isn't an inline successor to an ICE model.
Imagine bringing up logic, but being completely lost in it...
What would have been more analogous would be to say, all my music is on physical media, but the new cars don't have tape decks or disc drives, but you wouldn't want to say that because that again makes my point.
phil_t98
#SonyToo
they stop making physical copies of discs to like the delisting of games and games become harder and harder to find and when they get like that they get mega expensive.
you missed out the positive of game sharing were two people can play the same game at once with or against each other.
start using memory sticks and watch the price of games sky rocket. if you happy just with discs stick to this gen and last gown and don't move forward with bigger and better games
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
Its dead because people are transiting to digital. Its just that simple.
Similar threads
- Poll