Topic: Digital vs Physical Games

This topic was brought up years ago on the forums and back then I stated that I'd rather buy physical than digital games. Recently, my stance on this subject has actually changed, for multiple reasons.

The first reason is that I'm beginning to dislike hoarding stuff. If I want to move, I don't want to bring with me too much stuff. Right now I have three boxes of games and that's excluding my backlog. It just makes me incredibly stressed to own so much stuff.

The second reason is that I don't have space anymore for games. I have a drawer for all my backlog games and it's close to being full now. I spent this morning emptying it of titles that I'm not interested in playing at all. I just don't have as much time anymore to play everything that I want to play. Not to mention that I'm currently buying more physical games than I'm completing and it doesn't help that I'm also playing long digital games.

Then there are multiple advantages of playing games digitally. For starters, the games don't take up physical space. On top of that, you can always buy more digital space. But most importantly, thanks to subscription services, I can just delete games that I've finished since I don't own them.

Which brings me to my next point in this topic: ownership of games. It's true that you get more of a sense of ownership when you own games physically compared to digitally. But then comes the actual problem: when will you have time to play all the games you want to play? What's the point of owning a game if you're never going to play it? You might get through your entire backlog eventually, but during that time, new games will come out. It just won't ever end.

That's why I'm beginning to appreciate subscription services more. They help me offload any potential backlog that I would've had. It's more stressful to know that you own hundreds of games that you still haven't played than to know that there are hundreds of games on services that you haven't played. Even if games leave the services, you still have tons of other games to play.

Now I haven't fully adopted this approach. But I'm beginning to see the benefits more clearly now. The benefits of digital games and subscription services outweigh the benefits of physical games for me. It's simply much more convenient.

In reality, I still buy physical copies of games that I'm really interested in. But in this day and age where there's so much to play, it's great to have the option to experience more games digitally and through a service, for a much lower cost I might add.

In short, my stance today is that I'm starting to lean more towards a future with digital games only. There are obviously both pros and cons with digital titles, but ultimately I think it makes more sense.

What's your stance?

Don't buy multiple games at a time for 2 or 3 different platforms like a certain somebody named @LtSarge. That helps the issue of owning games but never being able to play them.

I have a very large backlog like a lot of people do of course, and I naturally have more digital titles than physical titles (it's almost impossible not to these days), but I do try to go physical with games still unless it's insanely cheaper otherwise. It's hard for JRPGs that go out of print just several months after release, like Ys: Memories of Celceta. I wanted to own it physically, but while finally going through the current huge sale I saw that it's only $14 right now on the PS Store and new physical copies are going for close to $50. Naturally I bought it digitally last night for that much of a difference.

Physical every day and twice on Sundays

I tend to buy physical for the games I really want. I'm still old fashioned that way and prefer to actually own things I can handle. I can also lend to friends when I'm done with them or maybe trade them in for credit towards future purchases. I don't have a massive collection- maybe 20-30 games at any one time.

However, I also own digital copies of dozens of games - mostly stuff that's popped up in sales for such a small price - equivalent to a couple of beers or a coffee and sandwich or something. A lot of the smaller indie games I want don't even get physical releases or do on such a limited scale that they end up vastly overpriced.

Unlike OP I do not really want to engage in subscription services, I'd always feel pressured to play all the games as if to a deadline In case they got removed while I was doing something else. I'd also want to play as many as possible to feel that I was getting the best value for the price of it.

In summation, I'm at a point where I'm happy to have both physical and digital games in my library.

Physical if it's a game I love and want for my collection, otherwise it's whichever is the cheapest when I decide to buy it. Simples.

I have no tie to physical games of the last two generations, it’s a code on a disc, there’s zero instruction manuals or anything cool. Whatever’s cheaper for me. PS3 and 3DS games, yeah I’ll get physical as emulation’s still a bit rubbish and they’re cheap enough that you can buy them second hand. People get really uptight about physical games but I do understand the argument that it’s a better deal for consumers, it’s a bad bad thing if we get locked into the Sony prices on the store, we need competition and physical markets give that.

My stance has somewhat changed to over the most recent years. Even as the last gen was coming to a close, I would have stated that if the game releases on Disc, then I'll buy on disc - even if it costs more at the time because I'd rather have something 'physical' for my money and liked seeing my 'library' grow on the shelf. I much prefer the tactile aspect of removing the cellophane and opening the case etc...

However, these days, I don't see any advantage to 'discs'. I don't sell/trade games (somewhat a hoarder/collector) so that aspect doesn't matter to me and as Discs these days are nothing more than a 'delivery' system, its not the 'best' option there either as Discs have the 'oldest' build if its ALL on disc in the first place. I have to go out to buy on disc or wait for the postman to deliver and still have download content as its too big for disc and/or has patches to fix the broken code on the disc.

If I can't get 'online' to fix Cyberpunk 2077 in the future and the only option is to play the version on Disc, then I don't want to play it regardless. If consoles go All-Digital too, even if they have Back Compatibility, you'd need to rebuy the game digitally anyway to play.

The other aspect is ease of use - especially on Xbox with Quick Resume which doesn't work as well if you have to keep swapping discs. It was also great to see all my digital games ready to download onto PS5/Series X when I upgraded from PS4/XB1 hardware. Buying Digitally on Xbox has enabled me to play some games on PC too, MS's own games at least - something buying on Disc wouldn't allow.

My main concern on Consoles with Digital is that there is 'no' competition for their digital storefront. That's why Digital games are sold at Recommended Retail Price at launch because they have no competition where as you can go to Amazon, Game etc to buy Physically and they are all competing for your money. If they can sell it a bit cheaper than another store, you'll more likely to buy from them. If you have a Series S/PS5 Digital though, your only choice is the MS/Sony store.

But discs these days are becoming obsolete - you don't play from Disc anymore, don't get complete or even working games on the disc and need the internet to get the rest of the game and patches to fix the game. Most games these days 'change' over time too - add features, improve performance etc - even R&C which was 'great' at launch didn't have a 40fps mode for 120hz TV owners and other games have added more game modes, Photo modes etc etc. So I don't want to 'keep' that version on Disc just so that in 10+yrs time, i could still play when the Hardware online servers are turned off - the reason you can't redownload the digital version...

Each to their own of course and everyone will have their own preferences and reasons to like one over another. As a delivery method, it may well be better for those on metered or exceptionally slow/intermittent internet and if you do sell to keep funding your next game(s) for example, Digital is definitely not the 'best' option for you.

As someone who has been gaming for over 40yrs, I had a LOT of games in boxes stored in the loft when I moved to a smaller house so had to take them all to the local tip. I never wanted to 'lose' those games but also never went back to play them. I still have all my PS3 games and a PS3, but since the PS4 launched, I never went back to finish many games. Same with the 360 and even when XB1 added BC, and could play, there is always something 'newer' I'd rather play. Its not that they aren't great games I intended to return to, its just that I tend to have newer games I want to play more. I'd rather play H:FW or GoW:R for example than go back to Resistance or Killzone. But until the last few years, I'd still have said that I'd prefer Physical even though the chances are they'd end up in some landfill and never get played again...

Another aspect is that some physical games are not physical games. If you try to play some without internet the results are hilarious like Callisto Protocol on PS4. Others don't even have all the content included. I have three different physical copies of FF15 and all have missing content.

Physical far outweighs digital for me. Always cheaper on day one. If its a masterpiece and something I'll likely want to play again I'll keep it, otherwise it gets traded in towards the next one. Not to mention the benefit of being able to share with friends.
If people have a massive backlog of bought games, why buy them in the first place - wait until you are ready to play it then pick it up at a fraction of the price.

I've been predominantly digital for a while, mostly because I tend to buy games on PSN store sales and very rarely day one.

On the PS5 I own Miles Morales (came with the console), Ratchet and Clank (had an offer when buying new), and Returnal (early PS5 game so no deals on games at that point and I bought the Pulse headset at the same time).

my stance is that digital is better , they don’t even include anything in game cases anymore - you can argue “a disc is there” but you can be locked out of the disc the same way you can for a digital game , only difference is you have to take care of that disc and better not lose it , but digital ? no worries & you can log onto any playstation anywhere and still have all your games .

digital is the future , embrace it & welcome it in open arms and PC gaming

Yeah, I'm Team Digital. I hated hoarding all of my physical games and having nowhere to put them. I know I could sell them but there has always that thought at the back of my mind that I'll take a random notion of playing them again at some point.

I don't mind paying that little bit extra digitally because I oftentimes look at it like I'm paying extra for the convenience, and it's often only an extra £10 or so more than the physical releases which is why I think it isn't really a big deal.

I can totally understand the arguments in favour of buying physical copies but I'd say the convenience factor plays a bigger part for me than I realise.

I like owning physical copies of the games I care most about. But if I’m just looking for something to play are usually pick up something cheap digitally.

Just to add an extra 5 cents worth to the debate, my brother just sold me his copy of "The Lies of P" for £25. He didn't like it. Physical for the win.

Physical games as always.
Let's get physical, physical !

Physical if its a one and done type of game, digital if it's a game I'm likely to play for years

I've not bought a game for almost a year, as I've been going through my backlog and games on PS Plus, but before then it was a mixture of both really.

There are pros and cons to both for me; physical for being able to share and trade, digital for the convenience and saving of space. I would generally go for whatever was cheapest.

With brand new releases, I would sometimes get PSN credit from somewhere like shopto or simply games, that way I would shave some of the price off. Usually comparable to whatever they where selling the physical versions for.

@LtSarge I am in the same boat as you. For moden consoles, Switch, Xbox Series X I am going more digital then physical. For pretty much the same reason you did. One is being the space issue. After having a house fire a few years ago it really put my thoughts on having to much stuff into perspective. Not just with video games with alot of stuff that I.use to own alot of, clothing, cooking supplies like pots and pans etc. I have very much taken on a minimalist way of thinking.

Also due to the Switch's portability factor I don't want to be carrying a hundred games with me when I have my Switch on the go. Yes I realize they have game cases for Switch that can hold a bunch of games but I prefer having all my physical games in their cases on the shelf. Having a shelf full of empty game cases is just a waste of space to me. So with the Switch it's digital for me.

Another big this is the convince I will admit. Alot of times especially with my PS4 and Xbox Series X it's just way more convient to buy the game digitally. I don't have to worry about an extra trip to a store, are the going to have said game. I can just buy it and have it install while I am at work, which is also a plus since most games nowadays you have to install anyway or has a day one patch. It's so annoying when you come home from the store ready to play a game but instead are waiting for patches and install and by the time it's done it to late to play the game. Also when it comes to Xbox and PS games I tend to buy them on sale I rarely by games at full price, so again it's easier to see when a game goes on sale digital then physical.

Now my retro collection if course that's all physical because well they don't have digital for those. Now if a game for a retro console comes out on modern consoles, for example the TMNT Collection, then I will buy that on modern consoles over the original console. One being price two again it's digital.

Anyway think I rambled enough on that question but that's my thoughts on it.

I wonder if the community hive mind can help me?

I watched a YouTube video a while ago and the person mentioned a site that catalogues versions of games and how much data is on a disc or switch cart and what version is currently available, for example there is a switch version of no man’s sky available that includes all the updates as of 22 on the cart.

For the life of me I cannot find the source 🤷

Even if you do 'prefer' Physical, there is NO guarantee you can play them in the Future - at least not unless you still keep the Hardware they were released for. I still have my PS3 and my Physical Discs but I can ONLY play these on a PS3 - which could be very hard to find a replacement for in the future. None of my DS3 controllers are 'wireless' anymore as the batteries won't charge/hold a charge.

With 'most' people buying Digitally too these days as those on PC, Series S and PS5 Digital have no choice, and a percentage of those with Disc Drives also prefer Digital, you can see why Sony & MS have 'leaked' hardware/rumours of discless new models. Sony at least is rumoured to potentially offer a 'plug-in' external Disc Drive.

With so much talk on environment, sustainability etc, Companies could see scrapping Physical as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable option - no plastics (case, disc), no fossil fuels (shipping/distribution), no manufacturing costs and no 'waste' materials - nothing to end up in a Landfill and hardware too can be smaller/lighter without mechanical Disc Drive.

Since the PS4/XB1 era started, you no longer play games direct from the Disc. The Disc was just the method of supplying the Software and a License to access it. That's why you have to 'install' every game to your internal storage and the ONLY reason you need the disc in the drive is to 'prove' you still own the disc, therefore still own a valid license to access the Software on YOUR hardware. Lose/damage the disc, and you cannot play the game - even though its ALL on the Hardware.

The only real advantage is that you can trade your Licence with Physical. The cost is purely down to Physical Retailers having far more Competition for your custom than Digital. On Sony, you really only have access to Sony's Digital Storefront so they can charge the full Price but you can go to Amazon, Game and/or countless other retailers for Physical so they reduce prices so you'll buy from them. I know for some, there is an Advantage due to their Internet service - either lack of bandwidth/speed or metered and costly.

Whether you can/want to play current Games in say 20yrs time, I think there is a much greater chance of playing the 'best' version via Digital purchases. You may need to keep your PS5 because it has a Disk Drive but those on future Playstation can play their Digital games as the Licence to download & play is attached to your Digital Profile/Account. In a similar way to 'upgrading' from a PS4 to PS5 digital, if you can't put the PS4 disc in the Drive, you can't play your Physical PS4 games on a PS5, may not get PS5 upgrades etc. That's because Discs these days are a 'Key' to unlock access and without being able to put the Key in, you can't play. Even as a 'delivery' system these days, they aren't adequate for a lot of modern games - not enough space on them to include the full game, pre-release code at best on them so still require internet to 'deliver' the rest of the game, patches etc to work.

Each to their own of course. I still love Physical more than Digital as I much prefer to have something 'physical' I can hold for my money. But I don't think Physical is the Future for AAA gaming and can't see them using Bluray Drives in the next gen systems to even allow you to play these games on 'new' hardware, but you could play your Digital Libraries...