Stray's Physical Edition is Out Today on PS5, PS4 Coming Soon

As someone who buys from Iam8bit, Limited Run etc., quite regularly I am becoming more and more frustrated to find that the game ends up getting a regular, commercial physical release which is often available before these sites issue their copies.

I just ordered Turtles from Limited Run which will be issued in winter only to find that the game is getting a commercial release anyway. Its making it difficult to judge whether to buy games from these companies these days.

Also, lots of scuttlebut about these companies dubious practices in respect of generating fomo and inflating prices on Ebay etc.

@Lovespuds I hate buying from these companies. I ordered two games last year, one from Special Reserve Games and LimitedRun. I ordered in October of last year and still don't have an update on when I should expect my order. These were my first orders and didn't realize how long I would be waiting.

Will this be available from standard retailers like amazon gamestop or bestbuy? Would prefer to pick up from them

Already pre-ordered the game on PC and I’m super excited to play it next week. The physical version is enticing though…

@BLKxHER0
It's not so much the wait that's an issue for me, I am well used to the games taking ages. As I say, it when you stump up the cash to get a physical game, only to find out 3 months later that its getting a standard physical release here in the UK.

Having said all that, my Deaths Door physical copy turned up today and I couldn't be happier with it!

All I can say dooder, is that the games do turn up eventually.

Isn't this free though with ps plus ? Or is it ps premium only ?

Iam8bit have stated that it’ll be receiving a regular retail release as well, including in Europe so hold fire unless you want the extras.

I can't wait to add this to my ever growing collection of cat games! This will bring the total to 3!

@Rmg0731 pretty sure iam8bit said on twitter a while back it would be coming to other retailers

i was really hoping that was a steal book . I love collecting those

@Lovespuds
Yeah, the whole 'limited release' scene is very dodgy these days

I’m not as psyched by this game as… well the rest of the world seemingly… but will read the reviews with interest.

Why 8bit the worst one they dont even have something like PayPal and i see a lot of complaints about them.

Playing this in a few days, unless it gets terrible reviews.

Yeah I don’t like barking up the wrong tree! Oops wait a minute...

Physical copy for me for PS5. I hope it comes to Best Buy though...

@Uromastryx just Extra and up, not the basic essential peasants.

I'd have bought physical had it come out at the same time but that and the fact we don't seem to be getting the sleeve etc in the UK, I'll stick with the digital release.

I'm truly disappointed that physical isn't an option on day 1. Now I have to contemplate signing up for Sony's GamePass clone, or wait a few months for a hard copy. Let me guide my fluffy orange kitty back home now, not later! 🐈😫

@Lovespuds That's exactly what they do, though. Stray is an exception where it is getting a standard retail release as well. The whole business model is trash.

My copy just arrived. I have, of course, played it already via PS+ but I enjoyed it so much that I had to get a physical copy and ensure Stray gets the recognition it deserves.

Pleased to say I wont be adding to useless pile of plastic cluttering the planet, and haven't bought that stuff for a game in over 4 years.

To be fair though, the only time I see a case for having a physical copy is when its released well after the launch. It means that the version on the disc is likely to have at least the most useful fixes and changes and its still therefore of use if you wanted to play this in a decade.
Launch releases on disc make the disc simply a download ticket, which makes the only valid reason for wanting a physical version completely redundant...

It would be much easier to get people to change their habits if digital hadn't been priced so stupidly. Whilst I can afford to take an 'eco stance' I have a lot of sympathy for those who don't want to pay the silly prices for digital, I do get it, I'm just fortunate I can absorb the extra cost..

@Titntin I'm like you but disagree on one part. You say about digital being expensive but that's only if you have no patience. I've been digital only since the PS3. Still have it with hundreds of games on it, same with PS4.
But you never see physical, even second hand, dropping to the really low prices you get on digital sales.
So for me, it's only once in a blue moon I'll find the need to pre-order or buy day 1. And hence I don't find the small increase in price enough to complain about. Especially knowing a backup copy is always there to redownload should anything untoward happen. Physical buyers certainly can't say that if they accidentally scratch or crack a disc.

@Titntin but then you're paying more per game to buy digital 🤷‍♂️

Digital should be much cheaper, but instead, it's overpriced... So I'll keep adding "useless plastic" to my existing "useless plastic" collection... Going back to the Sega MegaDrive.

@Eldritch Yes good point on the cheap prices you get much later. Its a shame I'm impatient and wont wait! xD

@MattBoothDev Hi Matt, I did acknowledge both your very valid points in my post, digital should definitely be cheaper and I acknowledged I'm paying more per title and feel blessed to be able to. We do agree - even if we are getting our games differently

@Titntin I only disagree that physical is useless, but it's also hard to fully disagree when, as you pointed out, the disc essentially just downloads the game sometimes, what with massive day one patches.

I also have a silly amount of digital games, though, as when they're on sale and cheaper it's hard to say no....

I just really enjoy collecting on my shelf. However, as recently as today, i lament the lack of... Anything extra going on with physical releases. No books, no inserts, etc.

Publishers, especially Sony and Microsoft, are leaning hard on digital these days. Makes sense for then as they kill the pre-owned market.

@Titntin I think your point about the archival value is important and one that few people think about. Given that most new release discs are incomplete games, and that many need an internet connection anyway, a disc has less archival value than it used to.

I went digital for PS5 as I value the convenience and don't mind waiting for sales, but still buy the odd disc for collectable and archival purposes. Not many fully patched discs on PS5 yet, though Stray might be an exception.

(And don't forget maybe half of all releases, albeit mostly indies, don't even come out on disc, or only on stupidly overpriced limited runs).

As for plastic concerns, I think physical media is a rare case where plastic is a necessary evil, as it lasts so long. I worry more about food and drink packaging which makes up the vast majority of plastic waste.

My copy arrived this morning. I purchased the standard edition from Best Buy for $39.99. Even though I have it downloaded on my PS5 already thru PS Plus Premium. Gotta have a physical copy for the collection. My sister wants to play it (she NEVER plays video games) so I'll gladly let her borrow it!

Got it today, I'm unfortunately busy completing other games and plan on playing Lego Star Wars before Stray. I do hope to play the funny cat game before the end of the year.

And yes, I am horrible at managing what games I'm playing.

I completely agree with your observations and will also do my best to avoid getting too hippie as well, but god damn if capitalism doesn't come with some real BS!
I think one of the issues was the power that the existing physical distributors had at the time when the digital stores and delivery systems were being set up. The concession to them for offering direct sales on the platform, was that the titles would be more expensive. Now of course the balance ,has changed but the market works at the prices set, so there's no incentive for prices to be rolled back to more reasonable level....

@tintin @Eldritch

Nothing beats a ridiculous digital sale. God of War, Kingdom Come Deliverance, AC Origins, AC Odyssey, Watchdogs 2 all £8 or under.

Horizon Zero Dawn, Ratchet and Clank given away free.

But that does only work if you've missed out on games though, or are very patient. More pressure needs to be put on Sony about digital prices remaining so high on some products. I believe that is one of the many things they are being sued for, right? 😂

I do often overpay for digital, and it's something I'm okay with, to an extent. But digital has already put me off buying saints Row this year, as I know I'm stuck with it if I don't enjoy it. But for games like Elden Ring, I didn't buy in to the hype with a pre order, but a friend had it pre ordered and on day one said "you need to get this game" so I bought it digitally played it that day and loved it.

Making digital more accessible should be the drive, and PS Plus Extra is probably helping with that as it's currently insanely good value if you haven't played some of the games on offer. But more can be done to fully recommend digital as the definitive way to go

I wonder how many people will get this on disc (seemingly a fair few from comments) because it's such a good game/experience, so if you've got this and are yet to play it, I envy you

Just take it slow and be a cat 🐱

@Ravix I pretty much agree with everything you say. Perhaps we're lucky to afford the digital games we want on release. But, for me, I think what it really boils down to is, 9 time out of 10, those games I do pre-order are worth every penny. I honestly don't feel £70 is expensive for the amount of hours I put into those games and so I'm happy to pay it. And that bit extra for the convenience, and peace of mind, with digital.