In a move that will rightfully have people questioning the advent of an all-digital future, Sony has confirmed that hundreds of Discovery TV shows will soon be completely removed from PlayStation platforms — even if you've purchased them through the PS Store.
"As of 31 December 2023, due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library," reads the rather sudden announcement. That same page includes a full list of all the Discovery shows that are being wiped — and it's a long one.
It's unclear exactly why Sony's previous agreement with Discovery has been axed, although it's worth noting that the network merged with Warner Bros. last year. It's possible that a new deal will be struck down the line, but as of right now, PlayStation users are about to lose access to a trove of digital media that they may have already paid for.
This certainly isn't the first time that stuff has been removed from the PS Store and people's purchase libraries, and you can bet it won't be the last. But this latest announcement is already sparking plenty of renewed debate over digital ownership rights, the necessity of things like physical media, and the underlying morals of piracy.
Will this mass deletion of Discovery shows impact you at all? Does this kind of thing make you question digital purchases? Raise an eyebrow at the mention of 'all-digital future' in the comments section below.
[source playstation.com]
Comments 163
This doesn't affect me personally, however I did get screwed in the past with my PS3 digital library. My HDD crashed on the PS3 and I had to redownload al my digital games only to find out that I can't download/access half of my purchased content anymore.
Christopher Nolan is spot on
This is just the start of the digital hellscape.
I stopped buying tv stuff on PlayStation since 2 years ago Sony removed films I bought
I wasn't even aware we could purchase/ watch these programmes in the first place so I won't lose any sleep over this.
I can't speak for everyone but I bought my PlayStation to play Video games not stream TV content
Buy physical media !!!! Sure it sucks having to get up and put a disc in but this will never happen to you.
Tell you what, go read the list on the link and think to yourselves like I did, "Somebody bought a season of this?!!!"
All the shows on there are terrible documentaries or reality shows.
I guess someone, somewhere must enjoy 'Cake Boss | Season 8' or 'Finding Bigfoot | Season 9' but I think Sony is doing the world a favour by flushing this pile of crap down the toilet.
Absolutely ridiculous. No wonder people pirate media if you can just lose access even to stuff you "bought". I was worried about this happening. It's the reason I've never bought a digital TV show or film. I have bought digital games though. I'm hoping this doesn't happen to any of them.
@KonstantTrouble Does it suck though??? How unimaginably lazy do you have to be to not want to get up to change a disc/cartridge?
As others have said this doesn't affect me as I buy physical. I also don't know if Discovery is even on my PS5 or what shows they have.
But surely this is one of those scenarios where they take it away to give it back under a new agreement later? It would be madness to take it all away, even if the fine print warned of the possibility.
@Martijn87 Mind if you name some of these titles? As far as I'm aware no previously purchased game has ever been removed from being downloadable except for P.T. on PS4, which was a free demo.
Why is it always Sony? I lost my comics collection from their app I while back, then some movies now this (luckily I stopped buying this stuff on PS). So far knock on wood I haven’t had the same luck on XBox but time will tell, I guess..
I saw this sorta thing coming back in 2007/8 when I got my first iPod and iTunes purchases were being pushed as hard as hell. It is an inevitability that without physical media you will lose access to what you've paid for at some point, for some reason. Eventually.
Of course there's always alternative download sources...
@LiamOliver luckily by the time you lose access it will inevitably be easier to obtain via “other methods”
@Martijn87 That sucks. Also why I have 2 PS3's... Not that I really bought much digital stuff back then (or even now). There is certainly a convenience to digital, but I'd much rather not have to worry about never actually owning something.
All Quiet on the Western Front, John Wick 4, Guardians vol 3, Gran Turismo movie and Oppenheimer have them all on physical 4K but haven't got round to any of them yet so recently decided to save them all for the Christmas period. Equalizer 3 on physical 4K soon too, and maybe the new physical Titanic 4K if can afford it
No multiple monthly bills for multiple streaming sites to watch all your fav new releases, no worrying of them being availible or ever leaving
Physical 4K movies will always be a better quality viewing experience than what streaming has to offer, or buying digital as you never 100% own digital movies like you do with physical
@Martijn87 did you restore the licences
@PixelDragon digital is factually more convenient
@vidjagames I have all my "other methods" on a hdd attached to my TV, but the majority of people wouldn't even know how to do this
We need iron-clad legislation that HEAVILY penalise companies like SONY that would steal from normal citizens. So disgusting.
Acquire digital via 'other' sources, then buy the physical media version equivalent. Full convenience, and you've still paid for your entertainment without the risk of it being robbed from you.
This sucks and it should not happen, but I find it weird that people take this as proof of the fragility of a digital collection versus a physical collection. A physical collection may not be subject to the whims of greedy corporations, but it’s hardly permanent. What if your house burns down? Or is flooded? Or destroyed in a storm? What if someone breaks into your house and steals your collection? What if one of your discs break? I’m not saying a digital collection is unambiguously better than a physical collection, but neither is a physical collection unambiguously better than a digital collection.
That's why I buy physical copies of media I truly love. It's yours forever.
Annnnd this is why I buy my movies on Blu Ray.
People on here are so delusional sometimes. You own nothing with physical media either, you're paying for a licence plus discs inevitably wear out as well. Nothing lasts forever regardless.
One day Sony will say to us all: ***** you and your digital collection of games. Right now, they probably cut content because of expensive new deals, but the time will come when they will try and take away your digital property in other ways. By that time, the legislation set in place all over the world will hopefully prevent them from thinking it financially viable ieg. they'd have to pay back the full, current value of it.
Damn. The sheer audacity of this. I might post three times in a row, just venting my anger, haha.
@Futureshark "Tell you what, go read the list on the link and think to yourselves like I did, "Somebody bought a season of this?!!!""
I don't have to read the list, the shows can be Honey Boo Boo x Kardashians that wouldn't make any difference. Customers won't have access to content (whatever the quality) that they purchased legally
Why would you buy TV shows anyway? like seriously? just seems like a terrible waste of money to me.
Some day your precious wall of discs will decay. Physical media also has a shelf life. Though I'm curious how many of you still pop in your old VHS movies with that awful display quality and whatnot.
@PixelDragon .... That depends.
Bought digital? 👎
Digital found on the seven seas? ☠️🦜👍
@Beerheadgamer82 damnnnn that's gonna be one helluva christmas viewing 🔥🔥🔥 (except equalizer 3)
Enjoy the movies dawg
Another thing to note: Even if Sony were to tell you that they're shutting down the PS3 's PSN or Vita marketplace tomorrow, with a bit of research you'll find that you'll still be able to access pretty much everything. If the big three won't take game archival seriously then the fans will take it into their own hands by any means necessary. The beauty about having a digital collection is that it's not as easy to take away as they make it seem.
Sony better refund everyone.
@PixelDragon Those examples are…a bit arbitrary, but I’ve had some issues with disc rot on older DVDs that have proven hard to replace. I think the lesson is that no matter what you do, entropy always wins.
@PixelDragon I'm 45 I've experienced disc wear and I look after my stuff very well. I mean say what you like lad facts are facts nothing lasts forever.
@Mephisto2869 too bad, as it’s a great skill to have in the modern age, especially to enjoy content which has hitherto been unlocalized
@PixelDragon
Digital IS far more convenient. I buy from Vudu, not PlayStation. It made no sense to buy from PlayStation because you could only watch the movies there, but if you bought from Vudu or any other retailer that supported Movies Anywhere, you got access to the movies in all the other places and could also watch them on PlayStation via their respective PlayStation apps. I've bought things on Amazon because it was cheaper than on Vudu, but got the movie on both (and more).
Bottom line: digital is fine (better than fine, actually), but you need to avoid buying from certain places.
Blu Ray Players break down, the laser just stops working plus computers can and will cease to function too. The hardware required for physical media is at the mercy of time but ofc people forget that part 🙄
I'm disgusted with what Sony has done here but people seem to think digital media means we're all doomed when it's really not as bad to what is being made out here and tbh I'm tired of this argument.
@RubyCarbuncle You can go to the store and buy a new one or the plentiful supply of used ones. This is completely different.
And this is why i'll never trust a digital only console.
Been warning people about this for years as they dive head first into these scams. /shrugs
This is not at all surprising to me.
@Loamy the problem with that is the bigger games are not even on the Blu-ray, you are sill buying a digital game. So if they remove it you are still boned
@PixelDragon I mean if you're going to talk to me like that when I'm merely trying to get my point across I have nothing more to say. I lost no debate but the way I see it you're incredibly opinionated.
@RubyCarbuncle with proper care these things will last all your life. My consoles and games from the 90's still work fine. Never had to replace anything.
@Cherip-the-Ripper I know yh there's some I can't wait to watch especially John Wick 4
Is Equalizer 3 a bad movie then, haven't seen any reviews for it yet or anyone talking bad about it, only seen the trailers for it so far. Do really enjoy both Equalizer 1 and 2 on 4K so there's a fairly decent chance I will enjoy the third?
That's a bummer for the six people this will effect.
Tbh I've only bought 5 physical games for PS5, all collectors editions. Discs just aren't very good for games anymore. Disc drives are big, a bit noisy, can break, discs can't spin/be read fast enough for modern games, can get scratched, take up space, in 50 years time we might all find these discs have disc rot...
But, I do buy a lot of physical on switch. The cartridges are small enough to put them all in one carrying case. Don't make any noise, no moving parts so aren't easily damaged and the readers are very unlikely to break. Games can actually be read off the cards too without installing.
I hope in the future we could have physical games for PS and Xbox on some kind of flash memory drive. I imagine the costs would be high but it's the only way physical media could sell more I think. Sony did it with the vita at least.
Just have a usb disc drive for backwards compatibility.
All digital future would mean all piracy for me. If I'm not owning anything, I'm not paying for it either.
@PixelDragon I think in this particular situation this is down to Discovery/Warner Bros and Sony have their hands tied. Not that I don't think Sony have/would do this, but this particular situation isn't really their fault. I do agree that all digital would be terrible, there should always be a choice
@PixelDragon You are wasting way to much time trying to convince people brainwashed by the Church of Digitalism™. Common sense won't make them change their mind, and so many stupid articles about digital overtaking physical comfort them in their little digital world. I'm not even sure they'll change their mind when 2nd hand market and competition don't exist anymore and games cost over 150€/$ not including DLCs.
This is the harsh reality of digital media as much as damage, loss and theft are the harsh realities of physical media. Surely we can all worry less about who’s ‘right’ and just buy on your own principles and convictions. That said, I do have a hard time wrapping my head around the principles of those dogmatically defending an all digital future. Perhaps someone can enlighten me?
This isn’t affecting me but I feel for those it will affect. I do buy some things digitally but I still prefer physical media.
@PixelDragon I’ve had physical games I owned get stolen or destroyed. I’ve never lost access to a digital game I purchased. So to me, digital feels more secure. I guess it comes down to a person’s experiences.
Well there you have it! The final nail in the coffin for an all digital future. Long live the disc drive!
Who even relies on a ps for this kind of media anyway? Use the thing for playing games, not for TV.
@Beerheadgamer82 It was a good sending off for the character and a good conclusion to the trilogy don't get me wrong.
It's just very meek for a Fuqua flick, denzel wasn't given enough opportunities to be as suave as he always is.
Pales in comparison to the first movie, doesn't help that the villain's wack.
Don't let me stop you man, Denzel's as smooth as ever, he even speaks Italian in this one 😮💨
No dude, you don't understand! Digital is the future!
@Nem So do mine but my point stands though plus people need to realise that when buying a game or movie whether it's digital or physical you don't actually own it, it's just a licence you've paying for.
Yeah this kinda sucks I remember back when sony had set up there system where u need to confirm with email when u signed In for the 1st time and for psn on ps3 I used an AOL email I never actually made so when the confirmation email was needed I didn't have it and lost years of ps3 digital content that ***** was upsetting since I was a minor and couldn't buy things myself yet 😢
@Cherip-the-Ripper I remember it's sequel didn't get great reviews but ended up really enjoying it, yh can't beat the first one though. Denzel as Robert Mcall is just so cool, almost kinda like a super hero without a cape. Be nice to have the whole trilogy on 4K anyways
When you pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too, fav line in the excellent brick by brick scene
This really sucks. I do think the proceeding conversation needs to be less about whether physical or digital is better, which is clearly what's happening despite ultimately being very subjective, and actually be about how the rules surrounding digital ownership need to change. I would love to be an all physical media person, but realistically I just don't have the physical space for it and don't need or want to display everything I've purchased.
🤦 I replaced most of my film library with apple as they always have deals and free 4k upgrades. I don't bother buying TV shows, they're always overpriced and I certainly wouldn't buy anything that isn't with the big corps, Google, Amazon, apple.
@PixelDragon Yes I'll agree with that. I'm mostly digital now but definitely won't defend it, digital can only exist while there is still physical as an option, or like on PC where there are multiple digital stores
@SlySnake0407 change how though? Introduce a 2nd hand market for selling digital games?
And here is what I've always feared with DRM. You are ALWAYS AND ONLY buying a license to watch or play whatever it is. The second anything gets killed, especially when streaming is required, that purchase becomes a waste of money.
They should refund then for paid content.
Better not take away all the games i bought on pstore or they will lose me for sure too.
@LunarFlame17 There’s a large difference between “oh, an act of god flattened my house and everything I own” and “oh, Sony just flipped a switch and all my stuff is inaccessible now.”
Obviously both have pros and cons. But I like actually OWNING my stuff and not indefinitely renting it.
glances at my hundreds of blu-ray movies, tv shows, games and such and smiles
@LunarFlame17 If someone breaks into your house and steals your stuff, you have legal recourse against them and a justice system that should support you. Even if you couldn't catch the burglar you might also have renter's or homeowner's insurance that covers loss due to theft. It is true that all of those systems could fail, (don't catch the burglar, corrupt justice system, insurance fails to compensate) but my point is, there are social supports that help to protect your ownership. These supports don't exist for digital media because you don't own the content - you purchase a license to use it on the owner's terms.
What stops them from removing games you bought?
What a joke. Not cheap I imagine either
Well then surely Sony should be refunding the people then
@Cherip-the-Ripper I'm not 100% sure. A second-hand market for digital content is certainly a good idea. Maybe the ability to backup and access our content without needing to use whichever library, or required refunds for anything we lose access to. Like I said, I don't really know. It would take much smarter people than me to determine what is possible/realistic. My main point was that us bickering and attacking each over our distribution preferences is not how we should be reacting to this news.
How is this legal? If you purchase media you legally do not require a separate license to play your media. And a device that the media was purchased on should not require a license. Even if these are lame reality tv shows, I feel like this is a class action lawsuit or some kind of legal challenge in the making.
@SlySnake0407 honestly, this is an issue for the Supreme Court, in the U.S. at least. Once you purchase a piece of media, you should be able to play in on any device capable of playing it. There needs to be a method of transferring DRM or verification of it. This is within our technological ability. Blockchain maybe?
@kcarnes9051 Absolutely. Clearly the laws surrounding digital ownership need to change.
But they'll be issuing full refunds for the purchased digital items, right? ...Right?
It should be illegal for any company to remove access to a digital purchase without issuing a full refund. We badly need laws that would protect consumers from this kind of scummy behavior.
A long time ago, I bought a series of digital fitness videos (can't remember the name of the series at this point) on my Xbox One. When Microsoft eventually lost the rights to it, they credited the amount I had spent on it back to my Microsoft account. That kind of refund makes sense since changes in payment methods over a long period can make it hard to refund old purchases. Sony should have AT LEAST done that kind of refund for those Discovery videos.
Unfortunately, even with physical media (video games I'm looking at you) you'll eventually lose access to them. Disc rot does exist. It may not happen today, tommorrow or 10 years down the line but it will happen.
Also with the latest games, most aren't shipped on the disc. The disc is just a licence to play the game. If the devopler goes away, so does the access to the patches, updates and fixes for your physical games.
Imagine in a few years if CD project red went bust and you just bought a second hand copy of Cyberpunk 2077. You pop the disc in, install and you're basically left with the vanilla, broken, unstable mess that was CP2077 at launch.
Wether buying physical or digital, there is ALWAYS a caveat.
Likely some sort of licensing thing between Sony and Discovery.
But it's kinda trash that it's just going to be gone from everyone's library, especially content that they rightfully paid for.
@Illyrian Untill they bring in a law/legislation to prevent companies from doing it... Nothing.
Not PlayStation, but on Xbox 360 around 2008 I had purchased the entire mini series of “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN production about the late 1970s New York Yankees).
I had hardly ever watched, but gained interest again recently. Nowhere to be found on my Series X. However, I can still access and play on my Windows PC.
Maybe all won’t be totally lost with access to TV shows directly paid for to ‘own’ with PlayStation.
@RubyCarbuncle Digital isn't as bad as it can be.... yet.
I've heard loads of people supporting microtransactions. Now they cost more than the game. That's one example. We need to stamp out this wild west anti consumer nonsense that's going on. One way to do that is buy retail games, it supports additional jobs and you tend to find more competitive prices. Being stuck with the PS Store alone and at the mercy of some Johnny bigballs CEO deciding games have a predetermined shelf life and boom. Digital gives all the power to the broker.
@SlySnake0407 I agree wholeheartedly. And as for the first part of your comment that is actually more prevalent on pc where Steam allows you full access to your game library offline (don't know if that holds for always online games)
And GOG allows for making (offline) copies of your games without getting in trouble for it.
I know consoles grant limited access with the exception of some sub services needing confirmation and a connection to the internet every x day(s) but maybe that will all change in time when physical sales on console reach the same point as on the pc market. Hopefully sooner.
@RubyCarbuncle I know that. But if i have a copy and the system to play it, no one can take it away from me.
Though ofc, they can even have our system licenses expire in the last 2 gens, which i will have to hope they don't do. But it's possible they will rig the latest gen systems to brick after x years. I guess one can hack them at that point to circumvent it. 🤷
This proves the future is NOT digital. Kick and scream all you want but this will just cause people to go back to physical media if this keeps happening.
@Texaschainsaw83 Nothing is 100% safe but atleast I have more control with physical and I can find older stuff secondhand and resell if I want it.
This needs to be challenged in the courts
@RainbowGazelle I don’t mind getting up to change the disk, unless there is a cat on my lap, then I’m stuck and the cat is in charge.
@PixelDragon A lot of TV shows don't have physical editions anymore. One of my favorite TV shows ever is Mythbusters and finding the old DVD's are extremely difficult.
I found this reddit comment to be extremely impactful:
"If buying means you don't own it, then piracy isn't stealing."
Yea this is one of the reasons why I've almost stopped buying anything from the PS store. If I'm to ever lose my library of games on my PS3. I'll probably never buy another digital game again. Just buy physical or just play whatever is on streaming services and be done with it.
When you think you are buying digital products you are delusional. You own nothing.
Just like Zune (MS) this proves again that buying digital is buying nothing.
I buy digital when it's on deep sale and I don't want to replay it when finished but stuff I really like will be bought on disk. Yes it maybe not the ultimate version as it misses patches but at least I can play it whatever happens.
i'd have to say if you lose the ability to use something you have bought digitally because of the provider then you should automatically get a refund.
Typical, don’t buy it..
@themcnoisy If people support Microtransactions then they're idiots and that's all there is to it. People here seem to think I'm part of some non existent "digital defence force" and that couldn't be further from the truth. What? you think I want the hobby I love to really go the way of the dodo? ofc I don't. I merely stated how things are now. My bedroom is full to the brim of physical media going back almost 40 years, I even have some old floppy discs with old PC games on them. But yes you are right I don't think any cooperation has a right to take something that you payed for away from you.
I'd understand if the shows got removed from the store but those who had bought it could still downlaod it whenever the want, but for those to lose that ability as well warrants a refund and I can't see how Sony have any grounds to refuse.
This is why I'm so hesitant on digital media, any TV shows, Movies or Anime I want to watch I will get them using a method which I won't mention as its a taboo word on here. For gaming my collection is 90% physical and the only digital games I have are games I refuse to buy full price, PS Plus games and F2P games. Digital store closures like the 3DS store and Vita Store (before reverse) and games getting removed due to licensing issues are enough of a reason to avoid going digital and if digital ever becomes the only way to buy games then gaming becomes a less of an hobby for me. I also think PlayStation should have a unified store across all devices going forward with full backwards compatibility, similar to Steam so even when the PS7 comes out we can still purchase and play PS4 games.
I honestly don’t understand how Sony can make something you bought, and therefore should own, unplayable. I mean didn’t they learn from the Other OS lawsuit?
I’m a fan of digital, it’s convenient, but only for a rental. There is no such thing as digital ownership and any company selling anything digitally, whether it’s a show or a cloud game, should be sued out of existence once they take it away.
This is not good, but who actually bought films in this manner anyway? More fool you if you did.
This is why an all-digital future needs to be avoided. The convenience of it isn't enough to outweigh this kind of B.S move. You never own anything you buy digitally, all you're doing is buying a licence, which evidently can be revoked at any time.
@Flaming_Kaiser That's true. There is something special about going and checking out 2nd hand stores for hidden treasures. I do hope brick & mortar stores never disappear.
@JokerBoy422 Sales figures say otherwise. Digital sales are on the rise, while physical is dropping significantly.
@Futureshark You have totally missed the point. All those shows sound dumb sure. But some people like them and paid money to have them in their library. Sony should give people full refunds over this. You laugh now but some day, it will be something you like so I suggest you resist now instead of laughing about it.
@FuzzieGinge88 Even nowadays, 90% of physical video games aren't on the disc. You're effectively buying a physical disc to verify you own the game and only a small fraction of the game is on the disc. The rest of the game is done via online downloads and updates. If the devopler of said game goes under, so does your physical game. Effectively making it a £70 paper weight.
@MrList The only way it will happen is if governments can put in place a piece of legislation that forces company's to provide refunds if they lose access to their purchased content. Until then, I can't see them changing there ways.
For the viewers.
@PixelDragon like you said "Rare". Meaning could happen, but unlikely. No physical media is infinite. Everything has a life span. Books, discs, cassettes. All forms of consumable media in physical forms.
Always nice (disgusting) to get a reminder that physical will always be the way to go. I tolerate streaming because of shows like Stranger Things, Hawkeye, etc but I'll never buy digital again.
@PixelDragon Who's siding with digital media? Most of the users here are fully against a 'Full digital future', myself included.
And this is why, when it comes to games, I refuse to buy any game that’s digital-only (lookin’ at you, Alan Wake 2).
Digital.not really yours and this proves it
I read a few months ago that Sony were in negotiations with WB to buy the Discovery catalogue.. I wonder if this move has anything to do with that?
Proponents of digital media are just too stubborn to ever admit they've lost the argument... Physical always wins, hands down.
If you're affected by this you are 100% justified (I would argue obligated) in pirating every thing they stole from you, so they can steal from you but you can't take it back? It would not even be stealing imo, you're just taking back what you legally paid for
So when will the refund checks be sent? There will be refunds, right? Please tell there will be prompt refunds. To have no refunds would be theft.
No new or recent media, digital or physical is safe now. Codes included with media, mandatory firmware updates, mandatory connection to the internet, and snap, here today gone tomorrow.
Since you can't even access the content you purchased it means Sony doesn't even run those servers in order to serve the content, otherwise you oughta be able to access the things you purchased.
Discovery has the keys and locked everyone out.
@LiamOliver is that how it works with iTunes? I’ve bought a fair amount of music from them over the years, but I have the m4a files (or whatever they’re called) on my computer and I’m able to play them on any software or hardware that accepts that format (which is most things these days). I was even able to play them on Android phones when I went over to the other side for a brief period.
@Loamy it’s getting harder to do unless you use an online store with a good selection. I was at a Best Buy today and they have next to nothing for movies games and zero music CD’s. So that keeps physical media that much more out of the eyes of the public. I have a few movies i love on 4K ultra disc and they look and sound outstanding. I am also a nerd with a $4,000 dollar surround sound setup so i can notice a difference with physical disk sound vs the compressed digital. For gaming i only buy digital on all 3 consoles.
@Loamy This.
I have loads of seasons of SpongeBob on the PS3 that my kids used to watch.. but they weren't from discovery, so it's all good.
In an ideal world, sony would refund all the purchases, as they have made interest etc off the purchases that were probably from ages ago, and it's just a good practice thing to look after your customers.
An hour ago a guy knocked at my door and handed me a notice that he said was official, legal, and clearly worded in the purchase agreement. The notice said that come January 2024 the washing machine I purchased 2 years ago would be removed from my home by the company I purchased it from. No refund, no clean cloths.
This is straight up criminal. Blockchain tech is available to correct this and prove digital ownership across mediums. Class action lawsuit against all involved in a few years.
Everyone’s lamenting the purchase of digital media and lauding physical media, but my PS3’s disc drive has been replaced once and it’s on the fritz again. And, my PS4 disc drive keeps spitting out discs and won’t take any in. But, hey, I still have a disc drive on my PS5…even though it doesn’t work with PS3 discs…or PS4 discs…or PS2 discs…or PS1 discs…or even music cds. So, I got that goin’ for me.
Only ever bought games digitally so I'm not effected by this disgrace. This is clearly theft and a refund of all titles bought digitally and then denied access should be forthcoming from Sony.
@dskatter Yeah, that’s pretty much the point I was making. A lot of people seem to think that physical is definitively better than digital, but the reality is that both have their pros and cons. Personally, I’m not all that concerned about “ownership”, so I prefer the convenience of digital. Plus, I live in a small house, so if my collection was all physical, I simply wouldn’t have space for it.
@jgrangervikings1 the disc drive has always been likely to be the first thing to play up on a console, that's why I find the replaceable one on the new ps5 intriguing. It could be great for physical lovers, but I suspect the drives won't be in abundant supply in the future, maybe even scalper bait.
With the way TV and movie licensing works I’m not surprised by this.
It’s why I sail the high seas when it comes to tv and movies unless I buy physically.
I have Discovery Plus now. I only got one or two shows, so no big deal.
@This_Guy 😆 That's fair then. I've been in that situation myself!
@TrickyDicky99 Your statement right there proves the sheer level of ignorance of people on this website, you all jump to conclusions without even discussing anything. Where did I say they can take it away from you? I didn't once say they could, did I? where did I say that? I didn't. I'm referring to the rights to that game or movie so my point still stands.
@jgrangervikings1 You do know the PS5 can play PS4 disks don't you? You can even downlaod all your PS4 saves onto the PS5 so you can continue where you left off.
Louis Rossmann has a very nice video about it
Any movie I actually want I buy the UHD version. I still claim the digital versions if they come with one, but that's more of a convenient backup rather than the sole source of the film.
Plus, I'd rather have the lossless Dolby True HD or DTS-HD MA audio over the lossy DD+.
Imagine them forcing on us digital ID or digital money! Oh wait...
This is why games like BG3 and AW2 launching digital only stinks.
Thankfully BG3 was popular enough to warrant a physical edition but still waiting on AW2...
I have physical games that are 35 years old and run perfect. I’ll never understand the preference for digital, something with no intrinsic value. Physical game collecting is basically an investment that sometimes even appreciates in value. Your digital collection is worth bupkis.
@TrickyDicky99 You see there you go again just like everybody else on here you skew my words. You don't own the rights that's what I'm talking about and the licence gives you the right to play it. I never once said a physical copy can be taken away from you.
I'm done here don't bother replying.
Huh, it's not the same situation but Google handed out refunds for their ill-fated Stadia experiment.
@Texaschainsaw83 yes but that was before this and this is going to keep happening more and more. After awhile people will lose faith in digital distribution. Just wait til it's something you care about
I'm definitely pro-physical media and stories like this, or my dad's digital 'Ultraviolet' video library getting gutted a few years back (some exported to Google, but a lot didn't), they certainly cement my position.
Don't get me wrong, I'll still occasionally get games cheap digitally (despite it feeling more of a temporary purchase), but buying digital films & TV seems a little pointless. People will sometimes say that iTunes is good for digital purchases, but they've been caught removing content from peoples libraries too.
I did find it interesting though, when Sony recently launched their 'Sony Pictures Core' movie purchase and rental service on PS4/5. I'm sure announcements like this, removing purchased TV content licences (along with them previously removing film licenses too) will inspire confidence in their new 'Core' service...
that is why the only true method of media preservation is piracy. be it retro games, movies, anime, tv shows — archiving all your content on an external HDD that is immune to lisencing agreements and typical BS that comes with digital platforms will give you peace of mind. just a matter of time before the ps3 digital store shuts down for good. if you value psn's legacy titles, you will have no choice but to pirate the content. same applies to the wii and 3ds eshop. i purchased what i could to support the developers, but unless you are a millionaire, it will be impossible to buy it all. it isn't right that gaming history will have chunks completely erased and lost to time. sometimes you need to take matters into your own hands. even my ps3 and ps4 physical library requires patches which will one day be unobtainable via official means. again, there are people out there who are backing up this data on the internet for the day the servers go down.
@RubyCarbuncle I get your point and it's very clear what you are saying. I'm all for physical and I only purchase digital games in sales just for convenience.@TrickyDicky99 what about those discs that only have an activation code on them? They are becoming more common place with time so I'm not so sure your comment is accurate.
@vidjagames it's not, Google has just done the same thing with digital magazine subscriptions.
@Savage_Joe
My dude. Just watched it last night - he summarised the situation, and the principles involved, perfectly.
@Northern_munkey exactly. It's so bizarre that no one is addressing the increasing majority of games aren't even in finished states without downloads. Not to mention physical collectors editions that cost an egregious amount for what amounts to cheap fanfare and a digital download code. Hell, even games that do include a physical disc in the box often require massive downloads.
I'm not for the elimination of physical, nor do I think it was the suggestion of Ruby or anyone else attacked here that posted a different, more realistic view from the ones attacking everyone else for not agreeing with their very narrow and frankly not accurate view.
The truth is it's the industry that is trying to go all digital, and whether you like it or not, and I don't, most of those physical copies you purchased in the last handful of years and are cherishing atop your high idealogical horse amount to nothing more than purchase verifications in order to initiate a digital download....
The time for debate is pretty much null at this point. Glad you have some games, records, and movies. Yet don't pretend you aren't streaming music, shows and movies as well. The same thing that happened to movies and music is happening to games. Corporations run the world.
It's not the user that is ultimately the one to attack here when it is the provider that tactically limits the way to enjoy these mediums over time. Until we retake some level of control in these predatory economic practices on a grand revolutionary scale, nothing will change. You holding on to what you can and blaming others via a digital space for doing what they can is just sad, passive, and of little impact.
@Texaschainsaw83 The biggest issue I have is that the good are dissappearing rapidly and the ones that stay are expensive to get to. My favorite store closed and they told me they had a store a hour further. With the car is to expensive and with the bus its expensive and it takes longer.
The future is bright!
@Futureshark I dont believe that is the point though.
The point of the matter is. This just shows what the future holds for the digital space.
Nothing you buy, is ever yours. We are leading into the rentable future.
With physical, even you only ever watch it once or play once, you always have that choice to replay it no matter how long its been.
Digital future, you'll just never know whether it will be available in a few years.
We've already lost quite a few games and series and movies to this.
Pirates are returning because of changes like this, on top of which subscription's are out of control. Physical be it games or movies etc are being phased out. This is the last generation of gaming for me, I don't live in a internet friendly area and despite being lucky to have a good connection here myself I don't want to support any of this nonsense.
What we need is a movement in which government's have to step in and change the law so any digital products brought will be backwards compatible with hardware to come, we had it along time ago so no reason it shouldn't work today.
"Does this kind of thing make you question digital purchases?"
Not at all. I sailed the high seas for years before these digital purchases enabled me to consistently shop for games in the first place; if I had no qualms about torrenting the stuff I couldn't buy, you bet I'll have even less about torrenting the stuff I've legitimately bought if/when I ever find myself no longer capable of redownloading it from the official servers. It's as simple as that.
Is that PixelDragon guy still here? I admit I'm wrong when I am wrong plus I started no argument here either. I said you're paying for a licence I never once said a physical copy can be taken away from you. Yes you own a physical COPY but don't own the RIGHTS that's what I meant all along and if you couldn't work that out well that's on you not me.
@TrickyDicky99 That's what I meant and disregard that PixelDragon guy because we wouldn't even be here if he wasn't here on this comment section riling people up including me.
@Contimaloris @Bez87 oh I totally get the point, I was just being flippant that it was a big pile of crap being removed that if anyone had bought in the first place then they probably have more money then sense.
But yes, the point is this is the same as a publisher coming to your house and taking your books away that they published.
Unfortunately it's the way now though and has been going on for more then 10 years, for example you can't leave you iTunes purchases to your loved ones when you die, they belong to Apple. Only you are purchasing a licence to play them.
So the whole thing about inheriting your parents record collection is eroding to become a thing of the past.
Warner discovery are doing this elsewhere, they nuked the very popular cycling app/service GCN+ that was pretty well a model for making the perfect streaming service for a sport.
They did it to try to force people to buy discovery+ for more money while providing much less coverage. Sh*thouse company.
@Loamy Yes! I'm a big fan of the steelbooks too if it's a movie I really want.
This is why you shouldn't buy digital movies or shows, especially from ps store.
I tend to avoid buying digital movies unless it cheaper to get digital than trying to get a physical copy. I personally find it ironic that MS has stepped up what they offer for digital movies. There are lots of anime titles that are available on the Xbox store and if you wait you can often get a whole season at a discounted price. One of the latest Gundam series The Witch from Mercury is available and the first season has been on sale regularly and recently got the second season which finally when on sale. But I still think that it underhanded for Sony to just remove payed content which undermines there credibility.
How is this legal? I expect a class action lawsuit in the future. But then again, how many people actually purchased any of these Discovery shows?
What people need to do is ditch closed platforms (Consoles) and switch over to an open platform i.e PC.
Console gamers always get screwed over. I remember buying Outrun Online for the Xbox 360 years ago, due to licencing that game got pulled from the platform, i couldn't even download it anymore.
I bought Outrun: Coast 2 Coast on Steam, roughly about the same time i purchased Outrun Online on the Xbox 360, difference is, i can still play Outrun: Coast 2 Coast on Steam (at glorious 4K/60 too), it wasn't pulled from my library.
Consoles are a poor long term investment.
Whether the Nintendo eshop re-downloads going down (however that ends up for PS3/Vita stores, however it is for PSP currently I don't know).
How many consoles or hard drives can we keep around until they all die and go 'ok plug in, detach, store away' to not have it constantly plugged in and wasting it's life away or keep them safe.
While I never use the services I did always wonder. Even the comic/music services on PSP how did those go I don't know? Were they better and people were able to keep their content on there or needed a PS+ or certain PSN profile to be accessible online then offline?
To digital movies/TV shows (Sony having PS Vue, then whatever the PS4 service was called now 'Core' it's not very good signs of staying up. Yet Microsoft or Steam still have their movies/shows services but however the content on those are I don't know probably similar but hear it more on the PlayStation side) you bought and the license holders says no it goes further, no re-downloads, no purchase of value anymore it's just wrong. It's mobile game 'we took your money and ran goodbye'. You have no a 'non-functional app' not oh the servers are off you can play offline, it's gone forever.
We will own nothing and be happy about it. No thank you.
Physical for collectors only to no collectors editions at all is the thing I always wonder. Streaming services taking content off 'whenever it comes back we don't know' probably never, it wasn't popular, they don't want to renew the license, they move the license around from service to service, it's tiring annoying, it makes it clear who owns it and what they do with it but to 'care' about it, whether the access, the merch, yeah it's hard to care about the IP when it's handled a certain way after a while, whatever the case, yeah scary stuff.
I don't care for any of the content on them let alone the popular content they offer doesn't interest me it's the more lower level content I care for. People can buy all the big movies they want. I'm just going and buying my anime physical but the lower tier ones, not the multiple parts popular ones the complete series less people care about it ones not because of that it's just the ones I care for and also end up being that less popular and packaged that way (at least they are available than those even lower down that don't even get a physical/streaming access at all and flopped).
Nor do I find it a safe service to use. Sony putting their own content on there sure but it's like UMD movies/tv shows again, a service for their content then the variety because it has to get started/it doesn't have the broader ones people looking for.
Licensed games or movies/tv shows it's just sad. Physical with the digital slips inside no way do I use those 'this is the only service that has it digital' I am not using that slip. I'm buying it for the physical to use in any console or DVD/Blu-ray player I choose not 1 service I have to use it for. At that point give me the digital files with no service it's tied to oh they won't do that well there we go that's the answer to that then. Even if encrypted/DRM just offer the files.
@TrickyDicky99 if its something you can hold and feel it's physical. Even if it's only a code on a disc housed in a box with artwork etc,etc it's physical media.
@TrickyDicky99 that's pretty much what I described. I didn't say anything other than that the disc that contains the code is still classed as physical media regardless of how much you dislike the idea. Personally I think it's a disgusting practice because the actual disc should have the game on it. I bought call of duty blackout (that first foray into the battle royal format) and it only had a download code on it and I felt cheated as if I'd known that I would never have bought the game at that price. Gaming is going down a precarious road and this code on a disc practice needs to stop. I'll be honest and admit that if digital prices were more in line with the prices on steam I'd be more inclined to embrace a digital future but there are too many things such as the things highlighted in this article that need to be addressed.
Removed - disrespecting others
Well I'm not at all surprised about this,its a problem now and gonna be a real serious problem in the near future,there are quite a few reasons though why I personally choose physical games/movies etc etc over digital and will continue to do so,happy gaming everyone
The days of wanting to own physical copies of media have long since past for me, I’ve the ability to see anything I want whenever I want, I see no reason to own actual copies
Things are a little different with regards to music as I have all Led Zeppelin’s albums and all Queen albums on vinyl, for everything else I use Tidal Hi-Fi plus
Games I have on rotation, when I’ve completed the copies I have here they will get sold on and replaced with the latest bunch
@PixelDragon why would I trade an empty box?
@Futureshark I was listening to sacred symbols the other day and they was talking about what would happen to yoyr games library and they was undecided.
But I remember the iTunes situation. Was it not Bruce Willis who tried to put his iTunes library into his will but apple said no its yours and yours alone and once you die thats it?
I'm guessing this situation is the same for games libraries
I'm sure that was the story. I could be wrong.
Me personal would always buy physical. But I have kids and they do not respect anything even though I've tried to drill it in to them.
So I had to make the decision to go digital so my disc do not get damaged and its not unplayable.
Its a shame but they've scratched to many discs to the point of the disc being unplayable, of course not entirely their fault, just more them being children and not thinking.
But unfortunately I've had to sacrifice my obsession with game collection. Sad times.
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