Ever since Sony announced that they were getting rid of physical games on July 1st this year, I have dreaded for January 1st of 2028 to roll around. The day that has been labeled as the first day of the digital only future for Sony. What does that future as a gamer look like?
We know everyone has a preference of physical, digital, or a combination of both. And no matter what you lean towards it is always best to have multiple ways and places to choose the options we personally like. Take that away and you create a market monopoly that can go unchecked and allow one person or group of people to control the price and distribution methods which can hurt those who plan on purchasing the product.
Recently other companies have been starting to shift their marketing strategies to what they show to control the narrative. Capcom has show numbers that lean towards digital like what Sony has said, but they fail to show which games are only digital, what sales come from PC, and what are microtransactions. These can all affect the final numbers, but we know that pushing this means more money for the company in the end.
With Grand Theft Auto VI coming out only digitally we can see that having such a well-known IP heading up the initiative, we can see where the ship may be headed. The CEO of Take-Two Interactive Strauss Zelnick has stated that AAA physical games “Don’t really make sense for the consumer,” but what it really should state is it doesn’t make sense for the company. It’s about the cost savings and making additional revenue. This thought process is not looking out for end user or the preservation or ownership that we all want in the end. If other big games like FIFA Soccer, NBA 2K, or Madden go to this model it will only further the narrative and reduce our options and ownership.
What can the customers of these companies do to help change the minds of those who make these decisions? Will changes be made to if we own a game after purchasing it or will we be at the will of those who pull the strings? If you don’t show concern for the loss of physical, why? Do you think that it won’t affect the overall market? Do you think Sony and Take-Two are making a good business decision? Let me know your thoughts on these hot topics.
Image Source: Resistance.fandom.com
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