This intentionally misses the point.
It’s physical and digital distribution.
Discs are just as digital as internet data piped through fiber optics. It’s a deceitful term which doesn’t cover the true change: perpetual license vs time limited license.
GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
draco_aeneus@mander.xyz 12 hours ago
While that is a shift that happened, it’s not the distribution method people actually have problems with, even if they sometimes misattribute it. The problem, which you see mentioned most of the time, is ownership.
Compare how people feel about Sony vs. GOG, which will just let you download DRM-free installer files. Both are distributed via the Internet, but people feel very different about them, right?
GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
Physical discs aren’t DRM free though - the disc is the DRM.
Of course people like DRM free digital games, because it means they can get them for free.
DanceMomsSavedMe@lemmy.zip 2 hours ago
It is however transferable and resellable legally. Digital only versions, even DRM free are not.
In my opinion, this has been one of the only things about consoles that has been a plus side compared to PC. Now that is gone and I can’t imagine why anyone would stay except out of a lack of finances to move to PC.
blackbeans@lemmy.zip 12 hours ago
It sounds logical. However, by that definition, game boxes with download codes would be physical as well… Yet Sony isn’t killing those.
To me it’s clear that it’s not about the method of distribution or the way data is processed, it’s about their business model in general.
GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
The game is still downloaded from a server via codes in a box. The distribution of the game is still digital.
blackbeans@lemmy.zip 10 hours ago
How about we ship a box with both a digital download code and a disc? Would you classify it as digital?
DanceMomsSavedMe@lemmy.zip 2 hours ago
You can resell or trade a disc though. Or at least have been able to up until now I bet they start tying those to specific accounts now while they still make them until 2028.