In a since deleted tweet from Bethesda Support, they have informed a user that all physical versions of the game regardless of platform will only contain a code to download the game.
While this has been the norm for PC for a while this might be the beginning of a trend for consoles. Personally I feel like there is no point in having a physical version at all if there won’t be a disc included let alone charging full price for it.
Update: After yesterdays news that Starfield might not have a physical disc, Bethesda has come in to clarify the following
Starfield Standard Edition is included with Xbox Game Pass. Game disc included with physical purchases of Xbox Standard Edition. Game code included with physical purchases on PC Standard edition.
If you can’t use the physical disk without going online, it’s useless anyways.
I could be wrong, but I don’t recall there being an only online requirement for Starfield. Up to now the communication has been that there is no online component and that it’s only single player which makes this announcement even more disheartening.
Online DRM isn’t what I meant, I meant additional downloads. Most games nowadays release patches from day one so you’ll be stuck updating even if you have a disk. At that point you might as well download the entire thing.
With 100+ GB games i could see the use of a physical installation medium to avoid downloading that much on a spotty network.
I wonder if any games have shipped on USB sticks, because there’s no way you’re fitting a whole game on a DVD, and saying “please insert disc 4” would not fly for a modern audience.
It’s online only?
No
I guess the reason it’ll have a physical release is that they want to get it into stores. As much as things are going digital, having product on stores and in front of people who otherwise might not know about it is still a pretty solid way of moving units.
This is like God of War: Ragnarok. The limited edition version came with a beautiful steel book case but didn’t come with an actual physical copy of the disc inside.
Physical media in relation to games is a joke now due to all the big patches required. It even affects the Switch.
Metal Gear Solid Vol 1 totals 24gb for the whole game, add another 30gb for all the bonus videos. The cartridge holds 2.1gb of game data.
The Batman Arkham games will come on a cartridge but only the first game is on there, you will have to download the other two.I’d argue that “true” physical releases died after the PS2 generation, or maybe the 360/PS3 generation if you’re being generous. When THPS5 shipped on a disc that only included the tutorial, that was an ugly turning point.
I’m not totally against digital distribution, because it can be quite convenient, and it’s also allowed the indie scene to thrive. However, I also don’t like the death of physical games, because it’s terrible for preservation, and it takes control away from end users. As a PC player who hasn’t owned a current gen console in years, I’m well aware of how much I’m at the mercy of digital distribution services like Steam.
Yep. All that has to happen is Valve gets bought out or significantly changes leadership direction, and my entire Steam “collection” could be fuckin worthless. I don’t like it.
If I lose my Steam library I will pirate every single game for the rest of my life.
