This means you can’t pass the game around to your friends or sell it afterwards, which completely ruins the purpose of physical media imo. I mostly play PC these days so this doesn’t affect me, but it’s a disappointing direction for console games. At least they could’ve used an empty disc that has proof of ownership.

EDIT: Bethesda has confirmed that only the PC version won’t include a disc. Physical versions of Xbox will include a disc. Whew.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    581 year ago

    Physical media is dying a slow and painful death. Sad to see really. I’d say to make a fuss, but most people don’t seem to care.

    Honestly, No disc + always online DRM is making me turn to piracy more and more. I want to be able to buy a game and just have a permanent offline copy of it. is that really too much to ask?

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      221 year ago

      Physical media is dying a slow and painful death.

      Depends on the medium really.

      The Criterion Collection is still kicking so its selected works are still getting highly curated physical releases. Vinyl records are growing in popularity for those enthusiasts.

      It’s video games that have the biggest issue, and it’s saddening because they are the most in need of preservation due to patching, updates, licenses, DRM, etc.

      Wish the big three would come together for some type of preservation goal at the very least.

      • piece
        link
        fedilink
        English
        61 year ago

        Wish the big three would come together for some type of preservation goal at the very least.

        It’s sad, but I doubt this will happen if it isn’t profitable in some ways. We need an external organization to do this, as it happens with the preservation of every other media (at least I think)

      • Bri Guy
        link
        fedilink
        English
        31 year ago

        Not just vinyl but CDs and cassettes are coming back too. Crazy.

    • @Peddler
      link
      English
      101 year ago

      You’re going to run into video game preservation issues with or without physical media. I’ve been playing through the GBA/DS catalog and some of the games are selling at prohibitively high prices. Not that I needed a lot of nudging to find another way to play the games…

      • @avapa
        link
        English
        61 year ago

        Playing on original hardware has its charms but emulation is often a better experience anyway. I have an N64 sitting in the closet collecting dust because a) it’s a PAL console (sigh), b) the analog stick is shot and c) my TV doesn’t support SCART. I know I could get an NTSC console, buy replacement gears for the stick, buy a RetroTink to get HDMI support, etc. At some point it’s just too much of a hassle for nostalgia’s sake.

        • @Peddler
          link
          English
          61 year ago

          Yep, I’ve had similar experiences with handhelds even for games that I own. I could play Metroid Fusion on my SP and get cramps in both of my hands trying to hold it.

          Or I could just find a way to run it on the DSi.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      71 year ago

      I am not really worried about the discs or DRM as those will eventually get cracked. It is the multiplayer games without user hosted dedicated services that bother me.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      61 year ago

      It does suck. I buy used games for a fraction of the price new/digital usually is, but there has been a few times over the last few years where the game has no physical edition and it annoys the hell out of me. I’d go full digital if it meant I actually own the media I am purchasing and didn’t have bullshit online requirements. Oh well, back to more piracy.

  • 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘬
    link
    fedilink
    English
    421 year ago

    What’s the purpose of a physical version if there is no disk included? This is nonsense!

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      131 year ago

      They are trying to appeal to collectors but also want to squash selling or trading your game. MS has been trying to do this for 10 years.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      101 year ago

      From the business side Pretty much just being able to give it as a gift. Also make it more discoverable to people who aren’t able to buy it online for whatever reason.

      From the personal side No damn idea

    • @sorenant
      link
      English
      51 year ago

      To make useless plastic cases to help the environment, of course.

    • Dandroid
      link
      fedilink
      English
      81 year ago

      Why? Not trying to argue, just genuinely curious.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        371 year ago

        If they’re calling it a physical copy it should be a physical copy of the game data. Having a case to hold a code is a ridiculous slap in the face. And a waste of plastic

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          11 year ago

          Unless (and I’m not saying it’s the case here) they make sure took indicate it’s only the code and include swag like physical maps, a game booklet, or limited edition collectables with it. Then I could see it.

          Otherwise it’s just misleading advertising

      • @Arbiter
        link
        English
        131 year ago

        You can resell a disk, not a code that is one time use.

        • exu
          link
          fedilink
          English
          101 year ago

          Or maybe it should be possible to resell a code.

          • ClarkZuckerberg
            link
            English
            21 year ago

            The reason they would never do this (unless the console maker and game publisher take a huge cut) is because buying a code vs buying a new digital game is the same thing. So why would someone buy a game directly from Xbox’s storefront, rather than buy a “used” code which ends up being the same thing to the user. Plus the codes would have to be sold on some sort of verified marketplace by Xbox, or whomever, or it would be a disaster of people getting scammed and bad PR. I just don’t see a world where it works.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            -41 year ago

            Probably need some way to track who owns the code in a robust way. I will not say what technology might come to mind.

            • @SheeEttin
              link
              English
              7
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              The word you’re looking for is “database”

            • exu
              link
              fedilink
              English
              11 year ago

              Why would you need that? You don’t have that with physical copies either.

              • @[email protected]
                link
                fedilink
                English
                11 year ago

                The physical copy already has a tangible form which probably has copy protection built in. If a code would be transferred instead of copied, it would be necessary to know who owns it.

                • exu
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  11 year ago

                  You would have to deactivate the game in the store before you got the code out. That deactivation would also delete the game files to clean up everything.
                  Maybe you made a copy somewhere else, but you’d now have to crack the DRM on most games.
                  Only if the game doesn’t have DRM it relies on you honoring the agreement.
                  A similar situation would be processing refunds, where GOG allows refunds up to 30 days after purchase, even if you downloaded and launched the game.

      • deejay4am
        link
        English
        91 year ago

        We shouldn’t have to rent everything. If you want free market economics (which corporations claim) then don’t hold the market captive. You cannot have it both ways.

  • Dieal
    link
    English
    381 year ago

    We don’t own media anymore

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      231 year ago

      I never thought I’d write something like this but by pirating it and downloading it on our hard drives, we come closest to what we used to know as ‘own’

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        31 year ago

        this is why i dont spend money on games anymore. the network of pirates will always be stronger than steam’s network of business men.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          51 year ago

          Idk, feels more comfy if the Games just work on the Steam Deck or Linux PC without needing to tinker.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            21 year ago

            i find developers/publishers are most likely to sacrifice your comfort first and foremost, and many of the games ive pirated have run worse for me or my friends when run legally. but i must admit i enjoyed the process of tinkering with windows on my steam deck, and the piracy workflow for steamOS is seamful.

          • @cowmouse
            link
            English
            11 year ago

            Have a look at Bottles, it’s on Flathub.

        • neo (he/him)
          link
          fedilink
          English
          21 year ago

          It’s more a combo of “Gabe doesn’t care” and “Steam makes it really easy to add pirated games to your list”

      • Dieal
        link
        English
        21 year ago

        That’s the main reason I pirate games. I sent this picture to some of my friends and they all replied with “yeah, they’re right, physical copies are a waste of resources”

    • Arcaneslime
      link
      fedilink
      English
      161 year ago

      Mmmmmm my torrents say otherwise. Can’t stop me! Shit like this is why I torrent unless you’ve got tapes or wax for me.

      (This message was brought to you bt Piracy.)

    • @sorenant
      link
      English
      51 year ago

      Buy only from gog.

    • @Gangreless
      link
      English
      51 year ago

      Pirate -> burn to disc

      Congrats, you own a physical copy.

    • @mrfriki
      link
      English
      41 year ago

      True, that’s why I only buy at rent price.

    • Ataraxia
      link
      English
      31 year ago

      They never intended us to. There were lawsuits against vcr manufacturers and push back every time there was a way to keep a copy of any media. They never wanted anyone to own it, just to consume it.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    201 year ago

    Some will never experience the wonder of intensively reading the manual of a game on the way home from a store. Discs are becoming as rare as Manuals now.

    • Stefen Auris
      link
      fedilink
      English
      101 year ago

      most people rarely read the directions (and it shows), but I recall loving reading the manuals to my Nintendo64 games

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        61 year ago

        Remember the little note section at the end of some manuals to scribble your tips and codes?

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      21 year ago

      Or cool nonstandard boxes. But retail hated them so now we get easily stackable standardized game cases and we better be happy about it or else.

  • Lols [they/them]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    191 year ago

    apparently they deleted this right after, but its a sign of some bullshit either way

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    181 year ago

    Well, isn’t that exactly where Microsoft wanted to go in the first place all those years back when Sony made fun of them in E3?

    • Mcbinary
      link
      fedilink
      English
      81 year ago

      Yep, this is the same shit they were trying to pull with the Xbox and Sony out a bunch of commercials of them handing their games to each other to let their friends borrow the game.

      This is dumb.

  • @SpacemanZ
    link
    English
    17
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    deleted by creator

    • Briongloid
      link
      fedilink
      English
      41 year ago

      Since the 360 we’ve had install discs for sizes above Disc 1.

    • @hemko
      link
      English
      21 year ago

      Branded usb sticks would be really cool way to deliver games

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    131 year ago

    I recently got a ps3 from a friend and have been buying cheap games and having a blast, this will be impossible with the newest consoles

  • Astigma
    link
    English
    121 year ago

    The fact the tweet this information came from has since been deleted could mean it’s false info. We’ll see if Godd Howard clarifies in the coming days.

    • WonkoTheSane
      link
      fedilink
      English
      71 year ago

      Perhaps they meant it will contain the disc AND a code? But either way it’s hopefully a mistake

    • @simpleOP
      link
      English
      31 year ago

      I hope so, but part of me thinks they deleted it to try and curb the backlash as pre-order sales are really high.

      • Astigma
        link
        English
        21 year ago

        Yeah I wouldn’t be surprised honestly. I’m just huffing copium until official confirmation. It doesn’t affect me anyway as I’m on PC but it’s a huge disservice to the console players if there isn’t a 1.0 build on a disc they can own forever.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      21 year ago

      Even if it includes a physical disk, it will most probably only have the launcher or a downloader on it.

  • @twistedtxb
    link
    English
    71 year ago

    I can’t say I’m surprised but its a testament of the slowly dying state of physical media

  • Stovetop
    link
    fedilink
    English
    51 year ago

    FYI: The Xbox version will still contain a physical disc. It is just the PC versions which will not.

    Not that you should preorder in the first place, but before someone cancels their Xbox preorder over the news, figured some clarification would help.

  • @Maggoty
    link
    English
    51 year ago

    The only reason they didn’t go down the path of serialized discs was the digital market being on the horizon. They were always going to nuke the second hand market.

  • Uriel-238
    link
    fedilink
    English
    4
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    When I was just a lad looking for my true vocation
    My father said "Now son, this choice deserves deliberation
    Though you could be a doctor or perhaps a financier
    My boy, why not consider a more challenging career?" ☠️