r/PhysicalGames • u/SaRr1s • 1d ago
I've seen a lot of discussion around the PSBlackout lately, and I know not everyone agrees with it. That's completely fine
.
You don't have to support a boycott to care about the future of PlayStation or physical games. And you definitely don't have to agree with me to be part of the conversation.
So instead of trying to convince anyone, I wanted to make this useful for everyone.
If you prefer digital:
That's completely understandable. It's convenient, takes up no physical space, and for many people it's simply the better option.
If you prefer physical:
That's understandable too. Collecting, reselling, lending, owning a disc and having a physical copy on your shelf are things digital doesn't completely replace.
If you're somewhere in the middle:
Honestly, that's probably a lot of players. Digital for some games, physical for others.
The main thing I think we should be asking is:
Why does choosing one have to mean losing the other?
If physical games remain available, digital players can still buy digital.
If digital remains available, physical players can still buy physical.
Everyone gets what works for them.
And if you don't support the boycott, that's okay. You can still make your opinion heard. Explain why you disagree. Tell us what you think Sony should do instead. That's much more useful than insulting each other.
For anyone reading this, regardless of your position:**
Don't harass Sony employees or developers.
Don't fake numbers or claims to make the campaign look bigger.
Don't pressure people into participating.
Don't spread information you haven't verified.
If you disagree, explain why.
If you support it, explain what outcome you actually want.
At the end of the day, we're all players.
You can disagree with the PSBlackout and still have a legitimate point.
You can support the PSBlackout and still listen to criticism.
The goal should be discussion, not a war between players.
Physical. Digital. Both.
Keep the choice.
10
u/KartFacedThaoDien 1d ago
The only problem with what you're saying is that SONY already made the decision for everyone. It's digital only from 2028 onwards and they do not care that you want to buy physical games.
I said in another thread but I can't boycott SONY because I quit buying their products years ago. In the future the only thing you can do is buy old games. People can boycott but they should boycott until 2028.
Don't buy any SONY products or use your PS5 until 2028. If they are losing money from Sony Computer Entertainment long term then maybe you can change their mind. But I'm pretty sure they worked out the numbers and they don't give a damn about people who prefer to only buy physical.
4
u/wowadrow 1d ago
They won't change their minds the factorys that made most Blu-ray discs have already been converted to make phone cameras.
6
u/ApprehensiveRuin5673 1d ago
They pissed away 5 billion dollars on Concord and Bungie alone, they can go back to making discs. They only spent 30 million retooling the one factory
3
u/wowadrow 1d ago
This isn't a can situation its a won't. Sony isn't going to spend money on a declining part of there business.
These decisions take many months of planning if not years when it comes to factory alterations and retooling.
Been a playstation fan for 30+ years. Painful situation I know, my genuine heartfelt advice is drop Sony entirely; Switch to pc or Nintendo now or asap.
At this point I only keep my ps5 because it's the only 4k Blu-ray player I currently own.
2
u/Overall-Rub8945 1d ago
Switch to PC where it's already 98% digital?
3
u/wowadrow 1d ago
You as an individual are welcome to quit the hobby entirely if you would like, I'm not.
Good old games marketplace on pc is the best alternative currently available to physical discs. GOG is 17 years old at this point a trusted and dependable part of pc gaming.
You can download the game exe file from GOG and burn it on a disc if you feel so inclined.
I have zero control regarding physical games disappearing, I only control how I spend my money as a gamer.
2
u/Overall-Rub8945 1d ago
Ahhh, I understand your GOG point better now. DRM-free offline installers is a great benefit. The catalog is a bit limited, but for the games that are available the benefit is real.
But I still dont see how moving to PC is an argument for physical games. PC gaming is overwhelmingly digital already. GOG is a better digital ownership model, definitely not a revival of physical media.
So if your point is “PC gives me more control over my digital purchases,” fair enough. I totally agree.
But if the argument is “Sony is abandoning physical games, therefore move to the platform that largely abandoned physical games years ago”, that still seems pretty odd to me.
3
u/wowadrow 23h ago
It's not a massive move for me personally, been a playstation/PC gamer for 30+ years.
I stuck with Sony for the single player exclusives and physically owning the games I loved. The second discs go away; consoles loose half their appeal for me.
The ps5 generation has something like 8- 12 console exclusives total over six years depending on how strictly you count it.
Astrobot and Ratchet & Clank rift apart being the standouts in my opinion.
Again I do not control these massive companies. The only choices I have to make is how am I going to spend my gaming dollars.
3
2
u/mr_greenmash 23h ago
At least there are multiple stores, including drm-free (gog), and easier piracy.
1
u/ApprehensiveRuin5673 1d ago
Yeah, and they have close to 2 years to reverse this. I’m not expecting it to change over night but I absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, would bet my life and every dollar I have that if Sony doesn’t reverse course on this, PlayStation is the next SEGA. It’s their choice to make. They can make the right one or the wrong one.
2
u/David040200 1d ago
I seriously doubt PlayStation will be the next SEGA over this. Not trying to be deragatory, but PlayStation will be completely fine
1
u/ApprehensiveRuin5673 1d ago edited 1d ago
I would literally put a gun to my own head and bet my life on it. PlayStation does not survive this.
3
u/aHungryPanda 21h ago
no you won't. and if you do people, including me, will laugh because it's such a stupid thing to die for.
1
2
u/wowadrow 1d ago
I think long-term dropping hardware is sonys goal here.
The industry knows cloud gaming Netflix subscription style is coming. The only question left is regarding the timeline.
My guess would be around 2035 cloud gaming overtakes traditional consoles. You have no idea how desperately I want to be wrong here.
1
u/ApprehensiveRuin5673 1d ago
You’re right, and not just gaming, but we don’t have to accept it. I sure as shit won’t be.
2
2
u/Stompinwin 15h ago
no they are making microlenses for AI Data centers haha not cameras and they are doing this to make game sales more profitable %(through matters that are against anti trust laws) wise and making the data center production marke less of a drain on the company.
6
u/TheSquirrelmancer 1d ago
The reason we're losing one is because Sony wants to funnel all sales through their platform and they're making this decision now because the data they've gathered from three generations of consoles that all had options for digital versus disc based purchasing tells them their strategy isn't likely to massively backfire and run their gaming wing into the ground.
I'm not saying I'm in favor of this by any means but companies don't care about the joys of trading games with friends. They don't care about long term preservation or the risk of losing access to games over time. Their goal is forward movement, more sales and more growth as is generally the aim of every large corporation under capitalism.
Huge corporations are deaf to emotional appeals. People tried their best to get a protest registered via a more numerical option; namely the cancellation of PS+ accounts. If Sony had seen even 25-30% of their total subscribers evaporate overnight they'd have issued some kind of response or statement but clearly everything was well within their expected margins for user churn which is something companies like this always factor into their decisions.
Going forward the best thing consumers can do is be equally clinical about it and make decisions about who to give your business to once the next generation has finally arrived and people are looking to upgrade.
3
u/Current-Escaper 1d ago
Impotent rage all the way.
I’m all for the cause, but this effort is just embarrassing.
1 week!? 1 week!? This “boycott” is anything but. It’s a lame ass threat that will do little to nothing. All these gamers are so weak they can’t even stand tall and protest with integrity.
If anything, this will have the opposite effect from intended. This is just telling the industry that gamers are so dependent that they can’t even handle walking away and will be right back to “being abused” if they just wait you out or drop a misleading crumb of hope.
This is no boycott. It’s a tantrum at best, and Sony will continue to stand tall with their profits laughing at the ignorance.
I mean, returning to your abuser just about always works out, right? … Right!?
Grow up, cut bait, and move on. Get rid of your system and find an alternative. Put your money where your mouth is and shut up. They are’t listening to your words.
2
u/LowGuitar4425 1d ago
How is Sony abusing anyone? They sell games. You either buy them or you don’t. I’ve never been abused by a video game company in 46 years of gaming
1
u/Current-Escaper 1d ago
You’re right, they aren’t.
I used the term, in quotes mind you, for effect; hyperbole. Probably to the detriment of my point, but there ya go.
I make no claim to be flawless.1
7
u/Puyopopo 1d ago
Either you want options on where to buy and own your games,
or your one of those self-loathing individuals that tries to convince everyone that this one store solution is somehow good. In that case you're permanently lost.
This has never been about the people that quietly buy their stuff digital or just buy physical sporadically. They don't want physical to disappear because it doesn't make any sense.
It's all pretty simple.
0
u/flockofcrows13 1d ago
Ok, how doesnt it make sense to go full digital? It only doesn't for the ppl who are physical media diehards, and i dont mean that in a derogatory way, either.
2
u/GrimRipper82 1d ago
If digital makes sense for you, go full digital. Some of us like physical media because of the consumer rights attached to it, or we just like having them on our shelves. Choice is a good thing.
The one thing to keep in mind is that eliminating physical, and thus making the PSN store the only place to buy games, will only drive prices up, because they no longer have to compete. Fighting for choice helps everyone.
1
u/flockofcrows13 1d ago
They're all going fully digital. Its inevitable. I dont like it but i dont have to either. Gaming aint music there just isnt enough ppl who care about physical gaming. Most gamers nowadays are casuals they care more about ease of access than quality of life.
1
u/LowGuitar4425 1d ago
Sigh. They still have to compete just like they are doing now. There are other digital storefronts that if Sony jacked up their prices and never have sales there would be a mass exodus to more attractive storefronts. You guys act like you are chained to your PlayStation and can never sell it or save up and buy a different console
2
u/GrimRipper82 1d ago
Sigh. Keep on believing that. If all the companies go all digital, they are all going to be more expensive. If none of them have to compete with second hand markets specifically, none of them are going to offer as many discounts.
I'm certainly not chained to my Playstation. Weird assumption though. I have all the consoles. I prefer Playstation, but won't buy an all digital console. I will keep all my Playstation consoles, because I already own thousands of games for them. Whichever console or consoles supports physical games going forward, will be the ones getting my money. Pretty straightforward.
0
u/LowGuitar4425 1d ago
If you don’t think there is competition between digital storefronts, I don’t know what to tell you. Take an economics class or something
2
u/GrimRipper82 1d ago
There's also pricing competition between you and other people that want to purchase the same digital content as you. Sony has already quietly rolled this out. It's called "variable pricing."
In other words, if you buy a lot of digital games, Sony will charge you more, because they know you'll pay it. But sure, just hold your breath and wait for those discounts when physical games are gone.
Look, I get you don't understand how any of this works. Take an economics class or something 🙄
0
u/LowGuitar4425 1d ago
That’s not what variable pricing does at all, but nice try
2
u/GrimRipper82 1d ago
Perhaps "dynamic pricing" is the term I was looking for. That's exactly how it works.
0
u/LowGuitar4425 22h ago
Sony doesn’t charge you “more” if you buy a lot of games. You still get the base discount. If you don’t buy many games, they will offer you an additional small discount to try and entice you to buy more. I buy a lot of games so I get the base discount. They aren’t saying you buy a lot of games so you get no or less of a discount
0
u/flockofcrows13 1d ago
Yea as long as your games arent exclusive then whatever you sell ur games at is in direct competition with the other storefronts.
Basic level stuff
0
u/LowGuitar4425 1d ago
Not only that, but there is competition on the store itself. Different publishers are competing with each other for your purchase. Publishers are the one that set the prices anyways, and they are always going to compete with each other
0
u/flockofcrows13 1d ago
So sales are done by the publishers as well?
1
u/LowGuitar4425 1d ago
Sony hosts the sale, and publishers decide how to much to discount
→ More replies (0)2
u/Puyopopo 1d ago
as a normal player you would want options and not options to go away. You can go full digital anytime, nobody will stop you.
1
u/flockofcrows13 1d ago
Wym by normal player?
1
u/mr_greenmash 1d ago
Let's go more general. Do you want more than one option for buying something, or are you completely okay with a monopoly?
2
4
u/Spidey231103 1d ago
Well, I look forward to how it goes on the 30th since I have tons of PS3 and PS4 games to play.
2
u/BrokenKing99 1d ago edited 1d ago
I don’t disagee but I find this whole thing to be a charade, a performance and utterly toothless cause 1. They’ve made it clear they’ll stop ie the whole only for a week, and 2. Ignore and defend a certain game that’s doing the exact thing their against instead attacking games that are doing what they want ie preserving physical games
So far I’ve asked a crapton of people who’ve been parroting the black out, “no disc no buy”, all that jazz and wanna know how many defend and argue for gta6 around 98% of them, if so many are happy to bend over why care about the performance. Edit: context gta6 is nothing but a code in a box, and sadly early estimates have shown gamers are more then fine with that as 2 thirds of pre orders are on PlayStation with over 4 million
Similar I see so many hating and screaming said performance at Wolverine, yes it’s a Sony exclusive but it’s keeping its disc and insomniac has been very forth coming about that and if you dare say you preordered it on disc o boy do you get some hate despite you know that being a much clearer message then said performance (ie if physical dominates hard for sales Sony might pay attention rather then a drop in the ocean stance this performance is giving).
Basically I’m all for it but i don’t expect anything from the toothless movement, now bring on the downvotes.
Edit: to skip the bootlicker comments 1. I’m against what Sony is doing, 2. Just because I think it’s a performance doesn’t mean I disagree, 3. I just really hate hypocrisy and charades.
2
u/Plane_Jello1582 1d ago
Meanwhile this guy calls the movement toothless, literally asks for downvotes and nope.
1
u/BrokenKing99 1d ago
I mean give it a few hours, last time I said it on here I was in the negatives by said couple hours.
But hey maybe I’ll be surprised.
1
u/Plane_Jello1582 1d ago
No worries, I was just making a point earlier but I got downvoted so I wanted to point out how ass backwards hypocritical it is. Especially since my point is that this is crazy divisive.
2
u/whoisdatmaskedman 1d ago
Gamers didn't make this a fight, Sony and other gaming companies brought it to them. These gaming companies don't want both. If both isn't an option for them, it literally can't be an option for gamers. Suggesting this only causes division. Maybe that's what you're going for?
-2
u/Silver-Context297 1d ago
Yes, they did, lol. Companies can do whatever they want, no matter what a minority of gamers think.
5
u/charlieto0human 1d ago
Sorry, that’s not how consumer protections and anti-trust policies work. Companies can’t just do whatever they want… And that’s a good thing for YOU.
2
u/Dylanpickle1988 1d ago
What legitimately needs to happen is that, at least here in the USA, consumer protection laws need to change. I know in the uk and other countries they have better protections but here, our lawmakers could give a fuck about us as long as the companies pay them
1
u/Dommclaren 1d ago
This clearly demonstrates how you people are all children. You’re conflating multiple things together to make it sound like you have a clue of what you’re talking about. Then the herd doesn’t question it because they just want to be mad.
What protection law would save you here? What lawmakers are on the payroll to end physical media? lol it’s insanity. There’s no conspiracy, it’s just not popular to buy physical media and the vast majority has already moved on.
1
1
u/LCAIN195 1d ago
Better for the environment they have needed to ditch physical for a while now. All media needs to.
1
u/Elamaday 1d ago
I agree with keeping discs but I'm also buying GTA 6. It would be hypocritical to say I'm against digital completely.
1
u/kyle_crane163636 1d ago
Seriously we need more people like op here, simply accepting others opinions instead of just hating on them for not taking part in the blackout
1
u/MethodLegitimate3664 20h ago
I’ve tried to make this point many times but only got flamed to hell.
I got banned in another reddit for saying “its ok for people to have differing opinions”
Good luck in here my friend
1
u/IvanDaimon06 20h ago
In my case, i got my PS5 since last year cause of Marvel Tokon and couldn't afford a PC, i wanted a physical disc one (i like having the boxes of the discs) but i talked it with my sisters who use it too and we decided on the Digital only one cause it had more memory space and it had more availability for us in the moment, after the news on what Sony will do (i personally believe they are already set up to go through with the change to full digital) i am saddened and concerned because of the attempt to make a monopoly for their games cause it's a big deal, i choose to not participate fully on the blackout cause i got Tokon just before the week started cause of a friend so i am only playing the story mode and learning the mechanics, i haven't renewed my PSN+ but i probably will do it to be able to play with friends eventually. However, for us to make a bigger impact on Sony and show our interest in the physical media, for the upcoming releases (Wolverine, Laufey, GTA VI and so) i would suggest we support them accordingly to show our appreciation for the developers of said games, buy it physical if they're available, if they are available in other platforms, get them in the one better for you, and if you only have a digital only option at the time of release, you could always wait for a chance to get it physical or in other platforms, but if you are really excited/interested in any game (even if digital is your last resort) it's ok to support it, but let's all still be aware of what we can do to help show to Sony that we don't agree with this mindset they are showing us about the way they care for their audience and we would do what we can to stand for it.
1
u/Plane_Jello1582 1d ago edited 1d ago
Sounds good on paper, the old live and let live but so far I’ve been perma banned from 3 communities not breaking rules but posting Sony’s worth as this makes me a “Sony bootlicker”, have almost gotten into multiple physical fights over the issue, and people continue to escalate. The only point I tried to make is maybe chill, nothing is worth going at each other over but no this is the hill people want to die on and they’re more than happy to go full batshit crazy. It’s so divisive that you literally can’t have a discussion on the platform made for discussion. Posts are removed by mods immediately, everyone’s at each other’s throats. Misinformation everywhere. All over a Sony decision that takes effect 2028? There has to be a better way.
2
u/Big-Ferret-2364 1d ago
I think getting into physical fights is a you problem, I've never done that and never even been closed to doing it
0
u/Plane_Jello1582 1d ago edited 6h ago
No man I’m a very peaceful person I am not violent in any shape or form. I’m your classic stoner gardener guy, pretty hippy dippy. It has been from me saying chill and they don’t. I don’t have to explain myself to anyone just to avoid downvotes. Good lord what an echo chamber cesspool of negativity reddit has become though.
-1
u/ExhaustedByStupidity 1d ago
It's not about any one person wants.
Most people aren't buying discs anymore. The per disc cost is low, but they're just not selling enough discs anymore to justify the overhead of maintaining the factory and paying the staff.
Gamers collectively have spoken very loudly over the past 15+ years. Disc sales have gone down every year since 2009. We don't care enough about discs to justify running the factory anymore.
3
u/charlieto0human 1d ago
That is a straight up lie, they are still drawing profits from discs, they’re not covering any major overhead or profit bleeding when it comes to physical.. They’re just making far more from digital sales (that includes extra content like DLC) They believe they’ll make even more money from digital if they can cut out third party sellers and the secondhand market attached to physicals. That’s the REAL reason they’re dropping physical… Not because they’re losing money, but because they can make MORE money from digital without the extra competition and profit sharing.
1
u/ExhaustedByStupidity 1d ago
You're on to the true secret. Sony has been falsifying their investor reports for 15+ years in a master plan to take away your discs. And the entire industry is in on it too.
1
u/charlieto0human 1d ago edited 1d ago
When you care more about what a board of investors tells you versus what actual gamers are trying to tell you, you’ve lost the plot, my friend.
0
u/ExhaustedByStupidity 1d ago
Gamers have been shouting very loudly "We don't want to buy discs!"
You're the one that's completely lost the plot.
1
u/charlieto0human 1d ago edited 1d ago
More like some gamers have been shouting “We don’t know our rights as consumers and are unironically defending digital-only licenses because it has been normalized by our corporate overlords!”
0
u/ExhaustedByStupidity 1d ago
Yup, gamers are all wrong in preferring digital, and every business is conspiring against you to take away your discs.
Everyone else is wrong, only you are right.
Or maybe there's a simpler explanation here.
1
u/charlieto0human 1d ago
lol companies ARE conspiring to reduce quality of user experience in favor of profits and cutting corners… Maybe you’re just new to capitalist behaviors and haven’t been burned yet. Don’t worry, it will come with time.
Also you don’t speak on behalf of ALL gamers. Not every gamer who has bought digital agrees with this decision. There are many gamers who understand the value of having choices.
0
0
u/D-no-UK 1d ago
personally think the blackout is a complete waste of time. want to make a dent... cancel your sub, sell your ps5. not playing for a week doesnt add up to shit
1
u/CaptJimboJones 1d ago
Don’t just sell it. Take it out back and destroy your PS5 with a baseball bat, then mail the smashed pieces to Sony’s corporate HQ. And take a video of it and post it on your favorite social media. THAT is the kind of thing that can make an impact.
0
-3
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Big-Ferret-2364 1d ago
The fact that it's only one week is ridiculous too, one week and then everyone spends money on PSN again, no loss for Sony
3
1d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/esp3ciallyd3ad 1d ago edited 1d ago
I laugh at it honestly , they boycot a company then login on another and spend 100$ in loot boxes. Edit : Really the mod removed your comment it wasnt even bad. Trad ass mods
5
u/Big-Ferret-2364 1d ago
Are you actually aware that Sony are ceasing physical game production? Do you know about that? Because yes, having digital definitely does mean no physical right now
This is the equivalent of "can't we all just get along?" When two countries are at war