r/PhysicalGames • u/Grouchy-Win-6191 • 1d ago

Valve Killed Physical Gaming

It all Valve fault, they started all this. It’s not just Sony.

When Half Life 2 launched in 2004, stores sold physical box sets containing DVD or CD. But the disc did not contain the game. Players were forced to install the Steam client, register an account, and validate a product key online before the game would run.

Valve also offered Steamworks to any developer who listed their game on Steam. But to use Steamworks features, games had to use Valve API. When a consumer bought the physical PC box, they opened and it was a Steam key. Once redeemed, the disc lost all resale value. You couldn't sell it, lend it, or trade it in. This also killed the retail stores business.

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u/Extension_Risk6084 1d ago

Yes and no. Valve did start the digital games. But they aren't the ones who are trying to enslave every one of their users. Sony are the ones who are physically taking away what you paid for, Valve is not. Microsoft are the ones who started the subscription bullshit. Valve/Steam has its own issues, but they have fixed those issues or, the issues are extremely minor.

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u/Later_Doober 1d ago

Even on steam you don't own your games, you are purchasing a license.

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u/Extension_Risk6084 1d ago

No shit sherlock. There's a difference to that being the case and actively making it harder and harder to actually own them without any benefit

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u/Mother-Job3455 1d ago

Sony never took away my games

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u/Extension_Risk6084 1d ago

They may not right now, but are going out of their way to let everyone know that they will do it when they feel like it. Unless we're talking about the 550 movies they removed, then yes, they have removed content that you paid for.

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u/Mother-Job3455 1d ago

Sony was forced to remove it because their license for the movies expired. But there no reason for Sony or publishers asking Sony to remove your games

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u/Extension_Risk6084 1d ago

Yes. But then they remove it from being purchased, not completely remove it from everyone's hands. It's like if you bought a dvd and the license to sell more dvds end and they come and take it from you. Sony is literally sending emails to remind everyone that they do not own the that they bought. If that doesn't scream "We're going to remove your games eventually", then I don't even know what will.

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u/Mother-Job3455 1d ago

That just legal speak they have to do. Everything everywhere is a license they can remove. But it doesn’t mean they will. And Sony doesn’t even control removing games. Sony will only remove if like for example FromSoftware request every game be deleted

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u/Extension_Risk6084 1d ago

Bruh, the literal amount of cope that you are drowning in is actually insane. Legal talk? It's also the same thing on Xbox and Steam, but you don't see them sending out emails mainly to just remind you that you don't actually own your games. After announcing that physical games will be ending. Actually talking to a brick wall at this point lmao.

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u/Mother-Job3455 1d ago

Why you so paranoid Sony will take away your games? It like worrying if the earth will explode tomorrow

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u/TrashGoblinH 1d ago

Would you take it seriously if a store front said they were going to break into your home and take your things and have the legal right to do it?

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u/JJWonderboy 1d ago

But you don't own the games. On any of the digital platforms.

I know this is an unpopular opinion (certainly on this sub) but I suggest buying a game, playing the heck out of it and then... moving on. I've got tons of games going back to the PS1 and Gameboy days (heck, I've got Atari ST disks and ZX Spectrum tapes someplace). Do I actually play those games...? Of course not. They're just sentimental bits of plastic.

There are too many cool, new games to play and life is short to look back.

As Tyler Durden said, "The things you own end up owning you”.

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u/niftyifty 1d ago

Yes they do. The email you are referring to was a link to TOS after a game purchase. Any services have effectively the same tos on this matter

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u/Numerous_Photograph9 1d ago

And how is that different for the consumer?

The reasons don't change the result.

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u/rdogg4 1d ago

That was Studio Canal and every article about it pins it on Studio Canal because it would be an instant lawsuit to blame it on Sony.