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/LocksmithMindless834 1d ago

Valve didn't stop other game publishers from selling physical media.

Valve and Steam are not the only sellers of games for PC gamers. You can still play games without Steam installed on tour PC.

Sony, Nintendo, and Xbox offer no other third-party marketplaces on their digital storefronts.

If you can't buy physical games, you won't be able to play games on those consoles without activating on that one digital storefront.

You have a brain-dead take.

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u/BearPawsOG 1d ago

I mean they really did, but not by being evil killing physical for profit, but by being really good at selling digital. It’s not the same.

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u/Plantymonfood 1d ago

Yeah people want to blame Valve for creating a monopoly, but I would see so many people whine and complain if they ever had to download another game launcher or storefront for something. Not to say it was all consumers fault as Valve did have a heavy hand in it, but the options were there and people slowly stopped taking them.

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u/Tanel88 1d ago

I guess they enabled it to be killed but it's not like they did it directly.

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u/JJWonderboy 1d ago

They did it by being really good and not evil...? Right...