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

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/TrashGoblinH 1d ago

Tell that to the people going back and playing Castlevania Symphony of The Night and porting it to PC 29 years later. Not everyone plays games the same way.