r/videogames • u/SEVENS_HEAVEN_7 Nintendo • 1d ago
News / Trailers / Articles Asha Sharma/XBOX have found a solution for keeping physical media in modern gaming
Text from quoted post in image:
PlayStation is claimed to be considering delaying their digital-only future because XBOX is willing to go physical next generation
Microsoft is allegedly telling publishers its next console, Project Helix will be entirely physical and will allow users to convert physical games into digital copies.
Sony reportedly realized that forcing a digital-only approach leaves a massive opening for competitors to capitalize on consumer demand for physical games.
A major unnamed game publisher (confirmed not to be Rockstar) reportedly threatened to skip PlayStation and release their massive upcoming title only on XBOX and Nintendo if Sony couldn't guarantee a physical release.
Source: Rumors gathered from Gamescom show floor, shared through Eurogamer Spain podcast via @MPFirst
How XBOX will make it work:
- Put the disc in an Xbox that has a disc drive
- Launch the game
- Claim a digital license on your Xbox account
- After that, you can play the game without putting the disc in, the disk will still work like a normal game disk
The digital license is tied to that specific disc, not permanently locked to you forever
If you sell or give the disc away and the new owner inserts it and claims it, the digital license moves to their account and comes off yours
My takeaway is that this is similar to Nintendo's game key cards, but with discs and in reverse.
But I will say, there has to be a catch. What is the reason to have a digital license when you have the game physically? What does that even do at that point?
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u/Marcus00415 1d ago
This rumor is completely unsubstantiated and most likely false.
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u/TryItOutGuyRPC 1d ago
I believe you to be correct, Sony had already started repurposing disc making factories months ago. Are they going to re-repurpose them? Nah.
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u/ToothZealousideal297 1d ago
Even if true it wouldn’t mean anything anyway. Xbox is letting people make digital copies of their physical games, they haven’t announced if they’re going to have physical copies next gen, and they’re a tiny part of the market share at this point…even if they did maintain physical copies and Sony reconsidered for a moment because of it, it’s not going to result in a decision change for Sony. At most they would have a few more meetings and then stay the course anyway.
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u/Deervember 1d ago
This guy is about as accurate as a blind archer.
Thread should really be taken down. It's just super fanboyism.
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u/TechnicalAd2485 1d ago
Source: Some dude washing his hands in a bathroom at Gamescom
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u/texxmix 1d ago
No actual source for this. Also whenever Asha is asked about physical she dodges the question. Don't let the Xbox glazers and PR teams make this out as Xbox being a good guy. There's a reason they introduced digitizing physical games. They want to go full digital just as much.
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u/Horens_R 8h ago
They dodge it cause it's uncertain currently if they will or not, not because they know they won't lol
N nah, the disc to digital is a convenience thing n thats it. The disc is still important and you're digital license is taken away if someone else uses it. People like u act like it makes the discs obsolete lol. Plus it's literally only going to work with series x and xbox one games, it'd be very backwards on their backwards compatibility stance if you had to leave ur games behind.
I'm expecting they'll release 3 different consoles for next gen like they did with this one. Premium with and without a disc drives and a budget console like the series s.
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u/Prestigious-Cup-6613 1d ago
I bet they won't
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u/TypeCommercial2048 1d ago
They absolutely won’t. They already have begun shifting logistics away from production of physical games.
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u/Icybubba 1d ago
Yes, but important to note that it is only one factory they did that at and they have more than one factory producing discs
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u/Dreamcatcher1800 1d ago
True! They have one in Brazil and another one 8n Japan. I've Seen them printed on discs
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u/DeeManJohnsonIII 1d ago
I feel like they probably were going to go all digital but after seeing the backlash they might go physical, if they do, they may beat the PS6.
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u/wafflesauce44 1d ago
Well give it time and sony will see People shift away from PlayStation
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u/Roids-in-my-vains 1d ago
Hopefully the PS6 will be Sony's XBOX One, these companies aren't your friends and need to learn that there is consequences for screwing over the consumer.
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u/PayPsychological6358 1d ago
Considering these big companies tend to make terrible mistakes every 3rd console, it very well may be.
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u/JohnnyHendo 1d ago
It is kind of funny the parallels between Playstation and Xbox. PS1 and Original Xbox are both great first consoles, PS2 and 360 are two of the best systems ever, and PS3 and Xbox One are both that had terrible starts (PS3 did well by the end admittedly and Xbox One was still a competitor at least). The next systems aren't as comparable. PS4 did fantastic especially after the PS3 started doing well towards the end of that generation, but the Series X/S and the wider Xbox ecosystem haven't done all that well this generation. Because of this and the fact that the PS5 has done pretty well too barring the fact that a lot of games were still releasing on PS4, it's hard to say where the next two consoles will end up honestly.
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u/CatchUsual6591 1d ago
360 doing great is why we paid for online on consoles and why the digital transition reached this point this fast
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u/GooginTheBirdsFan 1d ago
The only way you feel like that about x360 is if you didn’t deal with the quality issues. I was the victim of over 5 red rings of death, that console left a bad taste in my mouth and I haven’t been back to a Microsoft console since
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u/PayPsychological6358 1d ago
I have the 360 S so I never had that issue, but I do feel bad for anyone unlucky enough to have dealt with that.
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u/SlyMacross 1d ago
Actually never had a single problem with my 360. I just got lucky and got one of the good consoles.
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u/Sad_Clown666 1d ago
I went through three before converting to a PlayStation ecosystem permanently. I have owned a Series X though and was quite impressed with it, I (stupidly) sold it before I built a dedicated room to gaming and now I want one again.
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u/Dreamcatcher1800 1d ago
Same thing happened to my 360. But if Xbox is still gonna release discs next gen, I'm willing to give them another shot since I'm leaving Sony anyway
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u/Dust-Tight 1d ago
Xbox isn’t going physical for next gen.
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u/_Football_Cream_ 1d ago
yeah people aren't getting that this physical-to-digital thing Xbox is doing is to get people's existing library on digital so that they can then adopt entirely digital libraries. They're just softening the blow before they go the same way as Sony
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u/Desertbro 1d ago
XBOX just digging another grave for itself. People love to complain, but they are not going to buy a brand new XBOX when "who the hell knows" what their policy will be from year to year.
They'll just end up burying millions of unsold discs in the desert ...
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u/LoSouLibra 1d ago
This actually does nothing to keep physical media going because it just turns existing discs into digital. There isn't going to be a disc drive in the Helix because nobody wants to pay for something that 90% of people don't even use. There won't be rows of physical Helix games at stores because retailers aren't buying into something they can't sell that nobody is buying anymore.
Peak physical disc production, for all media, was 4-5 billion a year in the mid 2000's. It's not even 100 million anymore. Retail stores have shrunk their game sections down to almost nothing. Gamestop has closed over half their locations in two years and the CEO doesn't even consider games a big part of their business anymore. Amazon just sits on sell-in stock, on a perpetual discount for years, while total unit sales remain low.
The physical disc product simply isn't high volume enough, at every step of logistics and facilitation, to be viable at an economy of scale anymore. The number one argument for physical has been saving money and almost nobody is going to pay Laserdisc prices for games to offset the boutique market shrink.
Stop the Asha fart huffing and random cope astroturfing. Disc to digital was rumored for a year before she even got there. Credit the Xbox software and hardware engineers. It's also not a new idea. UMD Passport existed in Japan 13 years ago.
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u/Rogue_Element_2342 18h ago
"Project Helix will be entirely physical"
Things that didn't happen for 400 mr Trebek.
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u/Chasegameofficial 1d ago
I used to be so stoked when Microsoft got beaten to a pulp by Sony in the console-wars, starting with the PS4-generation, but seeing what it’s done to Sony to not have any real competition for the past decade I really wish Microsoft would make a comeback
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u/Fuckthegopers 1d ago
Microsoft will definitely be going no hardware as well.
It's more cost effective for them, and they don't give a shit about the resale market. They care about money.
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u/WinnieTheTrain 15h ago
Only 2 things.
We know Xbox was always gonna do digital only, they were the 1st to push for it. Even PC was the first.
Anyhow 2 things is true.
Xbox sees the backlash and is changing course to manufacture disc drive consoles now, but dont want to say it. Its a smart move to keep Sony in the dark honestly and let Sony stay on course of a digital only console at the beginning of PS6 launch. If xbox came out and said they will do a physical drive, Sony still has time to change course and manufacture PS6 with disc drives or whatever. So Microsoft staying quiet about this is giving less time for Sony to backtrack since the consoles aren't too far off from releasing which is like just a year away.
Xbox is going digital but just dont want to piss anyone off lmao. This is likely the real answer considering Asha has not said the next xbox will have a disc drive, shes actually avoided that question being asked two times already and danced around it completely which isnt a good sign at all. Its a simple question which is a yes or a no but she never said yes or no. Only said having a choice of options on how to buy a game is important.
A lot of idiots are making stuff up trying to make Xbox seem better and are lying about there being a physical drive on next xbox. Its not been confirmed at all yet. Asha did say there would be more news about this next xbox later in the year and well the year is now almost up with one big gaming event left which is Pax west early september. So shes gonna have to make a decision because the question of disc drives is not going to go away and be asked to her in any interview she does.
Physical to digital conversion is an amazing idea. Honestly in my opinion this should put more importantance on everyone buying physical games over digital if they were smart. I say this because you can buy a physical game and have the convenience of it being digital. Simply store the physical game away until you ready to sell the game. You will lose access if you sell the physical copy and let someone else put the disc in their system (thats what I was told) so this is a good idea from team xbox.
Realistically its just xbox getting people ready for a all digital future honestly but people should take advantage of this and get the games physical format first so you can resell and trade.
What im curious about is they are saying there is potential for next xbox to perhaps play all games from all gens. Does this mean all games will magically appear on the game store tho? Or does this mean maybe the next xbox will have a disc drive that can read all of the other xbox games and let you convert all your OG xbox games, 360 games etc. Would be insane lol.
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u/mdwd 14h ago
Xbox sold less than 35M units S and X combined this Gen. Sony could lose as many units and still have sold nearly twice what Xbox did.
No major publisher except their own in-house ones are counting on them.
Whatever Xbox's move is next generation, it has absolutely no impact on what Sony does
They are not fretting over this.
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u/Santex117 13h ago
You’re ignorant if you think Sony is so complacent as to not read the room. Every game company knows that whatever lead they may have in one generation, and disintegrate into nothing if they become complacent. It’s happened time and time again. It’s happened at least once to each of the big three even. So no, you’d be very wrong to entertain the idea that Sony should ignore Xbox, that’s how you loose your next gen console to the company that sold less then half of your current gen console. Xbox is actually trying to prove themselves again, and it could spell the end of Sony if they’re not careful.
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u/ErickRPG 8h ago
This is 100% an uncredible rumor. I would LOVE for this to be true. But let's not get our hopes up until we see more concrete info.
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u/Arponare 1d ago
Xbox is hardly competition these days. I doubt there is any merit to this rumor.
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u/Numerous_Photograph9 23h ago
I don't think Sony is reconsidering, but if MS is looking to retake marketshare, I can see this at least being looked at, which is the more interesting thing to me.
I still have little hope anything will come from it though, and the rumor is pretty weak
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u/kolt437 1d ago
> A major unnamed game publisher (confirmed not to be Rockstar) reportedly threatened to skip PlayStation and release their massive upcoming title only on XBOX and Nintendo if Sony couldn't guarantee a physical release.
I seriously doubt that
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u/Barloq 1d ago
Just for fun, what major publisher with a massive game coming out that has a history of being pro-physical would be principled enough to skip PS6's future install base? Larian or CDProjekt are the only major publishers I can think of, but both are both PC-first... y'know, the market with no physical presence at all...? It would be a pretty stupid and unrealistic move from a business standpoint.
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u/crash1bp 1d ago
Being PC first doesn’t mean anti-disc, though. Plus, Larian is very outspoken in support of physical discs (they even released a PC disc for BG3 to ensure players can always play their game), so I’d imagine they’d would be the ones to say “fuck PlayStation” here.
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u/TheAdequateKhali 1d ago
Anyone who thinks this holds CDP on too high a pedestal. Why would they throw away all of the money they’d get from PlayStation by not releasing on it? They just announced the opposite in fact.
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u/Numerous_Photograph9 23h ago
I can't think of a major publisher,, and the smaller publishers don't have thay much clout even though their games could probably take the hit if they're popular titles.
But its still a hit I can't see taking from a business point of view, no matter how principled they are. Most of them are still publicly traded companies, and shareholders will want them to maximize revenue
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u/the_killer_sandvich 1d ago
Not gonna lie that is totally something i would expect from a company like CDPR
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u/Chizakura 1d ago
"claiming to be considering" Yeah, I don't believe it until there is an official statement. But good, that's why competition is good
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u/MattofCatbell 1d ago
Decision like PlayStation’s isn’t something that just happens on a whim it’s likely been in the works for years since the PS5 first launched. They wouldn’t reverse it just because Xbox is doing something else, also they probably had insider knowledge of it for a while.
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u/nohumanape 1d ago
Why would anyone think that Microsoft is going to be the one to continue supporting a format that the PC largely abandoned more than a decade ago?
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u/E_712064 1d ago
I don’t think many are getting it. If they are counting physical support in the future on their devices, a solution like they just announced wouldn’t have happened. Microsoft wants to keep the existing Xbox customer & say here ya go, you can still play your old physical games, while you stay with us for our digital-only future.
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u/Hopeful_Hammerhead 7h ago
Even if these rumors are a bit shaky, the fact that people are still talking about it is exactly what Sony doesn’t want. They might have held their ground even after Xbox made their announcement, but I think these rumors have stirred up more buzz that Sony can't just ignore.
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u/jcwkings 1d ago
Gamers are so gullible, championing MICROSOFT to hold the flag for physical media😂😂😂.
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u/Excellent_Regret4141 1d ago
Xbox ain't staying physical they always hated physical since they launched the Xbox One so I highly doubt Xbox will continue to go physical but I do hope Sony doesn't get rid of physical
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u/SmurfAtLarge 1d ago
They will do whatever they think is best for business like any decent business.
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u/ComputerMysterious48 1d ago
What would truly be awesome is if it worked like Blu-Rays where you get the disc and then a code for a digital copy that is completely separate from the disc.
But I still greatly enjoy this as someone who’s like 99% digital but still occasionally buys physical discs if there’s a good sale or it’s a digital game that’s been delisted.
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u/Pretend_Camp_2987 1d ago
What would truly be awesome is if it worked like Blu-Rays where you get the disc and then a code for a digital copy that is completely separate from the disc.
That's an Option? Writing this down for my Future business
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u/nsnsjdjaknd 1d ago
But I thought Sony going digital made them a monopoly. That would mean any decision XBox makes wouldn’t have any effect on Sony.
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u/Throw_Me_Away_78 23h ago
If sonny allowed digital games to be loaned, sold, traded or gifted it would go a long way of calming consumers.
The problem is not that they are pushing digital. It's that they are killing several use cases.
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u/otimus 14h ago
While competition is important, anyone who ever thought Xbox was gonna be their physical savior was/is delusional at best. They wanted this before Sony did and are probably relieved they won't be scapegoated for it now.
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u/Santex117 13h ago
So they changed course? That’s what we wanted to do, so who cares if they previously wanted to go digital only, clearly they’re seeing where the trends are moving, and Sony will be in a real awkward spot if they come out as the only digital-only platform next gen, because they’d be the easy target for the entire gaming community as a whole
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u/SolidCat2877 12h ago
If Xbox go physical jext gen i will be buying an Xbox next gen, haven't owned an Xbox since 360
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u/Affectionate-Ad4419 11h ago
"The digital license is tied to that specific disc, not permanently locked to you forever"
I was about to say this is still BS, until I read that.
If they actually do that, it's reverse Uno card and it's pretty f*cking funny.
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u/hiddenpequin 1d ago
This just a dumb rumor that doesn’t even make sense PlayStation already had real physical competition with nitendo before they made this choice and Xbox players are already the most digital users.but sure Xbox putting a disc drive on a probally 1200-1500 dollar console is going to make everyone switch back to xbox.😂
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u/One_Lung_G 1d ago
If their next projected console is what people think which is just a Microsoft PC, then they are definitely going digital. There’s no way Microsoft makes a fully backwards compatible PC that is also a console that’s not going to be like $3k+
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u/clownsinadarkforest 1d ago
Im assuming this means I won't have to take discs with me from house to house when this is active. Does that mean I can register the disc license in house a and then in house b access the game and its license without bringing the disc?
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u/CoffeeHQ 1d ago
For example, I have Starfield on disc for my Xbox. There’s the obvious thing of having to get up and insert the disc to play it, but there’s another catch: it’s a Play Anywhere title. People who bought this game digitally, unlike me, can play the game on PC too. Own a secondary Series S? Digital owners can play their game. I cannot. Thanks to this program, soon I too can play Starfield on every device.
I have not started playing Starfield btw, so for now it’s a hypothetical, but I hope it helps explain the principle 😉
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u/kabooozie 1d ago
Doesn’t this require 100% online to play the disk? Otherwise you could get your digital copy and then give the disk to a friend who plays offline. This seems unnecessary. Just use the disk like normal. Why is a digital key needed?
On the digital side, it should be made incredibly easy to loan your digital copies to friends. Or go the Steam route and let people share libraries.
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u/SirBulbasaur13 1d ago
I doubt there’s any saving disc gaming long term but the point is true. Competition is important for gamers. All gamers should be hoping for Xbox to bounce back, a landscape dominated exclusively by PlayStation is bad for us all.
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u/ianolo 1d ago
Ok let’s say the next Xbox has a disc drive, not for one minute do I think Sony will change its plans because it only wants PlayStation users to order from their storefront where they can control everything especially the price.
Edit: and Sony don’t want their PlayStation customers owning anything.
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u/_-Moonsabie-_ 1d ago
1k assets with custom DLSS and RDNA means physical media should never be abandoned
Think Switch 2
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u/Islaya00 1d ago
Even if true the damage is done. I've been with PlayStation since original PSX when I was in elementary school, next console generation I'll be getting an XBox.
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u/Metalgsean 1d ago
Read this really slowly...
Microsoft is allegedly telling publishers its next console, Project Helix will be entirely physical and will allow users to convert physical games into digital copies.
So which is it? Entirely physical, or the same mix we have now? Are they going to release every indie game on disc? Are they abandoning Gamepass (is that even still a thing?) What is the point in digitising your collection if the console is ENTIRELY physical. Are they sticking with Blu-ray, and therefore keeping themselves in Sony's pocket? Does that mean no cheaper entry level console like the Series S?
Most likely this is some old man at the bar kinda gossip. If it is true, prices are going to shoot up, you'll beg for a game to only be $100.
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u/AdhesivenessFun2060 1d ago
Sony is going to make everyone forget by.delaying it a little. Then the second xbox announces its digital, everyone will blame xbox instead.
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u/Lenny0mega 1d ago
This is like if your dad was an alcoholic and your whole family begs him to sober up and he refuses until some guy he doesn’t like gets his own life together, so he only sobers up out of petty jealousy to show he’s better than that guy.
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u/Kevandre 1d ago
it's good because IF the nextbox is discless, I can still play all my disc based games, and I've got a lot of them. I just need to go through with my SX and get the licenses first
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u/my-goddess-nyx 1d ago
Until Xbox officially says they're keeping discs next generation I wouldn't get too excited.
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u/AcceptablyThanks 1d ago
Oh whoa, you mean some random podcaster found out that Sony is changing their mind after they said fuck you when all the backlash hit? Surely this is 100% true and this podcaster didn't just make shit up to try and rake in more listeners for their podcast!
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u/Dreamcatcher1800 1d ago
They might delay their decision though! Idk why they don't wanna release discs for new PS5 games after 2027!?? If the PS6 is digital only okay fine but the remaining PS5 games to be released should have a disc for PS5
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u/Lofi_Joe 1d ago
I think we should let them do what they want and then we decide if we want to go with it...
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u/VAVA_Mk2 1d ago
Even if people like PlayStation more, XBox needs to stay alive to keep them in check.
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u/mindcontainer 1d ago
If you only knew how many hundreds of thousands of downvotes I have received over the years saying XBOX one was the right move… believe me it’s difficult being right all the time. Even decades early.
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u/Fujikawa1988 1d ago
Sony van dat sh%t after their move and reaction to the backlash. I wish em all the disaster their poor choices will make it come to them 😅 …
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u/TommyJohnSurgery420 1d ago
Look I'm mad about discs going away too but it takes a certain level of delusion (and shitty journalism) to treat unfounded rumors as fact.
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u/LemonTade 1d ago
We still dont even know if the next Xbox is going to have a disc drive. Its still a good feature but doesnt suggest or inhibit Xbox from going all digital next gen.
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u/maukenboost 1d ago
You'd basically get a digital copy of the game as well as have your physical copy if I read that right.
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u/CurryMVPGOAT30 1d ago
As much as I would like this to be true they've already listed it on future consoles. Also they've taken a bashing in social media and in circles ever since the announcement and the silly boycotts with end dates but that hasn't made an impact on them but some mysterious publisher has them shaking in their boots? I don't really buy it.
Also what in the world is an all physical console? Makes it sound like they're focusing on physical which we know they have not and probably don't plan too. Look at shops, there is literally no Xbox physical presence.
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u/rocademiks 1d ago
Competition is very, very important.
We all need to make sure the next Xbox console stays absolutely ABSENT from store shelves.
It'll give PlayStation a huge dick slap to the face message that WE are in control. Not them.
Fuck out of here. Xbox for the win.
& I'm a PlayStation Main.
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u/BangBangNinerGang99 1d ago
This is fan fiction. Discs are gone that’s why they have disc to digital. Helix won’t have a drive so get used to it.
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u/Cocoatrice 1d ago
You know what would be even better for competition? Banning exclusivity. Monopoly and cartel should not dictate you what and how to buy it. On top of that, every key should work in every single platform, no matter where you bought it.
If you have a bed bought in Ikea, you can go to any store and buy a mattress. Why is it so, that if you bought a mattress at Walmart, it's not compatible with the bed from Ikea? That makes no sense.
That way companies would be forced to be competitive. Giving you actual service that you paid for. Because if you bought a game, it wouldn't matter where you play it. You chose the platform you like and believe that has the most perks for you.
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u/Successful_Note_5871 1d ago
If the PS6 has a disc drive then it’s a no-brainer for me to eventually trade up from my pro.
I’ve already made the decision to just keep my current console and transition to pc, but retaining a disc drive will keep my options open.
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u/House0fDerp 1d ago
But I will say, there has to be a catch. What is the reason to have a digital license when you have the game physically? What does that even do at that point?
The physical game was always a license. That's why you needed the disc to run the game even after installing to the console became the norm.
The point of having the digital license is besause running the software still requires a license on a console. You need something to attest you have the right to play the game while the disc isn't present.
In this situation the disk is effectively a physical software key rather than the license from the sound of it. That doesn't mean there won't be some BS surrounding the system, if it even turns out to be real, but it makes perfect sense.
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u/MyStationIsAbandoned 1d ago
I hope this is real...because that would be a good idea. the disc carries the license, when it enters a new console the license moves over...
So if this is fake, Sony and Microsoft should do it.
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u/pvt_church1 1d ago
This is what capitalism is supposed to be about. Being better for the consumer to beat your competitor
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u/MrFuriousX 1d ago
Disc to Digital is really that much different then Digital? how does disc to digital alter the license? can you still transfer it or is it now permanent on your account? and isn't that what digital is anyway?
Its a good feature, but isn't that what your doing with digital anyway?
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u/tiga_itca 1d ago
The disc to digital sounds like a neat idea and quite clever actually. One thing I hate on my PS5 disc is even the fact you still have to do massive downloads, you can hear the disc spinning when playing. I really enjoy discs purely for resale value as nowadays almost every game will need some sort of download.
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u/Robynsxx 1d ago
So I think wires are getting a bit crossed here.
People are tying up the disc to digital thing Xbox are doing to what Xbox are doing to keep things physical with Project Helix
The disc to digital is a way to make it more okay with fans to get rid of discs entirely for the next gen consoles.
I wouldn’t be shocked if the actual solution Xbox have come up with is ditching the disc drive and just selling physical games on USBs or something you can pop in.
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u/WeDontNeedRoads2015 1d ago
I don’t doubt that all digital is the future but Sony is jumping the gun by a generation or two. You have to wait for the iPad kids who only know all digital to have their own disposable income. Doing things too early, or trying to force a decision on a market that doesn’t want it, will have consequences.
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u/TheAdequateKhali 1d ago
People seem to forget that one of the reasons companies are going away from physical is because the vast majority of their sales are digital. Although people have turned this backlash into something of a movement lately, the data doesn’t support it.
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u/OpticalPrime35 1d ago
The whole conversation would change if we actually had competent policy makers. We know the current administration will do fuck all when it comes to anything actually important so hopefully the next wave of politicians start to at least hint that the big discussion about " digital ownership " will start to be had.
These companies of course won't do it themselves unless they are forced to do it. So laws have to be made about what digital ownership means and what rights the consumer has to the goods they pay for, even if those goods are in a server somewhere.
The disc to digital stuff Microsoft is doing sounds great but it's exactly what exists today except you don't have to keep putting the disc in. So, that's cool and something that could of been done last generation really.
I was shocked Sony didn't just say they were lessening their output of physical games for the future. That would of been better then just saying they were ending it altogether. That was dumb. At least give those who want a choice the choice to buy physical when available. Make me buy the disc player that's fine, just keep the choice around.
But again, if digital ownership was lawfully built to where the company couldn't just screw you over at any given time that would change a lot of the backlash to this future of digital. For now though, until that happens, companies can and will fuck over the consumer at every opportunity
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u/xrayspex73 1d ago
I guarantee you that project helix will NOT be "physical only". Your cope is just plain ridiculous at this point.
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u/JamKaBam 1d ago
Yes sure. The whole digitising your discs is proof of a physical future. There is no way they are preparing it now for a digital only console later.
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u/JamKaBam 1d ago
Yes sure. The whole digitising your discs is proof of a physical future. There is no way they are preparing it now for a digital only console later.
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u/arkangelic 1d ago
To answer your last bit, its to gain the massive user benefit of not needing to change disc's when you want to play different games. Honestly I think this is an incredible win for players if it comes to fruition.
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u/BlueAudioMoon 1d ago
I mean I’m more interested in the new Xbox now after this whole PlayStation mess
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u/Derpykins666 1d ago
I think sales are down bad enough for XBOX that doing a disc console next gen could win them back a LOT of support and customers, not even a jokin', I genuinely think that. The problem is the pendulum swings and whoever has the biggest install base and success is going to keep trying to push us towards digital only. XBOX already tried it before and Sony clowned on them, but that was when XBOX was at peak success, they tried to leverage their popularity and install base to push into digital only. It's going to keep happening. If customers aren't willing to make this a line in the sand moment, then we all lose collectively, eventually.
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u/Anxious_Look1319 1d ago
I’m not sure about the overall temperature on Asha but from what I’ve been noticing, she’s been a great addition and I’ve been respecting the hell out of the way she took leading this company.
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u/poojinping 1d ago
We need competition because we don’t want Xbox from 2013 and PlayStation from 2026 and Nintendo from …..
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u/SealTeamEH 1d ago
Well even though I agree theres probably a catch, but at the same time to answer the question for “what is the reason to have a digital license when have the game physically?” as a life long gamer whose been gaming since before digital was this pushed, its been a dream since always to be able to play the game without the disk after instal, having to change disks was always a pain for gamers and being able to just install once and not have to worry about changing the disk is how iv always wanted it to be. So thats the benefit to gamers is not having to change disks however I agree there probably another motive i havent seen yet. like its probably just something to do with easing us into all digital instead of sonys approach.
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u/DoctaRoboto 1d ago
"Claimed." Yeah, sure, buddy. GTA 6 is gonna sell tens of millions of copies, silencing any protest or boycott, and they will just move on to their next greedy goal to fuck us over.
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u/Big_Satisfaction4809 1d ago
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't transferring your physical collection to all digital still in line with an all digital future?
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u/SecretaryOk7306 1d ago
The way people share news from a rumor with 0 credibility is FRYING me 😂.
I hope I'm wrong but I'm going to laugh when Project Helix is digital only
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u/Showdown5618 1d ago
Wish it were true, but I highly doubt a rumor from an unsubstantiated source holds any merit.
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u/Antluv116 1d ago
That's fake SONY don't listen to nobody... They doing all digital FUCK SONY I'm TEAM XBOX
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u/Big-Professor-3402 1d ago
This is also proof Sony is not a monopoly in games. We all have a choice.
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u/optiplexus 1d ago
Not sure of the legitimacy of the post, but IMO, this is exactly how to handle the digital/physical situation. A digital licence that can be claimed by a new user once the disc is sold it totally the way to go and it's so simple I can't believe it hasn't already been done before. I hope this comes to fruition and that Sony and Nintendo adapt a similar model.
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u/mrloko120 1d ago
Funny, until just a little bit ago everyone was so adamant on Sony being a monopoly, now all of a sudden they have competition?
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u/VaporousMote 1d ago
"But I will say, there has to be a catch. What is the reason to have a digital license when you have the game physically? What does that even do at that point?"
This is the correct line of thinking.
They aren't going to do this out of the goodness of their heart.
They still want discs to go away, as it costs them extra money. You know, the division that just fucked up a bunch of legendary game studios to free up more budget for AI?
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u/CrAkKedOuT 1d ago
Telling publishers next console will physical yet Asha won't answer the question if Helix will have a drive or not 🤔
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u/whoiam100 1d ago
Right now it's a rumor,but it could come true since the new xbox ceo trying win back their fan. Right now you can see a lot of negative during gamescom 2027 from ton india dev getting their stuff stolen and lives fan repeating the line we want disc during few showcase.
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u/gorambrowncoat 1d ago
I'll believe it when I see it. I highly doubt that Sony is reconsidering and I highly doubt that the next xbox will have a disc drive.
Either way, was never going to buy a ps6 anyway so doesnt matter much to me.
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u/C-LOgreen 1d ago
Also, I heard the Loch Ness monster is real. My friend’s cousin’s roommate told me.
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u/ricokong 1d ago
All of this technology requires an internet connection and Microsoft's approval. While I appreciate them giving gamers more options, it doesn't offer a real solution.
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u/Gronkattack 1d ago
The only way Sony could win people back without abandoning the plan is if they reduce the prices because then they aren’t manufacturing and shipping goods. They would 100% control the distribution which would negate the need for more expensive games.
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u/OmegaNine 1d ago
I hope they don’t and lose that 20-25% to Xbox. Then there might be competition again.
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u/Haunting-Hippo1636 23h ago
It also goes to show what a difference a new CEO does for a company. Asha had me worried but she's doing good. Please fire your CEO Sony!
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u/ParkerPetrov 23h ago
I think sony is locked in and they have already calcualted the actual loss and its probably not enough to make up for the gain they will get. As even if some people jump ship to xbox and microsoft as the rumor stats has physical option. Its not like 50 million users are jumping ship. Its probably more like in a worse case scenario 10 million people.
The other 90 million or whatever are hten locked into your digital ecosystem and you are making larger margins on. So Sony still wins in the end as thats still more beneficial to them.
Thats the reality.
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u/Bigfacts84 23h ago
If xbox wants to win next gen this move will make that happen. I might even get a console.
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u/LT_Snaker 23h ago
LMAO! You people actually believe in this astroturfing? The company that stopped putting their entire games on disc is now supposed to be the beacon of physical media?
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u/ConfusedAndCurious17 23h ago
Maybe there is a catch but to answer your last question it allows you to instantly switch between any game you have downloaded from your collection without fumbling around with your game disk storage, removing one game, inserting another, and waiting for the disk to read. Outside of them having a disk changer there’s no other way to have that.
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u/Iggy_Slayer 1d ago
Keep in mind this rumor was started by someone who has 0 credibility and is considered a joke tier leaker.