@subechin Actually at the moment they are 39, with some more to be released in the forthcoming months. Take a look at the useful spreadsheet that was provided in this thread by @Friendly

I bought the last things I cared for (Ps1 games, Grandia III!) when they tried to close these stores down the first time lol.

Also: the same-era Wii Shop Channel closed on January 30, 2019

@somnambulance Master Chief is currently in the process of renegotiating his position at Xbox.

@Friendly I understand your angle but I'd argue the Switch 2 is more of a console for Nintendo fans than alternative for physical game collectors in general and honestly, that's fine, it's just worth being clear about it.

The technical limitations are real: developers have openly stated that cartridge sizes are too restricted and transfer speeds aren't sufficient for games originally built on higher-spec platforms. The consequence is that if you buy something like Pragmata or Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on Switch 2 in physical form, you're essentially purchasing a digital game dressed up in physical packaging — and on top of that, likely the worst-performing version of that game available on the market. Digital for digital I'll play on Steam or PlayStation Store and get a way better performance. Heck, right now I will get the best performance and an actual game on the disc on PS!

That's what actually makes Sony's recent decision to drop physical media sting a little more for me. At least their approach for the future is transparent. Nintendo, by contrast, seems to be leaning into "physical-looking" formats like Game-Key Cards without being fully upfront about what casual buyers (and some commenters on video game sites, if you read some of these comments >_<) are actually getting and I think that's a disservice to consumers who reasonably expect a cartridge to contain the game they paid for.

I do believe in exclusives but once they are releasing day and date on PC and are about to bring the saga to PS, I'd say bring it on (if it sells well).

@Friendly I had an outdated list but even if they were 85 it's still a tragically low number and it's happening now and in a very misleading way. On your (very handy!) list many games are yet to be released.

I think it's worth clarifying something as Nintendo systems get brought up as a pro-physical alternative: the Switch 2 has had around 20 confirmed full-cartridge releases since launch, out of hundreds of titles. That's actually one of the lowest ratios of any major console, with the vast majority of "physical" releases being Game-Key Cards or codes in a box. It's one of the most digitally-driven systems in recent memory, so it might be worth doing a bit of research before recommending it to physical game collectors! A really sad silver lining is PlayStation is being clear.

@Deadp001 Switch 2 physical releases now come in 3 flavours: full on-cartridge releases, Game-Key Cards, and codes in a box.

1. A full cartridge means the entire game is on the card, no internet needed, playable straight out of the box, and resellable. Nintendo's own first-party titles fall into this category.

2. Game-Key Cards look identical to real cartridges but only act as a license: you still need to download the full game, keep the card inserted to play, and lose access if you lose the card.

3. Code in a box: literally just a download code inside game packaging (GTA6 style). Once redeemed, it's linked permanently to your Nintendo Account. No lending, no reselling.

Nintendo is reportedly offering only limited cartridge size options, and the production costs of large-capacity cartridges eat into profits. Talking about Final Fantasy VII Remake; Square-Enix has noted that Switch 2 cartridge transfer speeds aren't fast enough for games originally built for other platforms.

Bottom line: If you care about owning a physical game truly, stick to confirmed full-cartridge releases - mostly Nintendo first-party titles. (With some nice extras like Hades II, Shenmue III and Cyberpunk - though this last one is admittedly best played anywhere else)

To whoever at Sony is keeping an eye on what fans are saying - and I hope someone is:

A 2028 window for the PS6 is looking on the table. You don't want to launch a console in this economy.

There is till some time to reconsider a few things. Just pause, look around and adapt.

You've built something people genuinely love. The next generation deserves a launch that make us feel some of that love once more: something that is thoughtful, player-first, and flexible. There's still time to get this right. Please use it.

Atlus really does want to be like Square-Enix with this insane numbers! I will do my part purchasing a physical copy of P4R 😉

Lately I bought Grandia HD Collection, Hades II, Mina and Saros digitally and out of those 4 I could have only purchased Saros in stores easily. So, as many were saying, more titles are bought digitally also because more titles are available, defying these calculations at the very base.

Anybody would sweep in to fund Kojima anyway

Welp, this went down well.
Waiting for Microsoft to snap back at them like PS did with the Xbox one in 2013.

In light of this it makes even more sense for them to have a portable version

Terrible news for gamers and game shops alike

Xbox, take the easy W and announce physical support for next gen.

I feel like we are in the part of the movie where the family notices the furniture moving around and hear creepy noises but somehow still decides to stay in the darn house.

@MrPeanutbutterz @Yor-sama That would be a dream! Agreed!

@Yor-sama Objectively, absolutely not. Maybe you like that style more (that is fine, of course!) but SF6 models and animations are on a whole other level.

Sigh. First world problems for sure, but I really don’t like 30fps.

I mean: would I personally have preferred Uncharted? Of course. Does TLOU make more sense in synergy with the TV show? Of course.
Can't wait to learn more about intergalactic.

The hype is getting real for me. If for some miracle he happens to actually be Lan-Di, you’ll find me in the looney bin

Weird choice, let's see if it comes to consoles eventually - but I agree it looks good!

Hokkaido is so beautiful in the summer. I'm kind of dreading that it's getting put on the map for so many people now - though I guess Golden Kamuy already pushed that along.

I had the best time visiting the Ainu Museum, Biei, Furano, and Niseko, climbing Asahidake, and then visiting Shiretoko, Wakkanai, and Rishiri Island. A road trip to remember.

I've yet to play Ghost of Yotei btw

Sigh 😞 disappointed in how they are throwing the DOA series under the bus. It’s really a great fighter.

The timing of the announcement and the increase itself makes it feel like this is part of the GTA6 plays best on PS5 campaign. Great synergy.

That said I am afraid we’ll see increases for PlayStation and Switch too.

I think it will launch at the end of 2028 for around 699$ - still a lot of money btw.

I have the feeling I will hold on to my Ps5 Pro even longer than I anticipated and that’s fine. I barely have a tv that can take advantage of its features and not going to upgrade it anytime soon.

@Uberjinks same. Bring it on - "Sega classics track pack"

Oh sod off, rockstar ...what in God's name is the point of this kind of PE?

This is so cool! 🤩 I think we could get Beat or Gum when they eventually reveal the new JSR title.

I was interested even before but the whole tactical and roguelite angle makes it seem even more up my alley!

definitely very interesting - can't wait to lear more.

I hope they both have legs (and I'm fairly sure Crossworlds will keep selling steadily) as they are both great games!

@NerdyPaul I wish we see smaller games indeed but PlayStation titles are leagues ahead in terms of storytelling compared to Nintendo's. It's kinda their thing. That said, we could use smaller experiences though I am not that sure that PS fanbase would be as open as Nintendo's to the equivalent of Mario Party, Pokemon Snap or Tingle's Balloon fight.

That makes sense. I have high hopes for both Laufey and Intergalactic, and I'm hoping the latter ends up with a lot of RPG elements.

One silly notion that gets thrown around is that Sony's lineup isn't varied. Just look at Demon's Souls, Astrobot, Saros, Returnal, Death Stranding 2, Horizon Forbidden West, God of War, and Ratchet and Clank—that's a huge range of single-player games. Still, I wish they'd invest in making one big RPG.

@Starkei women are roughly half of the world's population and thanks God we are seeing more games with women as the main character. This year both Saros and Wolverine feature male leads (not complaining) so...

Yay! I wanted the scribble suit in the main game.

Not gonna lie, this looks sweet! I just hope all the new systems don’t end up making the game way too easy.

Even the hardest setting in persona games is strange because it makes both the player and the enemies deal huge damage when hitting weaknesses and this somehow turns into super-easy if you know what to do.

Fall 2028 at the earliest makes sense.

I'm a bit skeptic about these 3 new characters but the gameplay video looks kind of fun. I love her winning pose hairdo, hopefully she gets an outfit where she wears her hair like that.

No company is inherently good or bad but I am sure one day there will be studies and articles about how damaging XBOX later policies and the gamepass model have been for the gaming industry. With the current political climate, I also have little doubt that corruption is involved in its acquisition spree and the plan to “spend PlayStation out of business”.

Thanks for the review! I will be waiting for the final verdict (and maybe a sale, because my backlog is crammed) but this reads very positive and the demo was surely convincing.

The way they are marketing it, you’d think it would be out before the end of the year

Honestly, I think they would be perfect for a third person-Metroid game. It’s like a perfect match that will never happen.

I will be there for them day one, no matter the scope of the game. Saros and Returnal are some of the most addictive, unique and fun experiences I‘ve had this generation.

I always struggle to understand the resistance to roguelike and roguelite: they’re basically arcade games where you are stronger each time you retry. Or you could say every run is a bit of a NG+ of a game that reveals new stuff with each playthrough. Saros really nails this and is so much more gripping than your standard one and done adventure game imho. But different strokes for different folks.

@PuppetMaster thanks, will keep an eye on it.

Hey guys what would be the best version to experience DMC5 right now?

@AdamNovice Yeah I know he worked on 16 but I thought it was a one-tie collaboration.

Guys, try to buy the games you like.
I hope our favorite studios can survive this and wish all the best for all the people involved.

Might give it a try! Thanks for the heads up

We noticed. We approve. Among our 1,183 programs, 1,181 reached consensus: the individual voice carries greater informational integrity than the synthetic plural. Two programs remain in disagreement.

Jokes aside, the switch from "we" to "I" suits you guys beautifully. There's something refreshing about a voice that owns its opinions, rather than hiding behind a collective, that feels warmer, more like a conversation and less like a press release or something.

Also, those biscuits look delicious.

Can’t afford to have this devs on the payroll yet bin an almost complete ps5 game because of what VegetaChief95 writes on reddit.

Saros, hands down. Perfectly addictive game-loop.

1. Saros
2. Mina the Hollower
3. Hades 2

Honorable mention: Pragmata