Rich33

@twitchtvpat
I would agree with you.
The thing is, that if I was upset about Sony's decision, I would 100% cancel my pre-order of GTA6, and any other all digital game (no exceptions).

We are being told time and time again how many people are outraged by Sony's decision, and how this won't just go away, and how serious this is for Sony.
But when you actually consider real tangible action (ie aside from words), it doesn't seem like there is any.

The high pre-orders for GTA6 are total confirmation that people will accept all digital if discs aren't printed.

@Vaako007
I think where I'm at is I just don't have a clue.
It seems that you won't be under a real time time limit (which is my biggest dislike), but beyond that I really don't know.
Hopefully the reviews clarify this mechanic in detail, and the length of the game (it could well be a short game with many paths for example which might not be so bad if handled well).

@Fishmasterflex96
I play quite a few games classed as action RPG's (not turn based) and a lot these days don't have branches that make you miss large sections of game. I generally find it quite easy to avoid the sort I don't like, but thank you for your concern.

@Fishmasterflex96
Most RPG's don't have similar mechanics.

@CaptainWow
Was it Domino's pizza by any chance? Sorry, I just couldn't resist! Lol

But, yes, I quite agree. In all likelihood, only a significant reduction in pre-orders/purchases of Digital only games will convince Sony that they may have made the wrong choice.
Whereas, continuing high pre-orders of games like the aforementioned GTA6, will only confirm to Sony that they have not made a mistake.

@Oram77
You know, it's funny - at times like this I am reminded that my appetite for joining social media is approximately the same as my appetite for ordering Domino's pizza... practically non existent. Lol.

But have we/Sony seen mass cancellations of pre orders of / mass refusal to pre-order/purchase digital only games like GTA6??

@Oram77
I think its just a personal thing. I just hate feeling rushed in games, and hate feeling I'm missing out part of the content.

I never played Majoras mask.
I tried one of the dead rising games, bully, and the 1st Kingdom Come game (which has hidden time limits on a number of missions), and the time limit mechanics all put me off. Anything beyond the normal short 'self destruct sequences' , and even then they are not my favourites.

I'm hoping this game has found a better way to do it.

I just don't like time limit systems. I hate not being able to take my time (which doesn't appear to be the major concern here), and not being able to see / do everything in a single playthrough. Choices are fine, as long as they don't branch and make you miss large sections.

@Ctrl_Alt_Delete
How do you know they don't have plans for an optional disc drive for PS6 - the numerous articles have been pure speculation at this point.

There definitely won't be one included, but digital users don't want to pay for it, so the PS5 Pro model is the best option.
However, until Sony actually come out with their plans, we have no idea if an optional drive is planned or not.

I wonder if everyone commenting on these YouTube videos has cancelled their pre-orders or refused to pre-order the all-digital GTA6 ?..

Sony's mistake was not accompanying their announcement with a set of (proper, non corporate speak) answers to foreseeable questions:

• Will the PS6 have an optional disc drive, and if not, what arrangements will be available for physical back catalogues.
• What changes will be made to the PS Store.

Having made that mistake though, they are doing the right thing keeping quiet until all the silliness dies down a bit.

@For-Kier
I had an Xbox360, before moving to PS4 and never looking back.

Not considering the link between Outlook and Xbox, I thought that my Xbox account would have been closed years ago - I have certainly never used it for gaming since PS4 launched - but about a year or so ago found it was still open and active. When I looked into it, it was only because I use Outlook for emails.

So, its not silly at all what you suggest, as my Outlook email address is keeping my Xbox account active!

"Exactly how she intends to achieve this goal is not outlined in her memo"

Creative numbers or fairy dust, are 2 options. Lol.

It's good that the 4 (maybe 5) studios have a reprieve, but the 3200 other jobs going completely, is not good at all.

@cainhurst94
Oh good grief, neither am I - Xbox are the complete opposite extreme!
Yeah, they just need to come with a FAQ ready, with proper answers. Its not like the questions weren't foreseeable.

@LogicStrikesAgain
Sadly thats 3200, not including the 4 studios, according to Pushsquare.

Quoting from the article:
"The layoffs are calculated separately to the studios being spun off."

@cainhurst94
Hopefully, some of the silliness can die down soon, and things can get 'back on track'. I also hope though that Sony have learned a lesson here about communication.

@AdamNovice
Someone else may have already answered, but I suspect a big part is that if they offload they won't have redundancy payments, and any agreements they have made to pay others for future work won't need to be paid by them / won't incur cancellation fees.

@cainhurst94
A very good point, and maybe I was being a bit overly simplistic by just saying 'anger'.

Whilst I haven't read / heard everything you mention (I dont have any mainstream Social media accounts, though I did read the article here about account deletion after 3 years), you are quite correct - no sensible information can be put across or discussed in the current situation.

I do think the 'announcement' Sony made was poor - it was very corporate, and they should have combined it with answers to foreseeable questions about their plans for this 'all digital' future. Sadly, Sony's communication has not been very good recently in my opinion.

They should stay silent until the anger dies down, then come back with answers (eg will there be an optional drive for PS6, if not what arrangements will be made for Physical back catalogues, and what updates will be made for the store).

They may also decide to wait until after the Xbox implosion we are expecting this week.

I'm sorry, I just don't see anything to be gained in them entering into dialogue at the moment, given how much anger is around.

To be fair, with how good PSSR is now, it should be included for the Pro version of every game.

Unlike the original PSSR and UE5, we haven't heard of any incompatibility issues with PSSR2, and it makes a night and day difference.
It really should be 'first on the list' before enhancing further with the additional GPU power (minus that used to negate the small frame time cost of PSSR) / RT capability available.

@Vaako007
Its not exactly rare though. Myself and over half the people I know who play games regularly have some degree of discomfort playing at less than 60fps, ranging from mild (but that still prevents decent length sessions) to severe.

Should we as a community just not care about anything the majority can accept? Because the majority can accept digital purchases of games.
It's interesting because I sometimes see people claim that solid 60fps 'isn't important' based on the 'majority', and some of those same people are now incredibly upset with Sony stopping support for physical gaming, even though it has been on the decline for years, and is very much in the minority according to data; whereas 60fps has been the standard for nearly 6 years, and preference for higher framerates is on the increase.

On the matter of stores potentially closing - I do feel sorry to see any high street store do badly - too many shut down these days, and remain empty.

However, I can't shake the feeling that a lot of these same stores were perfectly happy to sell digital consoles ie Series S, Digital PS5, PS5 Pro.
They should have refused to sell Series S and Digital PS5, and only sold PS5 Pro with a Disc drive in a pack.

Personally, this change will not really affect me too much as I buy digital from the PS store anyway.

I hope it actually ends up being a positive move overall, given potential PS store changes etc, but we won't know more until Sony start talking more - and that is unlikely whilst people are still angry.

I will add that I hope the PS6 does have an optional drive.

@LikelySatan
There is no law etc as far as I can tell that in any way could be used to compel Sony to keep supporting Physical. Nor will there be.
The only thing Sony is compelled to do is facilitate like for like product sold by others - so digital codes on small cards sold by retailers (if they wish), or online bought codes, (as per wallet top ups) would satisfy this. Sony will need to detail more about this.

"People literally ARE entitled to ownership of the things they purchase, Captain Mensa. Open your eyes for a second."
Actually, I do not believe they are - I believe for many years all software digital and physical only grants the right to a 1 off limited license.
This could easily change with all digital suppliers compelled to honour licenses for a minimum period of time - I suspect Sony's legal teams have already been monitoring this, and Sony may even have taken steps in this area for the future. It sounds odd, but maybe the closing of the PS3/Vita stores (and the removal of those movies) may be the 1st part, as they are amalgamating everything else for ease.

Barring any unprecedented U turn, Physical (going forwards from 2028) is dead, and it has been going this way for years now - that 'how to borrow PS4 games' video is (sadly) quite old now.
The key questions that Sony need to answer are around things like whether they are going to have an optional disc drive for PS6 for people to play the back collections, and if not, will they introduce another mechanism to allow this? Also, whether they plan to upgrade the PS store in any way?

I hope they do have good answers to these points, but nothing compels them in these areas except customer perception and action - and by action I mean something meaningful like a drop off in digital purchases, or mass cancellation of digital pre orders. I have said before a number of times, that I suspect/guess they have been, and are, watching what happens with GTA6 very closely indeed.

@AdamNovice @Oram77
Given the speed Sony reacted to the UK Social media ban for children (before it was even announced they had opened the age verification), I suspect their legal team is very well informed.

They probably have a very good idea of any relevant laws that could change over the next few years, and plans to keep within them.
The only part missing is they are not telling their customer base (except the part about digital codes which will satisfy anti monopoly).

For those even remotely upset over this, the first thing I would do is to cancel pre-orders of any AAA game that does not have a proper Physical version, eg GTA6.

Then just wait a bit. Sony will probably keep quiet for a while yet - I would expect until after Xbox's likely implosion next week.
Then hopefully they will start answering some of the questions they need to.
Eg will there be an optional drive for PS6, and what store improvements / facilities for disc owners are they planning.

@Oram77 @Northern_munkey
The biggest scandal here is the possible use of Gen-AI to generate that clearly fake GTA6 disc you pointed out...

@NerdyPaul
As far as I understand it, thats why they will be catering for digital codes sold at retail - should retailers decide to stock them. These can be as simple as a code on a card, like a wallet top up.

They do not have to facilitate physical, just allow digital to be sold elsewhere to satisfy the various laws.

Remember how fast Sony were to react to the UK Social media ban for children - they started the age verification process before it was even announced. Sony likely has a very well informed legal team advising them.

@Oram77
The results of a poll conducted now, with shall we say 'tensions' at a high, and more and more depressing news RE tech prices across every market, without any sort of concrete info on specs/capability etc - meaningless.

@Titntin
RE Sony pre meeting legislation - I very much agree. Just look at how proactive they were regarding UK social media ban for children, with age verification starting before it was even announced. They clearly have a good legal team.

No point in Sony coming back to social media etc right now, as I don't think some people are in a good place to listen. Sorry, but it's true.

When they do come back they need to come with answers, and no marketing talk.

• Will the PS6 have an optional disc drive as PS5 Pro?
• If not, how will users transfer disc collections to PS6?
• What specific (no marketing BS) improvements are going to be made to the PS Store?

I never expected or wanted a disc drive to be included - I don't want the added expense.
I would prefer if there was an optional add on, but its no dealbreaker.

The only things that will determine if I buy a PS6 at launch is it's capability (most importantly framerates, and visual quality) and price, but I very much expect to want one at launch.

@Titntin
"With messaging from MS being so inconsistent I can see many not buying Halo at all on PS5."

Very much in this category myself. I played a Halo game back on Xbox360 - might have been 3. It was OK, but nothing special in my opinion.

But, if Xbox were true multiplatform, I would probably give this Halo 1 remake a go if its quality is high enough (eg no poor Pro enhancements some Xbox studios have been guilty of). With things as they are, not a chance - who knows if the rest of the series will see PS versions.

@themightyant
"there's an important reason why you can refund a game after 1 or 2 hours on Steam as the game LITERALLY might not work well, or at all, on your hardware. PlayStation doesn't have this issue."

I beg to differ, though the issue is not as clear cut on console and I get your overall point.

We have had some real stinkers on console too on occasion.

There have also been plenty of occasions I have not bought games because I haven't been confident in their framerates (for example if no DF analysis or no repeat analysis following a key 'performance patch') .
Though I, and others (because I said to have a go and they got back to me), have had refunds from Sony in the past based on framerates.

Sony really needs a customer friendly refund option, and in my opinion need to go further than steam, for more expensive games.
The higher the purchase price of a game / edition, the more it should be able to withstand scrutiny.
At least this might help (in a small way) to incentivise devs to realistically price their games.

Edit: removed unintentional Emoji yet again...

@Pat_trick
There is nothing in your reply to me I disagree with. Let me also reiterate that whilst I do not really buy Physical games, that does NOT mean I don't want them to exist.
Changes to the PS store would also be welcome.
I do not want consoles to ship with disc drives (as it costs me money), but I do want optional drives.

I have very strong requirements / opinions on framerates (60fps).
In recent articles on opinions as to whether GTA6 will be 60fps, it was staggering to see a few people defend GTA6 if it can't sustain 60fps based on the selfish argument of "most people don't care" (which I think is BS, I think requirements are on an upwards trend, and some will be in for a shock if 30fps is all that's available).

I'm sure that I have seen a few of those same people in articles around this recent announcement from Sony, complaining that their minority (and in requirement terms downwards trending) Physical options aren't going to be available, and how unfair it is.

If GTA6 or any game isn't a strong 60fps, I will NOT buy it. And I know others won't too.

If I held Physical games as important to me, no way would I buy any AAA game that didn't have a proper Physical Edition. No exceptions.
Sadly, I think very few have been sticking to this, and as you rightly say, Sony have seen this - they have seen that people have been making exceptions (GTA6 in particular) and buying digital (or what I would consider fake Physical). If not, the timing is very coincidental.

If I were in the Physical is important to me camp here, I would not just be complaining or signing a petition- I would be cancelling my pre-order of GTA6, and any other similar non-physical game, and encouraging others to do the same.
I'm sure Sony will be monitoring for this behaviour.

@Pat_trick
As per @Northern_munkey , I've had a fair few conversations with @TitnTin before, and he (I am assuming 'he' is correct) seems like a good guy.
I do not think he is having a go specifically at users either.

For my part, I am practically all digital, but I do have very mixed views over this move from Sony. I prefer the option of Physical to be there, but mostly because some really like that option. I also don't think the 85% figure is wholly representative of the situation.

However, there is one part that I really have to question.
In my opinion this has been done on the back of the massive pre-orders for GTA6 which is digital only. I seriously wonder how many people, to whom Physical is important, went and pre-ordered that game.
Don't get me wrong, I think Sony wanted to do this, but the support for GTA6 effectively green lit it for them.

@Intr1n5ic
Its a really good game. Done 2 full run throughs now, and completed all challenges in the main story (ie not tacsim), and git all collectibles.

"performance mode targeting 60 fps. Base PS5 uses frame-gen to achieve this, while PS5 Pro doesn't."

I hate the word 'targeting' in this context (the whole sentence seems like a red flag tbh).

I am going to be targeting earning £1 million a year - it doesn't mean I will get remotely close!

@zidane4028
I have been digital a while now, but I do have mixed feelings about this.
I just wish Sony, and the various reporting articles were a little more, shall we say 'complete' in their information.
There is a difference between "stop supporting' and, as the sole disc production operator stop manufacturing.

@zidane4028
Thank you.
The statement from Sony really made no clarification about that, and I haven't seen the situation confirmed in articles.

@Bizzy
Thank you. I knew about the authentication, but not that Sony manufactured / printed everyone's discs themselves.

Do we know that this affects 3rd party games?
I have read the blog a couple of times, and it really isn't clear. I read it as just their games, until clarified.

Do they manufacture/ print all discs?
Or do other publishers print their own?
If so, how does Sony 'stop supporting' discs printed by other publishers?

Do we know that this affects 3rd party games?
I have read the blog a couple of times, and it really isn't clear. I read it as just their games, until clarified.

Do they manufacture/ print all discs?
Or do other publishers print their own?
If so, how does Sony 'stop supporting' discs printed by other publishers?

@Gremio108
I lost about 200 hours progress in Skyrim way back on the Xbox360.

The reason... one of the Elder scrolls didn't work...

Literally - it was bugged from the time I picked it up - how 'appropriate'.

@AK4tywill
Its all good.
Its not always easy on this site to know when someone is being sarcastic - I usually indicate (eg with lol). Another (non game) site I have used has blue text functionality for humour.

Its best to assume every (non directed at someone) post from Mr Khastik is for fun unless he says otherwise (which he does).

So, how many people signing these petitions have also bought the all digital GTA6?

One way to send a message to Sony, is to cancel / refuse to pre-order / buy this game.

@AK4tywill
Please read his username out loud

@Czar_Khastik
Sar _ castic
Sarcastic

@ShadowRJ
"I can assure you, this will not just blow over. We all still talk about the Xbox One disaster to this day. This is announcement is on that level."

Is it?

Does it include 3rd party games, or does it just pertain only to Sony published games? It isn't very clear, but certainly does not specify 3rd party.

This is no different to GTA6 being 'all digital' - how many are pre-ordering that game? Everyone who pre-orders / buys this game is signalling to Sony that Digital only is completely acceptable.

Even IF this means no more Physical games from 3rd party as well, we are many years since the Xbox announcement, and Sony's platform competitors have mostly gone this way already - with Helix likely digital.

I'm not saying I like the idea - I have very mixed views (even though I buy digital), but I'm not sure we even know what has been announced yet.