I guess this sales numbers (however accurate they are) show that mostly Halo fans are interested in the Halo franchise, since more people bought the game on Xbox than on PlayStation or Steam. This means even the novelty of Halo being on PlayStation couldn't attract enough new players compared to Xbox players.
I wonder how the Halo Studio will apply these sales number on decision for the future of the franchise. Personally I think a total reboot might have been more fruitful than a visual remake with a bit of additional content built on the legacy of a 25-year-old game.
@DennisReynolds I also grew up with playing Doom and Mortal Kombat and watching movies like Alien. But I also remember women running around without bras at the beach in summer.
In this case I guess the used image by the editors kind of made me think how inappropriate it is for children. Reminds me of a video by Jim Sterling where he pointed out that the large majority of AAA games (back then at the E3) feature violence and killing as their main gameplay mechanic.
Unrelated to the article... I think it says a lot about our society that you can show a close-up image of a virtual decapitation and nobody minds. But as soon as you show a bit of nudity it must be fully censored. 🤔
@ShadowRJ Well one can dream of being able to play Marvel's Spide-Man on a portable (offline) device. Also, if PlayStation managed to release that LEGO Horizon game on Switch, then they could also port Spider-Man to the Switch 2.
Nice to see them being ao successful thanks to the movies. I bet if they would have timed a Switch 2 port of the first game with the movie it would have seen enormously more people buying it. Oh well, there's probably already a sequel in the works.
I appreciate the breakdown of physical vs. digital sales data, but framing this around "revenge" and "deep-seated resentment" feels like standard console war baiting that misses how most gamers actually experienced that era.
In reality, Xbox players very likely were relieved that Microsoft reversed their terrible initial launch policies (always-online DRM, restrictions on pre-owned discs) after the overwhelming backlash—which Sony’s famous video highlighted so effectively. That moment pushed Microsoft back toward consumer-friendly choices, which was a win for gamers across all platforms.
Nobody is sitting around 13 years later seeking "revenge" over a PR misstep that ultimately forced a company to listen to its customers. If Microsoft continues to support physical media, it will be based on market strategy and game preservation—not a decade-old grudge match.
@Gunnerzaurus Makes more sense to advertise the game on a PlayStation-centric site where a large portion of the audience is new to the Halo games, rather than an Xbox-centric site where the majority are more than familiar with the series. They want to gain a new audience, not sell a remake to the same playerbase (like with The Last of Us).
They could have spent the budget on high profile Twitch streamers or YouTubers to play the game and promote it, but they chose this site instead, which is not much different.
@TrollOfWar but if the rumours turn to be true then the PS6 will be backwards compatible with the PS4 and PS5. So it’s a different situation, everyone going to PS4 (from PS3) with nothing VS “discriminating” against certain customers who haven’t purchased the game’s their preferred way.
Less people are affected by the transition now, if the majority of the players buy their games digitally. They can continue playing their digital PS4, PS5 and PS6 games.
On the PS4 everyone transitioning from PS1/PS2 or PS3 had to start from scratch. PS4 could have supported PS1 and PS2 games, as the emulation is there for digital games, but it was more convenient for Sony not to support the discs. Hardly anyone complained about it back then.
Potential system cost aside, I wonder if they’ve even considered how those with large physical collections are supposed to make this jump without leaving all their already purchased discs behind.
The PS4 didn't support any of the previous PlayStation generation discs, yet it's considered as one of the most successful PlayStation consoles. The PS6 will do fine, especially with Xbox being less of a competition in the premium console space.
I find the idea a bit hilarious that people think they can change PlayStation's mind with a "week long blackout". So protesters avoid buying during that week they will purchase it the week after. Unless it's another case like with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 where a protest group was created on Steam to raise their voice against the removal of dedicated servers, yet nearly all of them played the game on launch day.
Either way a few days of a "blackout" won't change Sony's mind.
@SystemAddict I haven't played Cyberpunk 2077 yet, but I guess The Ascent offers a more simpler and easier to approach gameplay, where Cyberpunk 2077 is a bigger "commitment" and might overwhelmed some players.
I forgot to mention the banging soundtrack. I listened to it even outside of the game. Both the soundtrack and the game really nails the sci-fi cyberpunk vibe.
I played The Ascent and enjoyed it a lot. It has great visuals and decent story telling. The combat is strong but the loot and abilities felt less satisfying. Also, the story is mediocre.
I wonder how a sequel will improve on what the team has created in the first game.
@DennisReynolds I kind of agree with @Oram77 on this. Even if the potential playerbase for fighting games on Xbox is lower than on the other platforms, fighting games (and especially live-services) need as many players and attention as possible, to keep the online matches alive.
The large majority of the 21 fighting games from 2023 til now were also released on Xbox. The few notable exceptions missing on Xbox are Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (2023), Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes (2024), SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos (2024) and Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact (2025).
@ShadowRJ I don't intend to brag. But with my 300Mbitps fiber optic cable it takes about 30% less time for me to download a game from the servers than install it from the disc drive.
Also, by the time I get to play a game from my backlog years later after it's updated, most of the game's data needs to be downloaded from the servers if I want to play the most recent version.
The only games I buy physically are Evercade games on licensed cartridges.
@ShadowRJ Honestly I stopped buying physical games on disc as soon as they stopped being plug & play and required length downloads & installations. If I need to wait for all that time, then I can also just buy games digitally on a sale and download the game without needing a disc.
Mat Piscatella from Circana might be a good data analyst, but I don't get why he enganges on this topic on Twitter/X with disgruntled PlayStation fans. 😁
@ShadowRJ Unfortunately Sony will not do that, for the same reason why PC games on Steam or Epic Games are not released on physical media.
Any physical alternatives to a disc are actually more expensive to manufacture and would require additional costs to enable those options on a PlayStation console, including something like a game on a USB drive (not to mention all the security issues it opens up). It costs pennies for Sony to print a game on Blu-ray discs. A "code in the box" sadly is the only "physical" option left if Sony stops manufacturing discs.
As long as the vast majority of consumers keep buying digitally, Sony and third-party publishers view the online backlash as a vocal minority rather than a threat to their bottom line. Until consumer buying habits actually change, they unfortunately have very little incentive to offer a better physical alternative.
@ShadowRJ Glad the info was helpful! I completely understand where you're coming from—wanting true, lasting ownership of games you paid for is a completely reasonable expectation as a consumer. The main catch with comparing Sony to GOG comes down to platform architecture and DRM:
GOG is DRM-Free on an Open Platform: GOG doesn't actually transfer licenses to physical items—they sell DRM-free PC games. They let you download standalone installer files directly to a hard drive or USB stick because PC is an open system without hardware-level locking.
PlayStation is a Closed Console Ecosystem: Major publishers agree to put their $70 AAA games on PlayStation precisely because Sony guarantees strict anti-piracy protection. If Sony allowed users to extract DRM-free offline licenses or installer files to external media like GOG does, those files would immediately be copied and distributed online.
So while GOG’s approach is fantastic for game preservation, console manufacturers and third-party publishers rely entirely on locked-down DRM. As much as consumers hate it, Sony likely considers enduring the PR backlash a safer business risk than altering their platform's security model.
If I was Sony, I would simply announce the ability to transfer licenses (not the games, the license) onto physical discs. That would at least solve most of the problems people have with this, and will stop their trailers from being bombarded on a daily basis.
I'm sorry to say, but that idea isn't feasible for a few major technical and logistical reasons:
1. Recordable Discs: Standard PS5 Blu-ray discs are factory-pressed and read-only, meaning you cannot write new data or licenses onto them. Writing a license would require blank, recordable discs (like BD-R). If Sony is moving away from physical media, it's unlikely they—or a third party—would set up new manufacturing lines just to produce recordable game discs.
2. Disc Recorders: Writing data requires a disc burner, and no PlayStation console has ever included a drive capable of writing to discs. Sony (or a licensed third party) would have to design, manufacture, and sell a new external disc writer. Given Sony's shift toward digital, producing or licensing this hardware goes entirely against their strategy.
3. Security Concerns: If a third-party burner's firmware were hacked, people could potentially clone valid license keys onto blank discs, creating a massive piracy risk. Furthermore, unless PlayStation discs already use unique per-disc hardware identifiers, Sony would need a server-side verification system to check disc uniqueness. That would still require an online check, completely defeating the purpose of an offline disc license.
4. Data vs. License Limits: Like others already explained, transferring only a text-based license key to a disc leaves out the actual game files (often 50–100+ GB). Since you would still need to download the actual game data from PlayStation Network, this doesn't solve game preservation or true offline play—if Sony's servers ever go offline, a license-only disc becomes useless.
5. Cheaper Alternatives Exist: If Sony actually wanted to support offline digital license backups, they wouldn't need optical discs at all—they could easily let users store license keys on standard USB flash drives. The fact that Sony doesn't allow USB license backups proves this is an intentional business and DRM policy, not a technical hurdle.
I.e. gives a bad first impression and is obtusely designed to its detriment (i.e. badly designed).
Happy for the people enjoying it, but it's really not a misunderstood masterpiece like they might insist. It's a fundamentally flawed game with some neat ideas.
Yes, for casual it's like "pay $40 dollars to get owned by hardcore players". Doesn't sound very inviting. At least Apex Legends, PUBG, COD Warzone are free for casuals to try and see if they like it.
I think this is the biggest challenge AAA PvP multiplayer games face nowadays. Trying to sell a game at a certain entry price which appeals to a certain audience, where there are many free alternatives which appeal to a broader audience.
Cause most people just like to stir the pot online. Get their clicks, likes, comments etc and then they go right back to doing what they always do.
I think there are some content creators/editors/youtubers who deliver drama for the engagement and clicks. But some of them also have reasonable takes on the matter. For the PS4 launch Sony sold the promise of PlayStation being the perfect place for games on physical discs and until now they did hold that promise fairly well, especially with releases containing the full game data while other publishers/platform holders would basically sell a license code on disc.
Now those players who believed in that "promise" and built a large physical collection (and I bet there are a lot of them on PushSquare), see their collection not being compatible with PlayStation's future plans. So of course they are angry and disappointed. But the thing is, Sony never promised to "support physical media forever".
In this case people will have to think hard if they want to miss out on one of this year's biggest PlayStation games or want to stay true to what they believe in a boycott the game even if that won't change anything in the long run.
@Flaming_Kaiser It definitely wasn't Microsoft's brightest idea and it helped Sony gain a huge advantage as PS4 and Xbox One launched. But it's kind of ironic that Sony now is also heading into an "always-online" future where they parodied the competition in the past.
@Jacko11 You actually just proved my point for me with that quote.
Think about it for a second: Sony's line about "providing choices at retailers" only works right now because physical discs exist. Sony completely banned third-party retailers from selling digital PlayStation game codes back in 2019. Once discs are gone in 2028, what exactly are retailers going to sell? Empty boxes with good vibes? Sony's ecosystem becomes a 100% closed monopoly. Xbox, on the other hand, actually allows Amazon, Best Buy, and third-party key stores to sell digital Xbox codes, meaning actual retail competition stays alive even if discs die.
And regarding dynamic pricing: there’s a massive structural difference between Xbox's transparent, clearly labeled "Just For You" promotional deals, and Sony’s stealth A/B dynamic testing on the PS Store. One is a clearly marked personal discount; the other is a backend algorithm where two users look at the exact same game at the exact same time and get secretly quoted completely different baseline prices with zero consumer disclosure.
I'm sure the same will be suing Xbox when they confirm their own stance in the coming week right?
I think the difference is that Microsoft allows for digital Xbox game codes to be sold via other stores, like Amazon and 3rd party key stores, which makes them less likely to be sued.
Sony removed digital codes from other stores a few years back, so you are locked into their own store at the prices Sony dictates - without any alternative.
Add the dynamic pricing scheme Sony implementes earlier this year into the PS Store and you can already see how this becomes a problem.
Xbox can only digitise there own first party game's just like Sony, it'll be down to 3rd party publisher's wether you can digitise there game's or not.
The disc 2 digital program on Xbox will apply to all games, not just 1st party games. Each disc (including 3rd party) manufactured for Xbox since the Xbox One launch has a unique identifier. As you remember Microsoft was planning to use it with the "always online" feature to tie game licenses to user profiles. So now they are using it to assign the license to a digital license on the user.
Sony cannot do this unless they implemented something similar that no one is aware of.
But I would imagine Sony & Microsoft have already been in talks with 3rd parties about this disc-less future.
I bet they are, as some will need to plan their releases accordingly if they still want to release a game on a physical disc.
I imagine Square Enix might want to give PlayStation players the chance to have the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy physically available for collectors.
Sony will probably just ignore the feedback, the plan is set in stone, people have 1.5 years time to adjust and accept it. And in 5-10 years, like with the iPhone headphone jack, the topic will be forgotten.
I'm no stranger to the PushSquare culture... "ahem"... 😏
I've been taking a bit of a vacation from these sites recently as I realized how much time is wasted in pointless debates with people who will most likely never change their mind, no matter what their favorite corporate does.
It shouldn't really make things worse for playstation fans if Microsoft Is doing this should it? Unless you wish bad things for the other which is basically being a fanboy?
Isn't this whole website mainly about PlayStation fanboyism? Most of the Xbox-related articles have some far-fetched justification why they are relevant for the PlayStation userbase.
At least these articles attract a lot of attention/clicks/user-engagement. 😉
Are they writing a GUID or something onto the disc at burning time?
Basically yes. It's a "feature* which remains from the Xbox One's "always online" pre-launch setup. The plan was already back then that game discs would contain a unique identifier which would be associated with the user profile, where playing without the disc required an online check-in. That thing that contributed to the Xbox One's failed launch is now what makes a transfer to your digital account possible.
I've started redeeming free games on the Epic Store, GOG via Amazon and Steam (whenever there's something free) for 2 years now. I already have a large collection of 300+ games available to play if I switch from console to PC. With the costs of a year of PS Plus subscription I can probably buy another 20+ games on a Steam sales event.
We'll continue playing PS4/XboxOne/Switch games by 2035 if prices continue going up like this. Honestly I don't see component prices dropping back to "normal" in the future.
I think now is the best time to get into retro gaming. Buy a used PS1 or PS2 from a flea-market, get a cheap Chinese handheld from Anbernic, Miyoo or Retroid, or buy an Evercade handheld and discover their collection of licensed games on carts.
Isn't this the second time Sony has done such a thing, by making purchased video content unavailable. I'd hope people would be wiser by now and avoid purchasing movies on Sony's store.
It's also surprising that one of the largest film producer worldwide cannot figure out a robust and reliable digital film distribution service.
How does Sony/PlayStation define " enough money"? Enough to cover the porting, release and marketing costs and make a small profit, or enough money to be able to fund another AAA game from the revenue of the PC release?
Comments 705
Re: GTA 6 PS5 Gameplay Coming This Month, Here's When to See It First on Netflix
Well at least it's Netflix and not Pornhub. 🤷🏼
Re: Xbox Will Copy PlayStation's Platinum Trophy Later This Year
How dare they copy PlayStation's beautiful trophy system!?
Re: Halo's No Match for Activision's Barebones Digital-Only Black Ops PS5 Ports
I guess this sales numbers (however accurate they are) show that mostly Halo fans are interested in the Halo franchise, since more people bought the game on Xbox than on PlayStation or Steam. This means even the novelty of Halo being on PlayStation couldn't attract enough new players compared to Xbox players.
I wonder how the Halo Studio will apply these sales number on decision for the future of the franchise. Personally I think a total reboot might have been more fruitful than a visual remake with a bit of additional content built on the legacy of a 25-year-old game.
Re: Black Ops 2's PS5 Port Receives Emergency Patch After Hackers Bricked Accounts
@DennisReynolds I also grew up with playing Doom and Mortal Kombat and watching movies like Alien. But I also remember women running around without bras at the beach in summer.
In this case I guess the used image by the editors kind of made me think how inappropriate it is for children. Reminds me of a video by Jim Sterling where he pointed out that the large majority of AAA games (back then at the E3) feature violence and killing as their main gameplay mechanic.
Re: Black Ops 2's PS5 Port Receives Emergency Patch After Hackers Bricked Accounts
Unrelated to the article... I think it says a lot about our society that you can show a close-up image of a virtual decapitation and nobody minds. But as soon as you show a bit of nudity it must be fully censored. 🤔
Re: Sony's Spider-Man Games Enjoy Player Boost on Back of Brand New Day's Box Office Success
@DennisReynolds I agree with that 👍
Re: Sony's Spider-Man Games Enjoy Player Boost on Back of Brand New Day's Box Office Success
@ShadowRJ Well one can dream of being able to play Marvel's Spide-Man on a portable (offline) device. Also, if PlayStation managed to release that LEGO Horizon game on Switch, then they could also port Spider-Man to the Switch 2.
Re: Sony's Spider-Man Games Enjoy Player Boost on Back of Brand New Day's Box Office Success
Nice to see them being ao successful thanks to the movies. I bet if they would have timed a Switch 2 port of the first game with the movie it would have seen enormously more people buying it. Oh well, there's probably already a sequel in the works.
Re: Could Xbox Get Its Revenge on PS6 by Supporting Physical Games?
Hi @get2sammyb,
I appreciate the breakdown of physical vs. digital sales data, but framing this around "revenge" and "deep-seated resentment" feels like standard console war baiting that misses how most gamers actually experienced that era.
In reality, Xbox players very likely were relieved that Microsoft reversed their terrible initial launch policies (always-online DRM, restrictions on pre-owned discs) after the overwhelming backlash—which Sony’s famous video highlighted so effectively. That moment pushed Microsoft back toward consumer-friendly choices, which was a win for gamers across all platforms.
Nobody is sitting around 13 years later seeking "revenge" over a PR misstep that ultimately forced a company to listen to its customers. If Microsoft continues to support physical media, it will be based on market strategy and game preservation—not a decade-old grudge match.
Re: Sponsored: Aaron's Never Played Halo
@Gunnerzaurus Makes more sense to advertise the game on a PlayStation-centric site where a large portion of the audience is new to the Halo games, rather than an Xbox-centric site where the majority are more than familiar with the series. They want to gain a new audience, not sell a remake to the same playerbase (like with The Last of Us).
They could have spent the budget on high profile Twitch streamers or YouTubers to play the game and promote it, but they chose this site instead, which is not much different.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 644
I'm not sure. Maybe...
Happy weekend everyone!
Re: 'We Are Not Seeing Any Impact on Our Business': Sony Says Physical Disc Backlash Is Having Zero Effect
@GameCollector84 I think Sammy is referring to "physical games boxes, which will include a digital code inside, like GTA6" being a "waste of plastic".
I also thought the same as you when reading the text, as it's written in a new paragraph. Had to re-read the article to understand that point.
Re: 'We Are Not Seeing Any Impact on Our Business': Sony Says Physical Disc Backlash Is Having Zero Effect
@74TH4M
Less people are affected by the transition now, if the majority of the players buy their games digitally. They can continue playing their digital PS4, PS5 and PS6 games.
On the PS4 everyone transitioning from PS1/PS2 or PS3 had to start from scratch. PS4 could have supported PS1 and PS2 games, as the emulation is there for digital games, but it was more convenient for Sony not to support the discs. Hardly anyone complained about it back then.
Re: 'We Are Not Seeing Any Impact on Our Business': Sony Says Physical Disc Backlash Is Having Zero Effect
@74THAM
The PS4 didn't support any of the previous PlayStation generation discs, yet it's considered as one of the most successful PlayStation consoles. The PS6 will do fine, especially with Xbox being less of a competition in the premium console space.
Re: 'We Are Not Seeing Any Impact on Our Business': Sony Says Physical Disc Backlash Is Having Zero Effect
I find the idea a bit hilarious that people think they can change PlayStation's mind with a "week long blackout". So protesters avoid buying during that week they will purchase it the week after. Unless it's another case like with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 where a protest group was created on Steam to raise their voice against the removal of dedicated servers, yet nearly all of them played the game on launch day.
Either way a few days of a "blackout" won't change Sony's mind.
Re: PS5's Monthly Active Users Increased Again, PS Plus Making More Money Than Ever
It's comforting to see that the PlayStation playerbase is keeping their business healthy, no matter what they do. 😁
Re: 5 Years Later, Cyberpunk Shooter The Ascent Confirms Major PS5 Update as Dev Teases Sequel
@SystemAddict I haven't played Cyberpunk 2077 yet, but I guess The Ascent offers a more simpler and easier to approach gameplay, where Cyberpunk 2077 is a bigger "commitment" and might overwhelmed some players.
Re: 5 Years Later, Cyberpunk Shooter The Ascent Confirms Major PS5 Update as Dev Teases Sequel
I forgot to mention the banging soundtrack. I listened to it even outside of the game. Both the soundtrack and the game really nails the sci-fi cyberpunk vibe.
Re: 5 Years Later, Cyberpunk Shooter The Ascent Confirms Major PS5 Update as Dev Teases Sequel
I played The Ascent and enjoyed it a lot. It has great visuals and decent story telling. The combat is strong but the loot and abilities felt less satisfying. Also, the story is mediocre.
I wonder how a sequel will improve on what the team has created in the first game.
Re: Mini Review: Kusan: City of Wolves (PS5) - Fast-Paced Carnage in This Tough Hotline Miami-Like
Played the demo a while ago and I really enjoyed it.
Re: 'We Sincerely Apologise': Marvel Tokon the Latest Sony Game to Be Busted on PC
@DennisReynolds I kind of agree with @Oram77 on this. Even if the potential playerbase for fighting games on Xbox is lower than on the other platforms, fighting games (and especially live-services) need as many players and attention as possible, to keep the online matches alive.
The large majority of the 21 fighting games from 2023 til now were also released on Xbox. The few notable exceptions missing on Xbox are Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (2023), Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes (2024), SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos (2024) and Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact (2025).
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 643
Happy weekend everyone!
Re: Physical Game Fans Won't Like This New Data About US PS5 Sales
@ShadowRJ I don't intend to brag. But with my 300Mbitps fiber optic cable it takes about 30% less time for me to download a game from the servers than install it from the disc drive.
Also, by the time I get to play a game from my backlog years later after it's updated, most of the game's data needs to be downloaded from the servers if I want to play the most recent version.
The only games I buy physically are Evercade games on licensed cartridges.
Re: Physical Game Fans Won't Like This New Data About US PS5 Sales
@ShadowRJ Honestly I stopped buying physical games on disc as soon as they stopped being plug & play and required length downloads & installations. If I need to wait for all that time, then I can also just buy games digitally on a sale and download the game without needing a disc.
Re: Physical Game Fans Won't Like This New Data About US PS5 Sales
Mat Piscatella from Circana might be a good data analyst, but I don't get why he enganges on this topic on Twitter/X with disgruntled PlayStation fans. 😁
Re: PS5's New Commercial Goes All-In on Marvel
@ShadowRJ Unfortunately Sony will not do that, for the same reason why PC games on Steam or Epic Games are not released on physical media.
Any physical alternatives to a disc are actually more expensive to manufacture and would require additional costs to enable those options on a PlayStation console, including something like a game on a USB drive (not to mention all the security issues it opens up). It costs pennies for Sony to print a game on Blu-ray discs. A "code in the box" sadly is the only "physical" option left if Sony stops manufacturing discs.
As long as the vast majority of consumers keep buying digitally, Sony and third-party publishers view the online backlash as a vocal minority rather than a threat to their bottom line. Until consumer buying habits actually change, they unfortunately have very little incentive to offer a better physical alternative.
Re: PS5's New Commercial Goes All-In on Marvel
@ShadowRJ Glad the info was helpful! I completely understand where you're coming from—wanting true, lasting ownership of games you paid for is a completely reasonable expectation as a consumer.
The main catch with comparing Sony to GOG comes down to platform architecture and DRM:
So while GOG’s approach is fantastic for game preservation, console manufacturers and third-party publishers rely entirely on locked-down DRM. As much as consumers hate it, Sony likely considers enduring the PR backlash a safer business risk than altering their platform's security model.
Re: PS5's New Commercial Goes All-In on Marvel
@ShadowRJ
I'm sorry to say, but that idea isn't feasible for a few major technical and logistical reasons:
1. Recordable Discs: Standard PS5 Blu-ray discs are factory-pressed and read-only, meaning you cannot write new data or licenses onto them. Writing a license would require blank, recordable discs (like BD-R). If Sony is moving away from physical media, it's unlikely they—or a third party—would set up new manufacturing lines just to produce recordable game discs.
2. Disc Recorders: Writing data requires a disc burner, and no PlayStation console has ever included a drive capable of writing to discs. Sony (or a licensed third party) would have to design, manufacture, and sell a new external disc writer. Given Sony's shift toward digital, producing or licensing this hardware goes entirely against their strategy.
3. Security Concerns: If a third-party burner's firmware were hacked, people could potentially clone valid license keys onto blank discs, creating a massive piracy risk. Furthermore, unless PlayStation discs already use unique per-disc hardware identifiers, Sony would need a server-side verification system to check disc uniqueness. That would still require an online check, completely defeating the purpose of an offline disc license.
4. Data vs. License Limits: Like others already explained, transferring only a text-based license key to a disc leaves out the actual game files (often 50–100+ GB). Since you would still need to download the actual game data from PlayStation Network, this doesn't solve game preservation or true offline play—if Sony's servers ever go offline, a license-only disc becomes useless.
5. Cheaper Alternatives Exist: If Sony actually wanted to support offline digital license backups, they wouldn't need optical discs at all—they could easily let users store license keys on standard USB flash drives. The fact that Sony doesn't allow USB license backups proves this is an intentional business and DRM policy, not a technical hurdle.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 642
Happy weekend everyone!
Re: Big Shake-Up on Sony's Struggling Live Service as Marathon's Game Director Departs
It's already a bad sign when Sea of Thieves - an 8 year old game - has had more players over the past weeks than Marathon which launched 4 months ago.
Re: Big Shake-Up on Sony's Struggling Live Service as Marathon's Game Director Departs
@RoomWithaMoose
Yes, for casual it's like "pay $40 dollars to get owned by hardcore players". Doesn't sound very inviting. At least Apex Legends, PUBG, COD Warzone are free for casuals to try and see if they like it.
I think this is the biggest challenge AAA PvP multiplayer games face nowadays. Trying to sell a game at a certain entry price which appeals to a certain audience, where there are many free alternatives which appeal to a broader audience.
Re: This Wolverine PS5 Trailer Is Going to Sell a Lot of Copies This Holiday
@HonestHick
I think there are some content creators/editors/youtubers who deliver drama for the engagement and clicks. But some of them also have reasonable takes on the matter. For the PS4 launch Sony sold the promise of PlayStation being the perfect place for games on physical discs and until now they did hold that promise fairly well, especially with releases containing the full game data while other publishers/platform holders would basically sell a license code on disc.
Now those players who believed in that "promise" and built a large physical collection (and I bet there are a lot of them on PushSquare), see their collection not being compatible with PlayStation's future plans. So of course they are angry and disappointed. But the thing is, Sony never promised to "support physical media forever".
In this case people will have to think hard if they want to miss out on one of this year's biggest PlayStation games or want to stay true to what they believe in a boycott the game even if that won't change anything in the long run.
Re: This Wolverine PS5 Trailer Is Going to Sell a Lot of Copies This Holiday
Weird that the trailer doesn't mention that this game is PS5 exclusive.
Re: PS5's Physical Disc Debacle Will Attract More Anger if This Xbox Rumour Is True
@Flaming_Kaiser It definitely wasn't Microsoft's brightest idea and it helped Sony gain a huge advantage as PS4 and Xbox One launched. But it's kind of ironic that Sony now is also heading into an "always-online" future where they parodied the competition in the past.
Re: Here Come the Lawsuits! Sony's Physical Disc Debacle Likely to Keep Its Lawyers Busy
@Jacko11 You actually just proved my point for me with that quote.
Think about it for a second: Sony's line about "providing choices at retailers" only works right now because physical discs exist. Sony completely banned third-party retailers from selling digital PlayStation game codes back in 2019. Once discs are gone in 2028, what exactly are retailers going to sell? Empty boxes with good vibes? Sony's ecosystem becomes a 100% closed monopoly. Xbox, on the other hand, actually allows Amazon, Best Buy, and third-party key stores to sell digital Xbox codes, meaning actual retail competition stays alive even if discs die.
And regarding dynamic pricing: there’s a massive structural difference between Xbox's transparent, clearly labeled "Just For You" promotional deals, and Sony’s stealth A/B dynamic testing on the PS Store. One is a clearly marked personal discount; the other is a backend algorithm where two users look at the exact same game at the exact same time and get secretly quoted completely different baseline prices with zero consumer disclosure.
But sure, "same difference" I guess.
Re: Here Come the Lawsuits! Sony's Physical Disc Debacle Likely to Keep Its Lawyers Busy
@Jacko11
I think the difference is that Microsoft allows for digital Xbox game codes to be sold via other stores, like Amazon and 3rd party key stores, which makes them less likely to be sued.
Sony removed digital codes from other stores a few years back, so you are locked into their own store at the prices Sony dictates - without any alternative.
Add the dynamic pricing scheme Sony implementes earlier this year into the PS Store and you can already see how this becomes a problem.
Re: PS5's Physical Disc Debacle Will Attract More Anger if This Xbox Rumour Is True
@DanteDevilHunter
The disc 2 digital program on Xbox will apply to all games, not just 1st party games. Each disc (including 3rd party) manufactured for Xbox since the Xbox One launch has a unique identifier. As you remember Microsoft was planning to use it with the "always online" feature to tie game licenses to user profiles. So now they are using it to assign the license to a digital license on the user.
Sony cannot do this unless they implemented something similar that no one is aware of.
I bet they are, as some will need to plan their releases accordingly if they still want to release a game on a physical disc.
I imagine Square Enix might want to give PlayStation players the chance to have the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trilogy physically available for collectors.
Sony will probably just ignore the feedback, the plan is set in stone, people have 1.5 years time to adjust and accept it. And in 5-10 years, like with the iPhone headphone jack, the topic will be forgotten.
Re: PS5's Physical Disc Debacle Will Attract More Anger if This Xbox Rumour Is True
@Mr-Cage Thanks for clarifying.
I'm no stranger to the PushSquare culture... "ahem"... 😏
I've been taking a bit of a vacation from these sites recently as I realized how much time is wasted in pointless debates with people who will most likely never change their mind, no matter what their favorite corporate does.
Re: PS5's Physical Disc Debacle Will Attract More Anger if This Xbox Rumour Is True
@Mr-Cage
Isn't this whole website mainly about PlayStation fanboyism? Most of the Xbox-related articles have some far-fetched justification why they are relevant for the PlayStation userbase.
At least these articles attract a lot of attention/clicks/user-engagement. 😉
Re: PS5's Physical Disc Debacle Will Attract More Anger if This Xbox Rumour Is True
@GraniteFraggle
Basically yes. It's a "feature* which remains from the Xbox One's "always online" pre-launch setup. The plan was already back then that game discs would contain a unique identifier which would be associated with the user profile, where playing without the disc required an online check-in. That thing that contributed to the Xbox One's failed launch is now what makes a transfer to your digital account possible.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 641
Happy weekend everyone!
Re: 'PS5 Has Put a Dampener on Gaming': 45% of Enthusiasts 'Seriously Considering' Leaving Sony for PC
I've started redeeming free games on the Epic Store, GOG via Amazon and Steam (whenever there's something free) for 2 years now. I already have a large collection of 300+ games available to play if I switch from console to PC. With the costs of a year of PS Plus subscription I can probably buy another 20+ games on a Steam sales event.
Re: 'Sony Knows a $1,000 PS6 Won't Sell as Much': Analyst on Manufacturer's Plan to Maximise Revenue
Well it makes sense from a business perspective. Combined with the dynamic digital pricing this can have some big negative impact on the players.
Re: Don't Worry, You'll Get to Own God of War Laufey on a PS5 Disc
@Neuromancer The game's story and themes seemed to have been conceived during the height of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 640
Happy weekend everyone!
Re: Rumour: PS6 Costs Sony Almost $1,000 to Make Right Now
We'll continue playing PS4/XboxOne/Switch games by 2035 if prices continue going up like this. Honestly I don't see component prices dropping back to "normal" in the future.
I think now is the best time to get into retro gaming. Buy a used PS1 or PS2 from a flea-market, get a cheap Chinese handheld from Anbernic, Miyoo or Retroid, or buy an Evercade handheld and discover their collection of licensed games on carts.
Re: Sony Will Permanently Delete 550+ Movies You Already Paid For
Isn't this the second time Sony has done such a thing, by making purchased video content unavailable. I'd hope people would be wiser by now and avoid purchasing movies on Sony's store.
It's also surprising that one of the largest film producer worldwide cannot figure out a robust and reliable digital film distribution service.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 639
(it's too hot for gardening outside right)
Happy, hopefully cool, weekend everyone!
Re: Hermen Hulst Allegedly Said Sony's PC Ports Didn't Make Enough Money
How does Sony/PlayStation define " enough money"? Enough to cover the porting, release and marketing costs and make a small profit, or enough money to be able to fund another AAA game from the revenue of the PC release?
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 638
Happy weekend everyone!