Every time these numbers come out, people seem more interested in explaining them away than looking at the bigger picture. Sure, PC sales skew things, but the trend is clear.
@Lanmanna mentioned physical releases coming months after digital more and more, but isn't that part of the point? Digital is faster and cheaper to distribute. CDs and Blu-rays still exist, but the economics aren't necessarily the same for every publisher.
I get the concerns around ownership and preservation, but they don't change the business realities. And I think people overestimate how many physical buyers would actually refuse to go digital if it were their only option.
Sony/Naughty Dog should pay to acquire the work that was done and release it themselves... Though I do wonder what was able to be salvaged from the scrapped official TLOU multiplayer game.
@TheDarts I don’t think we’re actually that far apart here. I wasn’t saying you claimed the persecution didn’t happen. I was responding to the broader wording of “complete misconceptions,” which sounded like it went beyond simply objecting to the word “crusade.”
If your point is specifically that England wasn’t engaged in a centralized, sustained national campaign to eradicate witches, I agree.
My only point was that the persecution itself was still substantial in scale, and dramatic enough that it’s not hard to see why those incidents became so deeply embedded in popular culture (even if later media has certainly simplified or exaggerated them).
The original reveal trailer left a bad taste in my mouth. The character models looked worse than the original and it just felt nothing like Until Dawn… But this trailer redeemed it quite a bit for me!
I caught a glimpse of Blackwood Pines (and of course, a creature resembling a wendigo), so the through lines are starting to show themselves. I’m still skeptical knowing it’s not from the original devs, but I’m more on board now than I was before.
@TheDarts That’s fair when it comes to the word “crusade.” But calling the broader idea a misconception goes too far.
Witchcraft was explicitly criminalized, with some offenses punishable by death, and around 500 people were executed for it in England. In southeast England alone, more than 500 people were put on trial between 1560 and 1700.
For comparison, the Salem Witch Trials, one of the most notorious examples of witch persecution in popular culture, involved more than 200 accusations but only 20 deaths.
So yes, “crusade” is too sweeping, but the persecution was very real.
I won’t be participating in the blackout, but I share many of the concerns behind it. What matters most to me is game preservation and improving player trust through meaningful commitments and greater transparency.
Players deserve lasting access to the games they pay for. Online and live-service games should have clear end-of-service plans (such as offline single-player or local co-op options where feasible) rather than simply disappearing when their servers shut down.
Publishers should also disclose guaranteed minimum support periods before release, that way players understand what they’re paying for and how long they can reasonably expect it to remain accessible.
I’m not a fan of the idea that the “most loyal” or “real” PlayStation fans are only the ones who hold a particular viewpoint. Just because one group feels strongly about this doesn’t automatically make them the “core” fanbase, especially without evidence that they represent PlayStation players as a whole.
I understand why people have strong opinions about the shift toward an all-digital future, but they aren’t the only fans who matter, and framing them as the “most loyal” feels unnecessarily divisive.
No, I'm not considering it at all. If I get into PC gaming, it won't be because I'm abandoning something else. I'm a Multiplatform kind of player as it is.
As much as I understand the passion and outcry, being loud on the internet doesn’t correlate to the type of financial consequences Sony would need to see to reverse their decision.
Unless consumers put their money where their mouth is (which, according to Sony, the vast majority of consumers haven’t been), digital only is the new reality come 2028.
As much as I understand the passion and outcry, being loud on the internet doesn’t correlate to the type of financial consequences Sony would need to see to reverse their decision.
Unless consumers put their money where their mouth is (which, according to Sony, the vast majority of consumers haven’t been), digital only is the new reality come 2028.
As much as I understand the passion and outcry, being loud on the internet doesn’t correlate to the type of financial consequences Sony would need to see to reverse their decision.
Unless consumers put their money where their mouth is (which, according to Sony, the vast majority of consumers haven’t been), digital only is the new reality come 2028.
While price is a major factor for most consumers, what ultimately makes or breaks a console is and will always be the quality of the games and experiences it provides. No amount of speculation or educated guesswork can tell us what that's going to look like. It's easy for people to latch on to recent triggers, but I suspect this conversation will look quite different a couple years from now.
I understand why people are upset. We’re losing real benefits with physical games: ownership, preservation, resale, and choice. That’s worth acknowledging.
That said, I also understand why Sony made this decision (and why Microsoft and Nintendo will likely follow suit). Most buyers have already moved to digital for all or most purchases, myself included. I’d rather be optimistic and hope the resources this frees up lead to better games and experiences than assume it’s all downhill from here.
The challenge now isn’t convincing people to embrace digital. It’s making sure companies continue to prioritize trust in an all-digital future.
Barring sticking with the previous method, it'd make more sense to let players decide which of the options they'd like to have access to first... At least then it's not a potential waiting game for the title we most have interest in playing.
The trailer gave me pause due to the unpolished and uncanny character models. You can definitely tell this one wasn't made by Supermassive, and I'd expect a little more quality after 4 years of development. Here's hoping the release build will make things right.
Well-deserved! I’ll settle for a literal or spiritual sequel. My only hope would be for actual cutscenes this time, but the combat was extremely satisfying in the original.
Not developed by Supermassive Games, and you can tell. I feel bad, but I had a visceral reaction to the reveal.
It doesn’t feel like Until Dawn, and I’m really hoping Firesprite has a lot more work planned to get those models and animations out of uncanny valley territory. Maybe they can pull it off, but at the moment my expectations aren’t the highest.
I love The Last of Us and strongly prefer single-player games, but even I can acknowledge the significant demand there was for a follow-up to the OG Factions.
I understand wanting to remain focused on single-player experiences as a studio, but to get as far as they reportedly did in development, they sure as heck better be putting some of that work to good use in Intergalactic or the (hopefully) inevitable TLOU Part III.
There are difficulty options for all skill (or time-commitment) levels. I’m looking forward and hope it’s solid, as it’s finally a return to SAO’s roots.
Not feeling the first person, unfortunately. I don’t know what it is. I just can’t get into first person games despite them being designed to be a more immersive experience.
If they're talking remakes or different types of experiences from the main series, especially if multiple studios are involved, I get it. Let's not jump to conclusions.
All I know is the mobile landscape needs a major shift moving forward. There are tons of great experiences to be had, but so many mobile games have been plagued with gacha and FOMO elements for a while now.
The shimmering is absolutely noticeable, but didn't harm the gameplay experience. Still, the amount of time this has remained an issue isn't the best look. 😅
The type of behavior we’re seeing more and more frequently is completely unacceptable. It’s immature at best, and all who engage in it could use some professional help therapy or counseling.
@Cerny A lot of events were experienced through flashbacks, and simultaneous events experienced by two different characters during the same timeline were played at different times (avoiding spoilers for those who haven’t played).
The entire narrative structure involved jumping around to different points in time, so chronological means all the events will unfold in the order they actually occurred in the timeline.
@Fiendish-Beaver Just checked their website and they’re 1:3 scale! 😱 Eve is 78.5cm (2.57 ft) and Tachy is 79cm (2.59 ft), with both measurements including the base.
I don’t know that it’s reasonable to believe the download code expiration represented the true longevity of the title, but I do believe having a single-player mode rendered unplayable due to the server shutdown is unacceptable.
Games that require online server access for single-player experiences should not exist in ways that end the experience if the servers shut down.
@Oz_Who_Dat_Dare I hear what you’re saying, and I agree that visual storytelling matters—aging, trauma, and character design all play a role. But my issue isn’t just with people pointing out differences between the game and the show. It’s with how those criticisms are often being delivered. A lot of the online discourse isn’t thoughtful critique—it’s people calling Bella “ugly” or claiming Bella doesn’t “look like Ellie” in ways rooted more in bias and narrow beauty standards than in actual narrative analysis.
People are absolutely allowed to disagree with creative choices. But when that disagreement leans on personal digs or gets framed as concern for “authenticity” while dismissing an actor’s performance outright, it stops being constructive. This show is a reinterpretation, not a direct copy. It’s telling the same emotional story through a different lens, and not everything will—or should—mirror the game one-to-one. That doesn’t make it a failure. It makes it an adaptation.
And to clarify: no one needs a studio or a production budget to have an opinion. What I said was that if someone feels so strongly about how something should have been done, it might be more fulfilling to channel that passion into something creative of their own. That’s not a dismissal—it’s an invitation to build, not just tear down.
Comments 242
Re: Physical Copies Barely Register for Capcom, Plans for 95% Digital Sales
Every time these numbers come out, people seem more interested in explaining them away than looking at the bigger picture. Sure, PC sales skew things, but the trend is clear.
@Lanmanna mentioned physical releases coming months after digital more and more, but isn't that part of the point? Digital is faster and cheaper to distribute. CDs and Blu-rays still exist, but the economics aren't necessarily the same for every publisher.
I get the concerns around ownership and preservation, but they don't change the business realities. And I think people overestimate how many physical buyers would actually refuse to go digital if it were their only option.
Re: Here's Your First Look at Kingdom Hearts' Sora as He Joins Fortnite 'This Week'
His teeth and mouth are giving the entire look an uncanny valley vibe. I'm usually a little more impressed by Fortnite's character models.
Re: Lies of P Sequel Name Potentially Outed in Trademark Filing
There's no place like home.
Re: Sony Shuts Down The Last of Us 2 PC Multiplayer Fan Mod
Sony/Naughty Dog should pay to acquire the work that was done and release it themselves... Though I do wonder what was able to be salvaged from the scrapped official TLOU multiplayer game.
Re: Hunter's Moon Is a Folk Horror Adventure Based on England's Real Life Witch Hunts
@TheDarts I don’t think we’re actually that far apart here. I wasn’t saying you claimed the persecution didn’t happen. I was responding to the broader wording of “complete misconceptions,” which sounded like it went beyond simply objecting to the word “crusade.”
If your point is specifically that England wasn’t engaged in a centralized, sustained national campaign to eradicate witches, I agree.
My only point was that the persecution itself was still substantial in scale, and dramatic enough that it’s not hard to see why those incidents became so deeply embedded in popular culture (even if later media has certainly simplified or exaggerated them).
Re: Until Dawn 2 Is Out Sooner Than You Think, January 2027 Date Confirmed
The original reveal trailer left a bad taste in my mouth. The character models looked worse than the original and it just felt nothing like Until Dawn… But this trailer redeemed it quite a bit for me!
I caught a glimpse of Blackwood Pines (and of course, a creature resembling a wendigo), so the through lines are starting to show themselves. I’m still skeptical knowing it’s not from the original devs, but I’m more on board now than I was before.
Re: You Can Now Try Final Fantasy Resonance for Yourself with Free Playable Demo on PS5
Downloaded as soon as it went live! This demo drop was the highlight of the State of Play for me.
Re: Hunter's Moon Is a Folk Horror Adventure Based on England's Real Life Witch Hunts
@TheDarts That’s fair when it comes to the word “crusade.” But calling the broader idea a misconception goes too far.
Witchcraft was explicitly criminalized, with some offenses punishable by death, and around 500 people were executed for it in England. In southeast England alone, more than 500 people were put on trial between 1560 and 1700.
For comparison, the Salem Witch Trials, one of the most notorious examples of witch persecution in popular culture, involved more than 200 accusations but only 20 deaths.
So yes, “crusade” is too sweeping, but the persecution was very real.
Re: Furious PS5 Players Unplug Their Consoles in Protest as Blackout Gets Underway
I won’t be participating in the blackout, but I share many of the concerns behind it. What matters most to me is game preservation and improving player trust through meaningful commitments and greater transparency.
Players deserve lasting access to the games they pay for. Online and live-service games should have clear end-of-service plans (such as offline single-player or local co-op options where feasible) rather than simply disappearing when their servers shut down.
Publishers should also disclose guaranteed minimum support periods before release, that way players understand what they’re paying for and how long they can reasonably expect it to remain accessible.
Re: This Ain't Yakuza! SEGA Showcases Stranger Than Heaven's Complex Combat with Live Gameplay Demo
I need the theme song in full. 🙏🏼
Re: PS Plus Members Get Some Exclusive Marvel Tokon Goodies on PS5
@AnVold Why’s that? Just curious.
Re: Angry PlayStation Fans Propose PS5 Blackout in Protest of Sony's Disc Decision
I’m not a fan of the idea that the “most loyal” or “real” PlayStation fans are only the ones who hold a particular viewpoint. Just because one group feels strongly about this doesn’t automatically make them the “core” fanbase, especially without evidence that they represent PlayStation players as a whole.
I understand why people have strong opinions about the shift toward an all-digital future, but they aren’t the only fans who matter, and framing them as the “most loyal” feels unnecessarily divisive.
Re: Palworld Finally Launches in Full Today on PS5, and the Patch Notes are Colossal
@Bluemoon2008 What do you mean? The Early Access version dropped on PS5 in September 2024. 🤔
Re: Poll: Are You Considering Leaving PlayStation for PC?
No, I'm not considering it at all. If I get into PC gaming, it won't be because I'm abandoning something else. I'm a Multiplatform kind of player as it is.
Re: PlayStation's First Post Since Physical Games Debacle Draws 57k Replies
As much as I understand the passion and outcry, being loud on the internet doesn’t correlate to the type of financial consequences Sony would need to see to reverse their decision.
Unless consumers put their money where their mouth is (which, according to Sony, the vast majority of consumers haven’t been), digital only is the new reality come 2028.
Re: Sony Ignores the Backlash and Returns to Social Media Almost a Week After Killing Physical Games
As much as I understand the passion and outcry, being loud on the internet doesn’t correlate to the type of financial consequences Sony would need to see to reverse their decision.
Unless consumers put their money where their mouth is (which, according to Sony, the vast majority of consumers haven’t been), digital only is the new reality come 2028.
Re: Practically Every Comment on PlayStation's YouTube Is Now About Physical Discs
As much as I understand the passion and outcry, being loud on the internet doesn’t correlate to the type of financial consequences Sony would need to see to reverse their decision.
Unless consumers put their money where their mouth is (which, according to Sony, the vast majority of consumers haven’t been), digital only is the new reality come 2028.
Re: Poll: $1,000 and No Disc Drive - Is PS6 Dead on Arrival?
While price is a major factor for most consumers, what ultimately makes or breaks a console is and will always be the quality of the games and experiences it provides. No amount of speculation or educated guesswork can tell us what that's going to look like. It's easy for people to latch on to recent triggers, but I suspect this conversation will look quite different a couple years from now.
Re: Reaction: PlayStation's Burned Through the Last Remaining Goodwill of Its Fans
I understand why people are upset. We’re losing real benefits with physical games: ownership, preservation, resale, and choice. That’s worth acknowledging.
That said, I also understand why Sony made this decision (and why Microsoft and Nintendo will likely follow suit). Most buyers have already moved to digital for all or most purchases, myself included. I’d rather be optimistic and hope the resources this frees up lead to better games and experiences than assume it’s all downhill from here.
The challenge now isn’t convincing people to embrace digital. It’s making sure companies continue to prioritize trust in an all-digital future.
Re: 'Absolutely Terrible Idea': Nobody Likes Sony's New PS Plus Experiment
Barring sticking with the previous method, it'd make more sense to let players decide which of the options they'd like to have access to first... At least then it's not a potential waiting game for the title we most have interest in playing.
Re: PS5 Shovelware Dev Confirms 'Stricter' Publishing Guidelines from Sony
Nintendo needs to do the same, desperately. 😅
Re: PS5's Until Dawn 2 Has Been in Development for At Least 4 Years Already
The trailer gave me pause due to the unpolished and uncanny character models. You can definitely tell this one wasn't made by Supermassive, and I'd expect a little more quality after 4 years of development. Here's hoping the release build will make things right.
Re: Poll: How Would You Rate Summer Game Fest 2026?
@MidnightDragonDX What were you hoping for? What would have made this a slam dunk for you?
Re: Overlooked PS5 Action RPG Scarlet Nexus Tops 2 Million Sales, Sparking Sequel Talk
Well-deserved! I’ll settle for a literal or spiritual sequel. My only hope would be for actual cutscenes this time, but the combat was extremely satisfying in the original.
Re: 11 Years Later, Until Dawn 2 Is Official and Coming to PS5 in 2027
Not developed by Supermassive Games, and you can tell. I feel bad, but I had a visceral reaction to the reveal.
It doesn’t feel like Until Dawn, and I’m really hoping Firesprite has a lot more work planned to get those models and animations out of uncanny valley territory. Maybe they can pull it off, but at the moment my expectations aren’t the highest.
Re: Poll: How Would You Rate State of Play for June 2026?
I don’t think September’s ready for that jelly. 🫣
Re: Round Up: What Was Announced in Sony's State of Play Livestream for June 2026?
@BaronLaw I don’t think you watched the same presentation, but enjoy checking your email.
Re: These 5+ PS5, PS4 Games Will Be Delisted in June 2026
Can always count on a pinball game being on these lists. 🤷🏽♂️
Re: The Last of Us Multiplayer Was 80% Complete Before Cancellation, Spent 7 Years in Development
I love The Last of Us and strongly prefer single-player games, but even I can acknowledge the significant demand there was for a follow-up to the OG Factions.
I understand wanting to remain focused on single-player experiences as a studio, but to get as far as they reportedly did in development, they sure as heck better be putting some of that work to good use in Intergalactic or the (hopefully) inevitable TLOU Part III.
Re: Echoes of Aincrad Is a Totally New Take on Sword Art Online, as Massive PS5 Gameplay Demo Shows
There are difficulty options for all skill (or time-commitment) levels. I’m looking forward and hope it’s solid, as it’s finally a return to SAO’s roots.
Re: Grab These Resident Evil PSN Avatars for Free This Month
I already had Sony Pictures Core installed, but a June distribution is pure madness.
Re: Silent Hill: Townfall Is the Next Series Entry to Get Excited About, Out on PS5 in 2026
Not feeling the first person, unfortunately. I don’t know what it is. I just can’t get into first person games despite them being designed to be a more immersive experience.
Re: Silent Hill Producer Aims to Release One New Game Per Year
If they're talking remakes or different types of experiences from the main series, especially if multiple studios are involved, I get it. Let's not jump to conclusions.
Re: Talking Point: Will PlayStation's Mobile Push Be a Success or a Flop?
All I know is the mobile landscape needs a major shift moving forward. There are tons of great experiences to be had, but so many mobile games have been plagued with gacha and FOMO elements for a while now.
Re: Sony's Social Media Tribute to the PS2 Borders on Insulting
i just came to say I don’t feel insulted. Not even borderline. Happy 25th to the PS2! Have a great day and enjoy your games, everyone!
Re: PlayStation Is Trying to Scrub Any Mention of Its Failed Concerts from the Internet
@Doctor_BK I received a notice that the Seattle show has been canceled. Refunds will be issued.
Re: PlayStation Is Trying to Scrub Any Mention of Its Failed Concerts from the Internet
I was notified today that Seattle was canceled. That’s such a bummer.
Re: Loads of PlayStation Concert Dates Cancelled Amid Rumours of Low Ticket Sales
I bought tickets for the Seattle show in February a couple months ago. No cancellation emails… yet.
The main draw for me is that the Paramount Theater is featured heavily in The Last of Us Part 2, so I hope it doesn’t get canceled. 😅🤞🏼
Re: Don't Be Like This GTA 6 'Fan' Who Flew to Scotland Just to Harass Rockstar Staff
This man(ipulator) knew exactly what he was doing and knew it would get attention. Unfortunately, he's getting it. 😅
Re: Silent Hill 2's Overdue PS5 Pro Fixes Now in Konami's Hands
The shimmering is absolutely noticeable, but didn't harm the gameplay experience. Still, the amount of time this has remained an issue isn't the best look. 😅
Re: Resident Evil Requiem Has Third-Person Camera for Those Who Found Resident Evil 7 Too Scary
“Too scary” is the reason? 😅 I just prefer third-person games.
Re: Avatar PS5 Game Gets a Third-Person Mode, New Game+ in Huge December Update
I never thought we'd see the day. 🙌🏼 December can't come soon enough!
Re: Capcom Nixes Tone Deaf Conference on Monster Hunter Wilds Optimisation
The type of behavior we’re seeing more and more frequently is completely unacceptable. It’s immature at best, and all who engage in it could use some professional help therapy or counseling.
Re: The Last of Us Part 2's Chronological Update Out Now on PS5, PC, Lets You Play Through the Story in Linear Order
@Cerny A lot of events were experienced through flashbacks, and simultaneous events experienced by two different characters during the same timeline were played at different times (avoiding spoilers for those who haven’t played).
The entire narrative structure involved jumping around to different points in time, so chronological means all the events will unfold in the order they actually occurred in the timeline.
Re: The Last of Us Part 2's Chronological Update Out Now on PS5, PC, Lets You Play Through the Story in Linear Order
I don’t mind the naysayers. Play it or not… that’s up to you. As for me, I’m looking forward to jumping into this mode after work! 🥳
Re: Red Dead Redemption 2 PS5 Version Tease Turns Out to Be a Cast Reunion
And this, kids, is why we don't hype up unconfirmed speculation. ☺️
Re: Stellar Blade's Hyper-Realistic $3,600 Statues Sold Out in Minutes
@Fiendish-Beaver Just checked their website and they’re 1:3 scale! 😱 Eve is 78.5cm (2.57 ft) and Tachy is 79cm (2.59 ft), with both measurements including the base.
Re: Comments from Ubisoft's Legal Team Are Not Going to Improve the Embattled Publisher's Image
I don’t know that it’s reasonable to believe the download code expiration represented the true longevity of the title, but I do believe having a single-player mode rendered unplayable due to the server shutdown is unacceptable.
Games that require online server access for single-player experiences should not exist in ways that end the experience if the servers shut down.
Re: PS5 Graphics Modes Make Expedition 33 Either Look or Run Better, PS5 Pro Enhanced Too
This is currently my most-anticipated game. 🙌🏼
Re: The Last of Us Showrunner Isn't Concerned About Bella Ramsey's Ellie Looking Too Young in Season 2
@Oz_Who_Dat_Dare I hear what you’re saying, and I agree that visual storytelling matters—aging, trauma, and character design all play a role. But my issue isn’t just with people pointing out differences between the game and the show. It’s with how those criticisms are often being delivered. A lot of the online discourse isn’t thoughtful critique—it’s people calling Bella “ugly” or claiming Bella doesn’t “look like Ellie” in ways rooted more in bias and narrow beauty standards than in actual narrative analysis.
People are absolutely allowed to disagree with creative choices. But when that disagreement leans on personal digs or gets framed as concern for “authenticity” while dismissing an actor’s performance outright, it stops being constructive. This show is a reinterpretation, not a direct copy. It’s telling the same emotional story through a different lens, and not everything will—or should—mirror the game one-to-one. That doesn’t make it a failure. It makes it an adaptation.
And to clarify: no one needs a studio or a production budget to have an opinion. What I said was that if someone feels so strongly about how something should have been done, it might be more fulfilling to channel that passion into something creative of their own. That’s not a dismissal—it’s an invitation to build, not just tear down.