This is yet another nail in the coffin of physical media. Or, in other words games you actually own instead of long term lease.

It’s not like physical media makes any difference anyway these days.

Actual disk often gets just a glorified installer, and even if it includes the entire game you’re likely to have to activate it online anyway.

The “own your games” ship has sailed long ago, unless you only buy no-DRM and your own backups.

unless you only buy no-DRM and your own backups

or you straight up pirate it.

There’s not a lot of brave souls doing this as a passionate hobby any longer. Now it’s for the clout, to inject malware, or to receive monetary donations. Or all three!

I hope I am wrong, and we can get back to the passionate hobby, but it’s looking kinda grim from my point of view.

its always been for the clout in the scene. but ive been pirating shit for a couple of decades now, no malware so far.