Craig GrannellPhysical copies of GTA 6 confirmed to be a code in a box. I wrote about Switch 2 Game-Key Cards a while back. Got shit for this from some quarters. But I stand by the angle that a code-in-a-box is the worst of all worlds – and that physical media should be yours forever. https://www.stuff.tv/features/nintendo-switch-2-game-key-cards-are-the-worst-of-all-worlds-physical-media-should-be-yours-forever/
Stephen Darlington@craiggrannell Agreed. One of the reasons I liked the physical cards (on the Switch 1) was that it took up less of the limited local storage!
Dave Mc@craiggrannell with the current licensing terms, and that pretty much every game won't work without contacting home, the only thing physical media provides is slightly less to download on release day... with diminishing returns over time as more patches are added, and hopefully more content.
We could go back to complete games in the box, but we'd also be losing a lot of features that gamers expect.
IXIMany¹ titles of current and past gaming console releases still have the full game on disc and can be played offline out of the box - albeit with the possible shortcomings you mentioned - without needing to connect to their respective servers.
I'm not speaking about PC releases, as the news is about the console ones. The former have mostly been glorified keys (if even that) for years, which is ofc how the digital-only trend started.
Just wanted add that info adressing a common misconception about the current state of (albeit dying) physical media in console gaming.
__
94% of PS5's 769 entries and 98% of Switch's 766 entries have "Offline Play", for example.
'Our methodology': https://www.doesitplay.org/methodology
@ixi @craiggrannell offline play... as in it works on your console, even if it's never connected to the internet? That's excellent. But my understanding was that most offline play games still want to authenticate with the server to confirm purchase. If the server dies...?
Exactly, 'Offline play' doesn't require any server authentication whatsoever (excluding codes for skins, DLCs, etc.).
The base game, in its "finalised/Day One disc version", is fully playable as is.
Sony, for instance, specifically mentions "Internet Required"¹ on the box if it isn't the case and online-authentification is necessary.
__
¹ ~12 PS5 games (01/2025)
PS5 Gamers | Guys. i need help listing all "Internet Required" games on PS5 so far
https://www.facebook.com/groups/503950066450377/posts/2926562504189109/
Patrick H. Lauke@craiggrannell if I'm not mistaken, the first time this happened (to me at least) was with Half Life 2 for PC that was just a code for Steam (which I think Valve had launched literally in time for HL2's release, but I may be misremembering)
Michael Cook@patrick_h_lauke No I think you’re right. My memory is it was launched specifically for Half Life 2.
@foobarsoft i still have the nice metal "orange box" in my shelf to this day... good times
Gavin@craiggrannell I’m genuinely seeing a Retrotink and a PS2 in my near future.
Gaming peaked then anyway.
Jayenkai [ J-N-K ]@craiggrannell I can understand why they did it. It's no "worse" than a code in a box, but with the added benefit that you can take the cart out and lend it to a friend,
... .. I think.. .. you can still do that, right?
Plus, given RAMpocalypse, maybe it's good they don't need all the memory onboard.
But, yeah. If it's a game in a box....
Ian MalcolmAbsolutely love my Switch 2 - it's already on track to be an all-time fave console in every other respect but this - Game-Key Cards are the huge and stinking turd hidden in the middle of the otherwise delicious cake.
I've been 95% physical with Switch, but sadly it's getting really hard with Switch 2 - I'll buy full-fat carts whenever possible but getting a bigger storage card to go fully digital rather than Game-Key Cards for the rest, they're pointless faff with no benefit.
COMPU73E ❄️@imalcolm @craiggrannell I've made my peace with key cards, but I would definitely prefer full games on the cartridge
Ah, I wish I could... I guess if there was a game where I _really_ wanted a box on the shelf, or if a special edition contained more than just the card itself I'd consider it...
@imalcolm please check out The Adventures of Elliot, it is incredible
Ohh I hadn't heard of that! I can see there's a demo so will download that tonight to check out. 😎 👍
@craiggrannell Dead on.
As an avid downloader who gave up physical years ago I just *don’t get the point*.
I’m sure it’s just to playcare retailers. But I was sort of dumbfounded when Nintendo announced them.