Mastodawn

Physical 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/

Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards are the worst of all worlds. Physical media should be yours forever

Game cards without the actual games on them are set to multiply on the Switch 2, leaving you with a collection of games you’ll never fully own

Stuff

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Dave Mc 2d ago

@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.

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IXI

@guigsy

Many¹ 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

@craiggrannell

Our methodology

Working to ensure games remain accessible now and always!

DoesItPlay?

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Dave Mc 2d ago

@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...?

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IXI 2d ago

@guigsy

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/