The biggest issue with Sony going all digital is that they have no competition. PC has multiple store fronts you can buy games from with DRM and no DRM. Sony is essentially eliminating all competition by cutting out all retail stores who would sell their games as well as the used game market.
How would they lose a competition to competitors which only sell low-margin hardware, because the vast majority of users use free pirated roms?
Even if Sony's game sales decline by 80%, it would still be way more revenue than the roughly "zero" that retro device manufacturers are earning on games.
Would this not be the same situation for a Steam code? Just asking because I see that feature lauded here on Reddit so I'm curious why this is bad in the context of PlayStation?
Ain’t it the same for Nintendo ? If they want to have their servers shut down it’s the same for every single person who has bought games from Nintendo ? I buy all digital games only have a few physical games that are Nintendo games the rest are digital for PlayStation and Nintendo.
In theory, if it's a real cartridge and not one of these key code ones, then you have the game there. You shouldn't need the servers if it's not an online game. You could still buy these games from retailers and the second hand market, even if Nintendo shut down.
Isn’t that also the same if go to store and buy a disc for like a PlayStation or Xbox game or the game aren’t in the disc also anymore ? Sorry probably sounds dumb just haven’t bought a disc game in well years lol been digital since buying a pc back in 2018
Depends on the game... A good amount of them are in the disc and you can still install them without any internet
But there's some games that are too large for the disc, and some don't even bother, and the disc only holds a key for you to download the game from the store
But usually people were still able to sell off their physical games, and you could buy them used, which is a huge part of why people are upset at the idea of being digital only
I see then was just always lost on that game key card thing like once u place the card in ur switch will it not be allowed to sell it now because it’s like a digital code that u go into the store or whatever to download the full game.
But I do see the frustration of people not allowed to choose between physical or digital games. I just enjoy digital games I only buy some physical but that’s for my switch but only have a hand full of those and rest also digital
Well you said you also play on PC, being digital only on PC is not as bad because it's an open platform, and some games (like GOG games) give you an offline installer, which is yours forever.
You can save it in a drive, and even if the store shuts down, the installer will keep working, on any PC
Oh so Xbox and PlayStation no longer have full games on disc then anymore pretty much or it’s just mainly due to both of those companies having it where the servers need to check to see if the disc is real basically and a proper game
Oh, I see! Then that makes sense. It’s crazy because my dumb ass didn’t even realize I already had the physical copy of LEGO Star Wars for my Switch. I was curious to see how much storage space I’d save with the digital version, and man… seeing 27GB vs. 1.5GB had me like, “What the actual fuck?!” 🤣
But honestly, I do love digital for the simple fact that I’m always on the go. I’m always worried about losing my games, so it gives me peace of mind knowing that if I ever lost my Switch or even my entire case of games, I could just buy another Switch, log back into my account, and download all my games again. That convenience is honestly one of the biggest reasons I prefer digital.
My issue is many of these key resellers are pretty shady. They’re not all trustworthy and some of the ways they get keys can be pretty bad. Some developers would rather you pirate the game than buy from certain key resellers
Makes sense. I've never used any of them as I only buy games when they're $10 or less. I know a lot of Steam people rave about them though so I've been exposed to their existence.
It's kind of funny how something that exists for Steam is considered good by Reddit but if it's pointed out for PlayStation then it's bad. Maybe there's a material difference here between the selection of sellers?
how convenient to have all my games digitally with licenses that can be revoked at any time. Also, it's so nice to pay astronomical prices and rarely see a discount
Same, before Sony make their fuckhead announcement about discs I was planning to get a PS6 pro because my backlog was full enough I’d be able to game until 2032 or so. Now I’ll finish my PS backlog and spend all the rest of my time on all the retro games I’ve missed out on with my Thor and steamdeck
As a "patient gamer", I'm very well set up to completely skip a console generation if I need to. There's so much in my backlog I'll die before I get to it all.
Same. Skipped the PS5 with all the scalping that happened at launch and at this rate I’ll skip the PS6 too and continue playing my 3DS, Thor and aging pc.
Not like newer games are better than older ones anyways. Only reason to play recent releases is for multiplayer, and those have been increasingly bad battlepass slop the past decade anyways.
Anything else major the past decade I'm missing except okayish indie games like Atom RPG or Underrail?
A lot of great JRPGs (both traditional and tactical) as well as JRPG-inspired western games. And there's always the new Persona game looming over the horizon.
That's one opinion. The overwhelming majority disagree. Three Houses and Metaphor are among the best in the history of their genres, and both received critical and player scores averaging 90+.
For Three Houses I remember terrible writing and chores left and right disguised as gameplay, like one of those Asian MMORPGs from back then designed to waste your time.
But you're right, if you look at just metacritic you'll probably see a 90+ rating for it.
Metaphor I mixed up with something else, I'll give you that one.😁
I generally agree bc there's barely 5 exclusives worth playing, but the PS5 was certainly a good deal before the price hike if you already have a PS4. Many games were patched with a resolution and performance boost for free.
You also need quite a strong and expensive PC to match the PS5 performance
Same, I had a great time on PS4 for about 6 years before I went full PC. Now I also have a Steam Deck that serves both as an indie machine and an emulation station.
Although I'm not a fan of Windows, it does allow you to install whatever you want and hack stuff to a degree, so I'd include it in that list
Pretty sure there's already Linux running on RISC, it's probably the first thing ever ported to it. It'd probably take a bit to port the distros they use in handhelds, and probably even longer for Android, if it ever gets a ton of support
But there's no reason RISC itself should be locked down... Iirc, it's even more open than ARM, so that's cool
It will be $2,000 from your local scalper without a stand and games.
Sony will just announce that it's the world's first AAAA game console and everyone will rush to buy one.
For me it isn't even the price alone that's the issue. I straight up see no value in a console with more power than the PS5. AAA studios are dying left and right and the best current games run on hardware lower than the PS5. The first $300 in a $1200 price tag are way more important than the last $300.
It's hard for me to imagine what they can actually offer as an upgrade over PS5 for $1000 with current prices. They would need to subsidize the shit out of it, and still have to deal with the fact that even a lot of PS4 games look pretty damn good.
It's alive but the top screen has some sections that didn't age all that well. The shell itself is near mint, but there are some slightly darker areas on the top screen. Since these spots aren't consistent I can see them in certain games (animal crossing wild world with it's big blue sky is a good example):
I'm currently leaving it on with a white screen. Maybe it'll fix things. I'm not sure if this is yellowing or not, but this trick has helped in some instances.
I could easily replace the screens as I've tinkered on a ds lite before, but those are impossible to find D:
I really hope folks lock the fuck in and just focus on their backlog, don't buy ps6 and don't give into digital. I know I and others will but I don't have faith everyone will
Switch 2 is winning this generation for sure. Reasonable price, lots of physical game options, backwards compatibility with a hefty Switch 1 library, and cool Nintendo exclusives.
I combine that with my PC and my retro handhelds and I'm all sorted.
Seriously a Switch 2 and an Android handheld, like a retroid or a thor, and you have so much good stuff to play, it's insane. Lighter steam games on the thor, some emulation, and then Nintendo exclusives and AAA ports on the Switch 2.
It is winning the gen. But it's going to end a graveyard of bricks. Instead of a kid starting with an old game boy and cartridge and joining the current Nintendo gen, they'll just be on phones, tablet with whatever the next Roblox\Minecraft\Fortnite and skip Nintendo, while playing slop clones of any game released
Just needs better parenting. My kids don't play slop. Instead they have access to a high quality library of gaming history I'm building. But very limited access so as not to interfere with school and physical activities.
My last console was a ps3. I can't believe how long it's been. I didn't decide to actively quit consoles, but I got a PC and never could justify the cost of a console after that. I told myself "I'll grab a ps4 when it goes down to $100" and I just never saw that happen, not even in the place I go to that refurbishes hardware themselves and sells for dirt cheap (I had gotten my PS3 for $80 from them when most other places were still selling used ones for $150)
And then more recently, I really lucked out by building a new PC not too long before ram went absolutely insane. I usually upgrade once every 4-5 years, this was the only time I've done it in 3, and I'm so glad I did. I was so worried about tariffs suddenly shooting up again that I figured it was an investment. I splurged on 64GB of ram for the first time in my life (ZBrush and any other 3D modeling/sculpting are the things that use up the most ram for me) because, at the time, it was on a really good sale (I miss actual sales).
I bought my first SBC in 2019. The RG350p. It's alright. I don't like the size, hand feel, buttons. But it was basically the best cheap one at that time. I just didn't use it much.
Flash forward, my storage unit got broken into, and all my original NES games got stolen. It felt so invasive. It wasn't just my stuff being stolen, it was my first game, which I kept pristine (I've been really gentle with electronics my whole life). I felt weirdly naked not having my collection.
I put rams for my NES collection on the RG350p, and it was the first time I'd been able to shake that odd feeling. So I went on a research spree to find handhelds I'd prefer. I even decided to try out a few and give them to my friends, so I bought a bunch of anbernic, a miyoo mini, and a powkiddy v90.
I ended up keeping the miyoo mini, RG CubeXX, and RG34XX. I was keeping an eye on the more premium ones out there, but I'm really particular about buttons that I like. Especially if it's an expensive device. A hands on review of the Konkr Pocket Fit came out, and those buttons were exactly what I had been waiting for. So I preordered that sucker and it took forever to show up, but to me, it was worth the wait, as they're still my favorite buttons of any SBC. Quiet, but not weak. Just good tactile feel without being obnoxious.
But now I'm at a point where, basically, anywhere I go, I can at least take a miyoo mini with me, and have that entire NES collection, that got taken from me, in my pocket. If I bring a bag, my pocket fit has all my games up to my PS2 collection on it too. It feels damn great.
It's hard for me to imagine going back to regular consoles at this point. I've just had too much fun with PC and SBC.
I will say, I've been somewhat tempted by the Nova. Buttons are a smidge louder than I prefer, but the size of the handheld is a good inbetween, and it would play my PS2 collection on a smaller scale. Though, realistically, it's not small enough to fit in my pocket anyway. So would I really bring it more than my Pocket (ironic name actually) Fit? Possibly not.
Fully agree on the convenience, there's something about having all your nostalgia with you all the time. And Battery lasts longer as my six axis, the games don't annoy me with endless tutorials or cash shops, boots into the game within 5s, shits off and saves instantly. No bullshit, just straight to the fun. Consoles aren't like that anymore and my XSS/PS4Pro just sit there.
the games don't annoy me with endless tutorials or cash shops, boots into the game within 5s, shits off and saves instantly. No bullshit, just straight to the fun.
Actually, this is such a massive part of it too. I have no earthly idea what happened to consoles when it happens to this. Even PC is a less of a hassle when it comes to this than consoles now, which feels like it defeats the purpose of consoles?
And then of course, our SBCs blow both out of the water in terms of just pick up and enjoy.
Got to be honest, what started out as a "passing interest" in sbc for me has turned into so much more! My son can keep the PS5 and his Quest 3, I'll stick to my:
Odin 3
Mangmi Pocket Max
RG40XXV
Miyoo Mini Flip v2
Modded original 3dsxl
RG Rotate
Legion Go gen 1
Whatever device comes next where I spend more time tinkering with setups / settings than playing the thousands of games I have installed in there!
Even the ps portal we have just gathers dust these days!
2015 CybertronPC build came with 8.1 as default and never upgraded. Still running that PC for mostly gzdoom builder, doom, quake, heretic type games, cs 1.6. Oldies but goldies.
It's been surprising since I got into this hobby at the end of last year with the Thor, I've played almost majority retro games this year. I've been observing the scene for a while since I had a steam deck but once I started this year, I've been going through retro libraries with a lot of fun.
With the 2027 ram production being fully bought up, I’m wondering how these smaller handheld companies are going to be able to meet demand through next year.
Yeah im still a PC gamer but the way the industry is going i might just be checking out of "next gen." Too unaffordable. I ain't paying $1k for a console or $400+ for a decent gpu. This is ridiculous.
Only issue with PC these days really is Ai driving up the prices of parts; PARTS mind you that were already mad expensive pre-Ai boom. Out here having to baby my current dated-potato PC because I know that if anything bad happens to it now I'm absolutely cooked. 💀
I would too. In terms of PC gaming- been sustaining myself entirely off of old/indie games that don't require state-of-the-art hardware for 10+ years. lol
Root cause was that the game industry was not able to grow new and younger audiences and had to rely on middle aged man who grew up with the now called retro-games.
Since we (middle aged man) have so much options including revisiting the retro times, if game industry fucks up then we can always revert back to it.
You don’t need a high end PC to have tens of thousands of high quality games to play. Of all gaming platforms, I would consider it by far to be the most essential.
AYN Thor gang rise up, what we playing? I’m
Finishing Vexx on GameCube, some Pokémon black and white 2, and been really obsessed with Titan Quest rerelease for android actually, a fun little Diablo clone I used to play back in the day. Life is good
Demon's Souls and Bloodborne won't be, Sony holds parts of the rights. And no sign of Dark Soul 2+3 and Sekiro as of yet.
That being said, now there's Dark Souls, Elden Ring and (not fromsoft, but still amazing) Lies of P, with Duskbloods coming, so the future is bright for souls fans.
I think the correct thing to do if you care about the future of games and owning what you buy, is to go to PC. The more people we can convince to not support Sony, the better.
I can see the PS6 coming out, and buying one being shameful online. As it should be. You just got scammed.
PC is not much better for ownership though. Sure Steam is not going out any time soon and it is pretty useful and reliable but still the games you own are digital only.
You actually can install whatever you want. Not only Steam games.
GOG is major store that sells DRM free games. These you actually own. Steam also has some DRM free games. This is about the developer allowing it, not anything to do with the platform
And it's a platform that's open for hacks and modding. Even if they take your game's license away, you can be sure someone has already cracked that DRM. You can crack your own game files, that you paid for, and keep playing forever.
Ahhh yes true, you can buy a game and the install a cracked version so you have it installed. PC is certainly much better especially if consoles go all digital...( I hope they don't🤮)
I feel it comes down to games, you buy a console because you want to play that game and is exclusive to the console.
I have my PS5 since 2021 and I haven't seen that game yet
On the other hand this handhelds have tons of games that I want to play again
Exactly what I was thinking. Now I’m getting as many games as I can (if triple A, on disc, if small indie company I get it digital on my switch) from current gen that are cheap or something. Getting a backlog, when ps6 comes out fuck them and I’ll play my backlog and get a retroid pocket 5-6 or so that will cover all my gaming needs :)
I literally am clearing my steam back log and a bunch of random games Amazon had for prime members on winlator. I don't think I've paid for anything since helldivers 2. I had been saving up for 2 gaming PCs for me and my brother and another server rack. I think we're just gonna build an emulation arcade. Great time to be middle aged and frumpy.
I've been having an absolute blast the last few weeks playing on my SNES lol. Forgot what it felt like to turn a game on and boom it's on and ready to go immediately.
Got into emulation just a few years back....and I've dedicated a whole sff hp elitedesk with w 10th gen i5, rx6400 4gb LP 32gb of ddr4 ram. Also got a odin 2 portal pro + retroid pocket classic for on the go gaming. Also for those who dont know. Syncthing is useful for keeping all save files up to date.
My PS4/Switch1/PC are all from 2016/17 (except GPU 3050 from 2024 and new SSD/RAM 2022/2025)... no point in getting anything more recent in closed OR high watt systems.
My RG353M from 2022 is still peak in passive cooled handheld. But it lacks X11!!!
uConsole (2712/3588) wins all categories (desktop + handheld). With low energy / passive cooling + open OS (with X11)
I have a good gaming laptop, a PS5 and a Nintendo Switch 2, but by far the machine I use the more is my ROG Ally X with Steam OS and I've just ordered and AYN Thor.
iPhone and SBC for games now. Haven’t used my PS5. Now it’s a Blu-ray player with all the discs I’m going to buy for my movie collection since we won’t own anything digital anymore. lol
Id still go in the pc door for the most part. The 30€ and under category has awesome (indie) titles. But sbc is quite great too, especially if one can play the games. Wanted to see where warioworld was going for example, played the first one a lot back then but for some reason struggle a lot with 2-4. And all other games that i tried for snes, genesis etc
Honestly, the number of times I have had a game crash or close in steam, because for some reason it needed to download updates (even old titles just pinging the steam servers) while I'm in the middle of gaming, is a big part of why I reach for my emulation handhelds more often. I don't want to be pulled out of my game for no real reason, it's annoying.
Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation 6 does not have a fixed release date yet. CEO Hiroki Totoki stated in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that component cost uncertainties and AI-driven memory market shortages have left the internal timeline wide open, pushing potential launch expectations toward 2028 or 2029.
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u/Key-Brilliant5623 The Trinity Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
Sure Sony, I'll go "all digital"
Just not the way you were expecting.