Digital Ownership
Ongoing coverage on Digital Ownership.
Latest coverage
Redditor fashions a 'game cartridge' system for their Steam library out of cheap SATA SSDs
A Reddit user has created a physical media project using cheap SATA SSDs to function as game cartridges for their Steam library. Each SSD is housed with the game's cover art, and a script automatically navigates Steam to the game's library page or launches it directly when the cartridge is slotted into a dock. This project highlights the appeal of physical media amidst rising memory prices and ongoing discussions about digital ownership.
As Xbox fan goes viral for losing account with games worth "thousands of euros" and their "son's baby pictures," official support says it's "working to restore access"
Streamer Joshua Khane lost access to his Microsoft account, including thousands of euros worth of games and personal photos, after his OneDrive was permanently suspended due to unauthorized access. Xbox Support has acknowledged the issue and stated they are working to restore access to his purchases. This incident highlights the risks associated with digital ownership and account security.
Threats of a $1,000 PS6 have ex-Sony president just as scared as you are: "How much more ray tracing can you put in…
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Shawn Layden expresses concern over potential $1,000 PlayStation 6 pricing, fearing it will hinder adoption and consumer spending. He questions the necessity of further graphical advancements like ray tracing and higher frame rates, suggesting Sony's recent business decisions may also erode consumer trust by the time the console launches.
Steam fan finds 'cheap SSDs' to make retro 'game cartridges' system — the only problem is 2026…
A Steam user has devised a method to store PC games on SSDs, creating physical 'game cartridges' with custom artwork and auto-navigation scripts. This concept emerges amidst controversy over Sony's planned discontinuation of physical PlayStation game discs in 2028, highlighting ongoing debates about digital ownership and the future of physical media in gaming.
Xbox owner loses decades of digital games after Microsoft deletes account
An Xbox player, Joshua Khane, lost 25 years of digital games and personal data after Microsoft permanently suspended his account due to a hack. Microsoft stated the account deletion was irreversible to protect personal data, even refusing to recover Minecraft purchases. This incident highlights growing concerns about digital ownership and account security in an increasingly digital-only gaming future.
'The future is now' — PS5 user locked out of Ghost of Yotei due to license verification, and this is why…
A PlayStation 5 user reported being locked out of their digital copy of Ghost of Yotei for an extended period due to license verification issues. This incident highlights concerns about digital ownership and game access, especially in light of Sony's plans to phase out physical game discs by January 2028.
GOG Wants You To Make Your Own Physical Games
GOG.com has released a tutorial demonstrating how players can create physical backups of their digital PC games to ensure long-term preservation. This initiative addresses concerns about digital-only libraries and the potential disappearance of storefronts, offering a method to 'own' purchased games indefinitely by downloading offline installers and saving them to discs.
"Consumers would stop truly owning their video games": Death of PlayStation discs prompts lawmakers and consumer rights groups to push back
Sony Interactive Entertainment's decision to cease production of new PlayStation game discs in 2028 has sparked significant backlash from consumers and consumer rights groups. Organizations in the Netherlands and lawmakers in Mexico are pushing back, arguing that the end of physical media will grant Sony complete control over game pricing and access, effectively turning game purchases into licenses rather than true ownership. This move raises concerns about fair pricing, the second-hand market, and digital ownership rights.
"Sony waited for Rockstar to make the first move": Founding Xbox member warns against PlayStation's all-digital future, says "I trust" Steam games won't just disappear
Industry veteran Laura Fryer, a founding member of the original Xbox, warns about the risks of an all-digital future for gaming, citing PlayStation's move away from physical discs. She shares a personal anecdote about losing hundreds of dollars in Rock Band songs due to delisting, highlighting the impermanence of digital ownership and the potential loss of the second-hand market. Fryer suggests Sony is waiting for major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 to normalize digital-only sales before fully committing.
The Gaming Industry Is Eating Itself Alive
Xbox is undergoing a massive restructuring, including 3,200 layoffs, impacting numerous studios and divisions like Activision, Bethesda, and Blizzard. While some studios regain independence and first-party projects remain safe for now, the article criticizes Xbox's overall strategy, citing Game Pass's performance and declining hardware revenue. The piece also touches on PlayStation's similar issues with digital ownership and preservation, painting a bleak picture for the future of gaming costs and ownership.
French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon declares 'Players have rights too!' over the death of…
French left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has voiced strong opposition to the upcoming digital-only releases of Grand Theft Auto 6 and Sony's planned discontinuation of physical game sales. He argues that players will pay for games without ever truly owning them, leading to a loss of rights like resale and preservation, and is supporting a petition to save physical videogames.
If physical games are dying, we need better laws for our digital rights
Sony's decision to end disc production for PlayStation games and the impending removal of Studio Canal films from PlayStation Video highlight the precariousness of digital ownership. The article argues for stronger consumer rights and new laws to protect digital purchases, contrasting them with the freedoms offered by physical media. It notes ongoing efforts in the EU and France to address these issues, while also pointing to PC storefronts like GOG.com as alternatives offering true ownership.
Hideo Kojima describes Sony's decision to end physical games as 'scary', warns that you 'won't own the data' — 'There's a server somewhere, and you only have the right to turn on the tap'
Hideo Kojima expressed sadness and concern over Sony's decision to discontinue physical PlayStation game discs, warning about the implications for digital ownership and the potential shift towards a subscription-based streaming future. He fears that players will lose the right to own their data, becoming reliant on companies controlling access to games and media through servers and monthly fees.
Op Ed
This opinion piece discusses the perceived decline of true game ownership in the digital era, arguing that the shift towards digital-only distribution and evolving business models is leading to a "slow, deliberate death" of players owning their games outright. The article explores the implications of this trend for consumers and the industry.
Sony’s Decision To Ditch Physical PlayStation Discs Is Getting Absolutely Clowned On
Sony's reported decision to cease production of physical PlayStation discs by 2028 has drawn significant criticism online, with even brands like Domino's and KFC joining in on the jokes. Players are expressing concerns about the loss of physical ownership and the perceived erosion of traditional gaming experiences.
"The future of gaming shouldn't come at the expense of ownership" - Anti-DRM champion GOG restates the fundamentals as PlayStation kills off discs
GOG, a digital storefront known for its DRM-free games, emphasizes the importance of game preservation and player ownership in response to Sony's move away from physical media. GOG's joint-CEO Krzysztof Papliński stated that players should have confidence in long-term access to their purchased games, regardless of platform or business model changes. The company's commitment to DRM-free titles and offline installers ensures lasting control for consumers.
etc.
The first wave of Steam Machines has been released, though many interested consumers remain on a waitlist. Separately, the ESA is reportedly avoiding discussions regarding digital ownership within the gaming industry.
PlayStation Offers Free Multiplayer Days After Upsetting Everyone
Sony is offering a free online multiplayer weekend for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 users from July 3 to July 5, allowing access without a PlayStation Plus subscription. This move comes amidst significant backlash from players regarding changes to digital ownership and subscription models, with the company remaining largely silent on social media.
Even Hideo Kojima is afraid that 'digital data will no longer be owned by individuals' and that access to art…
Hideo Kojima has expressed concerns about the future of digital ownership, fearing that players will eventually lose control over their digital data and access to art. This sentiment is amplified by Sony's reported move towards a fully digital PlayStation ecosystem by 2028, raising anxieties about game preservation and the potential loss of access to purchased content due to external factors like server shutdowns or company closures.
Xbox Reportedly Testing Feature Allowing You To Digitize Physical Discs
Xbox is reportedly testing a new feature called 'Disc2Digital' that would allow users to digitize their physical game discs and add them to their Xbox account. This feature would only apply to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S games, with older Xbox 360 discs not supported. The move comes amid industry trends towards digital-only releases and potential future console designs without disc drives.
