Sony is killing discs — and showing us why it’s a terrible idea by Andrew Webster
Sony announced that, starting in January 2028, the company will no longer produce physical PlayStation discs, which means that from that moment on you can only purchase new PS5 games digitally. At the same time, Sony also announced that it’s going to start winding down the digital stores for both the PS3 and PS Vita, helpfully illustrating one of the most pertinent issues with a digital-only future for gaming: Once the stores are gone, so are the games.
Microsoft is doing something else - Xbox testing disc-to-digital feature that digitizes a physical game collection
Microsoft will likely soon follow Sony and stop the production of physical discs for Xbox games. But instead of leaving physical discs behind entirely, sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell me the company has quietly been working on a disc-to-digital feature that will allow Xbox owners to digitize their existing physical game collections.
Maybe they should add a feature which allows a user (or some archiving company) to convert a digital game to a physical one? Or some other way to conserve the games.
I have (or had) some physical games on the PS4. Maybe a 50/50 split. Since moving to the PS5, even though I paid extra for the disc drive, I have not bought a single physical game.
Physical games allow for sharing and re-playability. They could do the same with digital games, but won’t. The benefit (for the game companies) is that each players has to buy their copy of the game. The problem (for the players) is that some may not be able to afford the games. The companies must have done that calculation though.
I have started playing maybe half an hour or so each day now. I am playing [[202605290954 Ghost of Yotei|Ghost of Yotei]] now. So I’m looking forward to playing GTA 6 when it comes out. Would I play when it releases? I don’t know. It is a single player game. I can enjoy the story later as well, when the prices drop slightly - which has been my modus-operandi with games on the PlayStation.
So, let’s wait and watch I guess.
Leaked images show Microsoft’s new Xbox Cloud Gaming controller by Tom Warren
But this Xbox Cloud Gaming controller is separate and designed to compliment Microsoft’s expanded cloud gaming efforts with Game Pass. It will connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming servers to reduce latency, much like how Google’s Stadia controllers used to work.
I am interested to see how this all works out.
Starfield is coming to the PS5 and getting a pair of major updates in April by Andrew Webster
After lots of rumors, it’s now official: Bethesda’s sci-fi epic Starfield is coming to the PS5. It’ll launch on Sony’s console on April 7th, and that day will also see the debut of two major updates for the game — one paid, one free — a combination that Bethesda describes as “the biggest update to the game since launch.”
It’s official now. This was the one game I wanted to play, but it was available only on Xbox. Happy it’s here now. If only I could make time to play now.
Console exclusives might be making a comeback by Andrew Webster
The near future of game consoles could look a lot like the past. Once a hallmark of the industry, over the last few years console-exclusive games have steadily become rare, as the likes of Sony and Microsoft experimented with offering titles on multiple platforms. Heck, who knows what an Xbox even is anymore? But it seems that the experiments haven't paid off. Signs are pointing to the return of exclusives, as companies lean on other ways to entice new audiences.
I was happy when Microsoft started offering their games on PS5. I was looking forward to play Starfield on PS5.
I never cared for Sony games on PC, because I have a PS5.
I think games should be like Podcasts, play wherever you play your games. Consoles will have a future in such a world. They provide excellent value for those who don’t care about tinkering with their gaming systems. It’s plug and play. That has a ton of value.
"Right now, I need to learn, candidly. About the 'why' of these decisions, what we were optimizing for, and what the data says about the Xbox strategy today. That's the honest answer. I'm looking at lifetime value, not just what happened in a previous moment, or in short term efficiencies and things like that. The plan's the plan until it's not the plan."
Full Moon
Xbox is coming to cars thanks to an LG and Microsoft partnership by Tom Warren
The Xbox app will be able to stream games when you’re charging an EV or trying to entertain passengers on a road trip. LG’s ACP is already available on Kia’s EV3 in Europe, and is also coming to the EV4, EV5, and new Sportage. ACP runs LG’s webOS platform, the same software that powers its smart TVs, and provides access to a variety of content like Netflix, Disney Plus, YouTube, and more.
A thing to do while you wait for your car to charge. A step closer to making EVs mainstream.
The ideal thing would be electromagnetic strips that charge a vehicle while it drives on the road, a bit like Death Stranding’s electric strip on the roads. So that cars are always at an appropriate charge level.
But otherwise, having a quick charge time and something to do while we wait for the car to charge up are good steps in the direction.