They’ve always prioritized anti-consumer practices, they just used to have to hide them and hold themselves back because there was a chance we might actually stop buying their products if we got too mad. Now they’ve pacified us to the point where we’ll complain even as we pull out our credit cards to consume more of their wares.
It’s literally the same issue we’re having in politics; they’re not your friends, and they have never been your friends - they only care about improving their own situation. They won’t care about someone who doesn’t stand up for themselves, and things will only get worse if we don’t come together to do something to stop their gravy train.
At least with corporations it’s easy - you just have to stop buying their products. Even that’s too hard for everyone to coordinate in this apathetic day and age, though, so they keep on profiting.
Yeah, thankfully Sony’s gaming division is pretty easy to drop, unlike say, Nestle or something, where every other dime you spend in a grocery store ends up in their evil pocket somehow even if you’re trying to be careful to avoid them.
Maybe there are plenty of people who will pay $1000+ for an all-digital walled garden console, but it’s kinda jumping the gun for them to assume they’ve got it on lock since it will be untested until next gen starts.
One major misconception people often make is that they assume they represent the average person. You won’t pay $1,000 for an all-digital walled garden console, but there are a bunch of people who just buy the next console to keep playing Fifa or Madden or whatever, and don’t pay any attention to any of this. Sony is banking on those people continuing to buy their products regardless, allowing them to make more money charging more for cheaper products, even if they lose some of their more well-informed consumers in the process.
The point is, we don’t know how many people there are who would buy at that price point because it’s as yet untested. Most of the people with PS5s now got them when they were $500 or less. I’m genuinely interested to see how a console with a 4 digit starting price fares. It’s a given that the PS6 will sell out at launch even if it’s $2000; it’s what happens after the demand of the hardcore gamers with excessive disposable income is satiated that will be interesting to see.
You’re right, we don’t know. Hopefully everyone will collectively agree that it’s not worth the price, but I’ve unfortunately seen too many companies blatantly fuck with their consumers only to have record profits to think this is going to be any different.
My prediction is that they will make plenty of money, but console gaming will shrink as it prices more and more people out.
Oh, yeah, that’ll happen. The tried and true method of making massive profits is to sacrifice long-term stability for short-term revenue, then abandon ship before it sinks.
They couldn’t even wait for the next gen; they had to say, “Fuck you,” to everyone who paid extra for a disc drive on the PS5.
I’m pretty sure the disc drive only ended up being included because somebody thought they could prove they didn’t need to sell disc drives anymore, and the plan backfired.
Goodbye, Sony, hello, unaffordable PC gaming. Would everything go back to normal if the AI nazi cunts were luigied?
What do you mean about unaffordable PC gaming? A 10 year old console costs nearly as much as a brand new PC, like $200-$300 difference. Plus the games are cheaper on PC. Plus all to advantages of owning a PC/laptop. What made consoles appealing 10+ years ago is gone, no more plugnplay, no more savings, and no more simplicity.
PS5 Pro $900 re-released with minor upgrades 2024
Gaming Laptop $950 released 2023
I’m a PC gamer, so I support your point. Mine is that assembling a good gaming PC now is unaffordable, especially since the AI bubble has made the prices soar. Haven’t you seen the Steam Machine? Have you seen its specs? Its price?
So, yeah, PC games are cheaper, but the cost of entry atm is an arm.
While I do agree with all of your points, no one said it had to be your arm.
Can I choose who’s arm? ❤️
I encourage you to. 😉
So many nazis are gonna cover my gaming expenses…
so why are we taking a dip in your hot tub full of ice before this date again?
You could buy a cheaper PC and not play AAA games.
I don’t think so. The Moore’s law is dead. The priviledge of buying a new machine that’s twice as fast, half as power hungry or half the price as the old one is over.
One of the ways to optimize is to shorten the length of the bus connecting the components, making the machine more compact, less modular and less repairable.
I’ve enjoyed the golden times of technology as much as anyone, but realize it was an anomaly, not the normal.
As for the AI buble, it will pop eventually, to be replaced by some new fad, but it will never be the same.
PS: Just as I’m wring this, I’ve noticed a release fom IBM about a 0.7nm process that’s supposed to be twice as powerful and 70% more energy effective compared to 2nm, so not all is lost (yet). Can’t wait for the yield number.
That would only be the first step.
If buying isn’t owning, then pirating isn’t theft, is it?
Big opportunity for Xbox to make their own “here’s how you share a game on Playstation” display.
Yeah, they did it yesterday: they basically told us that next xbox won’t have an optical drive so they are looking for ways of digitizing your physical “for your convenience”:
Just think of how much the C-levels at Xbox would shit themselves if game players actually stuck together and didn’t buy the product.
Sometimes I say silly things.
Next they’ll wonder why anti consumer practices don’t give them more consumers
Sony’s “What, don’t you guys have phones?!” Moment. Lol
Unfortunately Diablo is still pretty successful so I guess they got away with it?
So don’t be their consumer
I never understand people. I have a list of businesses I no longer use no matter what. It really isn’t difficult.
Maybe…Stop giving them money?!
Yup. I was thinking about getting a playstation when GTA VI comes out. Ill wait for the PC release. If I’m forced into digital only, it’ll be on Steam, thanks.
Sony being Sony. Same shit every couple years.
Honestly surprised people support them still with the laundry list of anti consumer scandals.
The Sony RootKit is still active on old CDs. Even though the servers are long gone.
There was a substack I read recently that went through what is on 2000s era dvds and still trying to phone home.
Found it.
https://ringmast4r.substack.com/p/in-1999-this-was-a-federal-crime
If you’re so worried about Sony discontinuing physical media, just move to Steam!
Protip, you can run pirated games through Steam as a non-Steam game as well!
i mean yeah, but why?
If you’re on Linux, for Proton, and Steam Input for compatibility. There have been many games that won’t work with my PS5 controller unless I run them through Steam.
Where you own nothing as well. People have become comfortable with that thought since Steam launched, today they love it.
Ubisoft just said it out loud. Fuck them all!
Lucky I never got bored with Quake 1, Redneck Rampage and Carmageddon 1. Oh, and the original Lotus game that fits on a floppy.
Thats okay. you can be rest assured, theres plenty of people out there that don’t care about the harm they cause and will continue buying sony products and digital downloads, sustaining sonys anticonsumer practices for years to come.
/s
I hate big corporations as next guy, but 80-90% of video games sales today are digital sales. See sources below. To me it seems like an example of people preaching one thing, that they want physical media, and the vast majority silently doing the opposite, because it’s more convenient. Isn’t this at least partly our own fault?
https://www.g2a.com/news/features/85-of-playstation-game-sales-are-digital-is-physical-gaming-dying/
https://twicethebits.com/2025/06/19/the-shift-to-digital-gaming-why-physical-sales-are-declining/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/how-digital-is-the-video-games-market-in-2024
I only play console games. Intentionally bought the disk version of the ps5. The only time i buy disks is when theyre cheaper, which only happens when im getting an older game. If theyre the same price, im going digital for the convenience
At this point all consoles are dead to me. We only but physical carts for the kids switch one and they are offline as much as possible. I only play indie and retro games because i want to give money to people who deserve it and on systems that can never have these issues. There is enough of both to keep me entertained my entire life.
Why is this still a topic? Having a physical disk doesnt give you any more ownership over the games. The ability to play the game is still tied to a license that they can revoke at any time. Once activated the copy is tied to your account or am i misremembering this? You dont lose anything from this except for a useless plastic box.
The point is that you lose out on the ability to buy games second hand
Can you though? Arent the CDs just basically single use activation codes?
No. You can insert any PS4 or PS5 disc into any PS5 with a disc drive and it will run the game. It might also require a download, but they’re not tied to specific accounts.
I see, then its fair to be pissed, i retract my point 🫡
single use? no. but yes activation code.
It depends on the game (or system).
Yeah, you’re broadly right - and this is still shitty anti-consumerist behavior.
In regards to a game behind tied to an account, I’m not sure about that, but I don’t know enough to say for sure. Say I buy a game, install the game on my machine, then trade that disc to a friend. If Sony nukes my account, I think the game would still work for my friend. Or, if they revoke that one game’s license, what if I had another copy of the game? It’s possible to set up a PS5 without the Internet: wouldn’t Sony then be stopped from knowing what you’re doing/be able to revoke licenses?
You’re right that physical media is still technically a license to use the item for personal use, that you don’t actually own the work, and that conceivably it can be revoked by the company. However, having a physical piece of media allows you to play it offline, loan it to a friend, sell it on eBay, rent it from GameFly, and back it up digitally. Games can then be emulated and preserved for future generations.
Having choices matter: whether between Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, or Valve, or having physical or digital media. When Microsoft is failing, Sony is less inclined to do right by gamers. If we lose physical games, it will be easier for games to be altered/removed/revoked at whim. Years ago there was a rash of TV episodes pulled from streaming due to various censorship reasons - but they still exist on DVD & BR for fans to enjoy. Movies that don’t get released physically and aren’t on streaming are functionally lost/dead.
n regards to a game behind tied to an account, I’m not sure about that, but I don’t know enough to say for sure. Say I buy a game, install the game on my machine, then trade that disc to a friend. If Sony nukes my account, I think the game would still work for my friend. Or, if they revoke that one game’s license, what if I had another copy of the game? It’s possible to set up a PS5 without the Internet: wouldn’t Sony then be stopped from knowing what you’re doing/be able to revoke licenses?
i have not had my account or game nuked, but i have lent disks to friends. shit it’s how my public library works. the physical media contains the token that identifies the license. not the license holder.
