Nico Ernst criticizes Sony’s decision to stop distributing games on Blu-ray discs from 2028. He calls the move an unacceptable loss for gaming culture and emphasizes that alternatives exist. Buyers of the PS5 still have the choice between a version with and without a drive – that should remain the case, Ernst says.
As recently as 2013, Sony promoted physical media with a cheeky video: passing on a game was as simple as handing a disc to a friend. That video was a response to Microsoft’s restrictive plans for the Xbox One, which was supposed to be always online. At the time, Sony positioned itself as the players’ advocate – with the slogan ‘This is for the Players.’
The author argues that games on physical media are not only attractive to collectors. Packaging, steelbooks, and extras in collector’s editions are just as much a part of gaming culture as what happens on screen. Moreover, a game on disc remains a time capsule: all bugs and later-removed elements are still present, which is indispensable for game historians.
Ernst points out that the disc today often only serves as a physical dongle – you also have to log in with accounts. ‘Pop in the disc and play – that’s increasingly rare,’ he writes. Accepting this development was already a mistake.
The author calls on Sony to ask players whether they would pay more for a disc version, or to open distribution to other manufacturers of physical versions. The film industry sets an example: many 4K releases come from small labels because there is a lucrative market for enthusiasts of tangible things. Sony is missing out on this enthusiasm – and with it, the reputation of being ‘for the players.’
Source: www.heise.de
