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[-] mechoman444@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Guys, y'all did this to yourselves. You didn't have to use Steam when it launched, but you did because it was convenient.

Physical media started dying the moment people flocked to Steam for PC gaming.

The public wanted this. A niche minority doesn't. The overwhelming majority of game sales are now digital. Why would companies keep manufacturing discs when almost everyone is downloading their games?

And I know, I know, physical media is better for the consumer. I know about the EULAs, licensing, and the ownership issues. I'm not defending digital media. I'm simply saying: y'all made your bed, now sleep in it.

For the record, my entire game library is digital too, aside from some old Xbox 360 and PS4 games I still have on disc. I'm in the same boat. I'm no better than anyone else.

I just see reality for what it is.

If you want physical media back, stop buying digital games. Stop playing them. Delete your Steam account. Uninstall your games.

What the hell did you think these companies were going to do?

[-] pirate2377@lemmy.zip 17 points 1 day ago

To say that Steam is the one solely responsible for this is misleading. That would mean only gaming is switching to digital only. Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc are also responsible for killing physical media outside of gaming

[-] mechoman444@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Agreed. Streaming services are a whole different can of worms that contribute to this issue.

[-] turmacar@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Physical media has the inherent benefit of being difficult to remove from the customer. Because of the several thousand years of precedent and "argument" has lead to the current protections many countries have.

Digital distribution of Digital goods has significant benefits to the customer and producer over physical distribution. A lot of physical game media at this point is basically a license key and a mostly working game that needs downloaded patches they were still developing while the discs were being printed. The downsides are the current legal mechanisms and that a lot of people involved in the producing would like to continue to eat and pay rent.

Don't act like this guy.

[-] mechoman444@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago

Yes, I understand. This is the most common talking point I see when discussing this topic, and it's completely valid.

Ownership is an important consideration. Unfortunately, the buying public has either decided, through ignorance or because they've been convinced, not to care about it.

Digital downloads are, by a massive margin, the preferred way to acquire games. The market has spoken.

Like I said, delete your Steam account. Don't purchase digital games.

Otherwise, accept the fact that we've willfully surrendered our leverage to the corporations.

[-] CaptnNMorgan@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

But when I download a game on steam, I can do whatever I want with the file, and play it whenever I want. I can't say the same thing when I download a game on my PlayStation

[-] mechoman444@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago

Correct. Sony is pure crap.

this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2026
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