Firstly, yes PC is mostly digital only, but there is at least competition between PC gaming marketplaces, which helps to restrict anti-consumer practices like deleting content that gamers have paid for.
Secondly, some of the competitors in the PC gaming space allow for physical backups of installation media, which helps with game preservation. For example, if a game is bought on GOG, the installer is mostly/always one that can be backed up onto physical media.
Thirdly, while it's true most gamers have moved away from physical media, it still has value. For example, second hand games allow for more people to take part in gaming than could otherwise (legally) do so. Taking away physical games won't stop people on low incomes from wanting to game, and is likely to lead to a resurgence in game piracy. Not exactly the outcome game industry leaders are likely to welcome.
I agree with all of those points. The market unfortunately doesn't. Physical sales constitute only a quarter on the PlayStation platform (even less according to Sony). Most if not all of the top 10 games by player count are online only anyway.
If Sony does go all digital with the PS6 they'll only lose a small fraction of loyal gamers and they just don't give a fuck.
Piracy on the PlayStation? Also not gonna happen. At least not for online games and that's where the money is.
Piracy has a long history on the PlayStation, going all the way back to the PS1. Every PlayStation (home console and handheld) has had a mod/homebrew scene, including plenty of access to pirated games. I don't see why the PS6 would be any different, regardless of whether the games are distributed digitally or not. The only difference is that more people will be drawn to it if the prices of games are kept high through no second hand market.
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There are a few points to raise here.
Firstly, yes PC is mostly digital only, but there is at least competition between PC gaming marketplaces, which helps to restrict anti-consumer practices like deleting content that gamers have paid for.
Secondly, some of the competitors in the PC gaming space allow for physical backups of installation media, which helps with game preservation. For example, if a game is bought on GOG, the installer is mostly/always one that can be backed up onto physical media.
Thirdly, while it's true most gamers have moved away from physical media, it still has value. For example, second hand games allow for more people to take part in gaming than could otherwise (legally) do so. Taking away physical games won't stop people on low incomes from wanting to game, and is likely to lead to a resurgence in game piracy. Not exactly the outcome game industry leaders are likely to welcome.
I agree with all of those points. The market unfortunately doesn't. Physical sales constitute only a quarter on the PlayStation platform (even less according to Sony). Most if not all of the top 10 games by player count are online only anyway.
If Sony does go all digital with the PS6 they'll only lose a small fraction of loyal gamers and they just don't give a fuck.
Piracy on the PlayStation? Also not gonna happen. At least not for online games and that's where the money is.
Piracy has a long history on the PlayStation, going all the way back to the PS1. Every PlayStation (home console and handheld) has had a mod/homebrew scene, including plenty of access to pirated games. I don't see why the PS6 would be any different, regardless of whether the games are distributed digitally or not. The only difference is that more people will be drawn to it if the prices of games are kept high through no second hand market.