Talk about whether to provide digital or physical copies of the games.
Talk about whether to provide digital or physical copies of the games.
You can transfer your games to dvd or blu-ray (subject to regulations), but most times DRM remains and you still need services like Steam to play them. In short, modern PC gaming means you don’t truly own the titles—especially if you’re using a console and following the digital shift. Physical copies are usually better value, though PC games aren’t always a choice anymore. It’s a bit of a misview, isn’t it? Sure, there are cheap Steam deals on AAA releases, but they’re rare. Most of the big games are either expensive or hard to find at discounts, leaving you with a mix of indie titles and older AAA classics—or sometimes very low-quality releases. On consoles, you often get great deals on new releases for a fraction of the cost, especially if you buy used. Physical media generally offers better pricing, particularly for high-budget titles.
The ownership landscape remains similar to the days of physical media. Digital formats have only increased the challenges of bypassing restrictions. In 2012, the EU court clarified that a sale on a disc is equivalent to an online purchase, and if the license permits indefinite use, you legally own the software [Oracle case ruling]. Of course, they aren't obligated to help with resale, so you may need to take legal action against a major gaming company or platform to get your hands on it. While you might not own it, you likely do. It's been a while since I bought physical games—back then, the price was around €60 online versus €65 in stores. Now everything seems to charge over €60, which feels odd sometimes. That number is interesting, but it's just a topic for another discussion.
yeah, but if you read my post again i said it takes just a few months for a lot of console games to become cheaper, often permanently (software aisle/ pyramid, platinum hits, etc) that doesn't really happen on steam, very rarely, and often can take years, plus, as i said... there's used, you can often get new'ish games very cheap used, no such option on Steam etc (which is a legal right in the EU btw, but Steam and others are weaseling themselves out for years now...) Edited January 2, 2022 by Mark Kaine better wording
Steam consistently sells products regularly. Some games remain available at high prices, yet I’ve noticed rapid discounts on major releases. This behavior is typical for physical retailers who clear stock to make room for new releases, which explains the frequent sales. I’m not sure if this practice is legal. You seem to be talking about the French court case? I don’t know if it’s been resolved yet. The last update I had was that Valve is planning to appeal, and I haven’t seen any recent news about it since then. However, I might have missed the decision. The ruling mentioned confirms that you own your software (if it came with a license allowing indefinite use) and can resell it. To my understanding, no decision has been made requiring stores like Steam to grant this right. Valve later won a related case.