Rumors recently circulated that Sony would be implementing a new feature that would remove digitally owned PlayStation games from a user’s library if they were not accessed for 30 days. Sony quickly denied these rumors; however, many fans were still skeptical. This has sparked conversations about whether users truly own digital media, and many have advocated for the resurgence of physical media as a way to ensure ownership.
PlayStation Rumors
Several PlayStation users recently reported that after purchasing new games, they noticed a 30-day countdown. If user do not connect the console to the internet after these 30 days, Playstation can revoke the license to the game, causing the user to lose ownership. This sparked immediate backlash, with fans calling out Sony’s ability to take ownership away from PlayStation users at any time. Sony immediately denied these rumors, stating that users will be able to access their games even after 30 days have passed.
A feature like this is particularly damaging to PlayStation 5 users, as Sony offers a digital-only PS5, which comes without a disc drive for a lower price. This initially seemed like a good investment for gamers, as it was a way to save money on a next-gen console, and physical games were becoming less common. However, now that many users with these digital consoles lack the ability to purchase physical copies of games, they have become worried they may potentially lose access to their collection of games.
Sony’s Competition
Rumors like these could not have come at a worse time for Sony, as Xbox has recently been making headlines for changes made by its new CEO. The new CEO at Xbox, Asha Sharma, has made a number of positive changes since she took over. These changes include lowering the subscription prices for Xbox games pass, focusing on human content and not relying on AI, and focusing on developing a next-gen console. With a new generation of consoles likely around the corner, rumors such as these could do serious damage to Sony’s sales, leading gamers to favor Xbox for its focus on users.
This situation has caused many online to talk about the advantages of physical media over digital. Since digital media is at risk of being taken away at any time, fans of physical media feel that they have true ownership of their products. Gamestop has even joined in on the conversation, taking shots at Sony on X to encourage gamers to return to physical games. Gamestop has championed physical media for years, and has recently started their retro program, which adds retro games and consoles to their shelves for gamers to go back to the classics.
Physical Vs. Digital
While gamers will never lose ownership of their physical discs, fans of digital still don’t feel that it is the better option. With so many games being shut down due to low player counts, the physical discs themselves can also be rendered useless, making the issue of ownership span across both digital and physical mediums. Because of this, many still feel that digital is the better option because of its accessibility, with users being able to purchase games instantly from their own homes. Digital games have also raised questions about the cost of games, with prices rising to $70 despite no longer paying for the disc or the case.
Thankfully, this new PlayStation feature appears to be only a rumor; however, the Sony may have already lost control of the situation and its consequences. The conversations this situation has started could lead to a spike in physical game sales, which could damage PlayStation in the future if they continue to focus on digital-only consoles. While digital games have become standard, physical media as a whole has been having a large resurgence, which could see a shift in the landscape of video game sales in the near future.
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