this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2026
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[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

This intentionally misses the point.

It’s physical and digital distribution.

[–] draco_aeneus@mander.xyz 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

While that is a shift that happened, it's not the distribution method people actually have problems with, even if they sometimes misattribute it. The problem, which you see mentioned most of the time, is ownership.

Compare how people feel about Sony vs. GOG, which will just let you download DRM-free installer files. Both are distributed via the Internet, but people feel very different about them, right?

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world -2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Physical discs aren’t DRM free though - the disc is the DRM.

Of course people like DRM free digital games, because it means they can get them for free.

[–] DanceMomsSavedMe@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

It is however transferable and resellable legally. Digital only versions, even DRM free are not.

In my opinion, this has been one of the only things about consoles that has been a plus side compared to PC. Now that is gone and I can't imagine why anyone would stay except out of a lack of finances to move to PC.

Also, nope. If people only liked digital DRM free games because you could pirate them GOG wouldn't exist and it would have been out of business years ago. You are believing corporate propaganda with that lie.

I like DRM free because games with DRM usually run like shit or at least noticably worse compared to DRM free.

Also, you ever had a day off work to game during a Steam or PlayStation outage? I was able to play all of my GOG games with zero problem. I don't even know if GOG has ever gone down before, because it doesn't matter to let me play my games. Same thing with SOME physical PlayStation games usually single player. Could play that during outages too.

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

Technically no, they’re not supposed to be re-sold. Says so on box and disc.

DRM free means there’s no digital rights management, meaning there’s no ownership restrictions essentially.

GoG was also, reading between the lines, recently going to be closed. It was basically given to one of the founders of CDPR. Why would CDPR do that if it was making any sort of profit?

[–] DanceMomsSavedMe@lemmy.zip 1 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

I think the not allowed to be resold and saying so on the box must depend on your country. In mine it is allowed and doesn't say you can't on the box just that you have to abide by Sony terms of service and all that which they've said before doesn't prohibit you reselling the discs.

I know what DRM is but DRM free games are still restricted in that I can't trade or sell it however if gog ever banned me since I already have the offline installers backed up I could still continue to enjoy my games and they can't ever take them away short of suing me or something.

Sony already said before you can sell and trade disc games (which is why they are going after them now)

Also GOG has an annual revenue of around $250 million. I think they (CDPR) just wanted to focus more on being a game publisher instead of running a competing storefront against steam.

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Might be country dependant, in my country they have lending and re-sale as not allowed:

(Not my photo)

Check the writing starting from the bottom left of the disc and going clockwise around the edge.

Revenue numbers without profit numbers mean nothing unfortunately. Again though, they wouldn’t sell it off at a price a single guy can afford if it was making any profit.

I love GoG, but they’re fighting realistically an un-winnable uphill battle. DRM free being their thing means that they’ll never get most games, and therefore most players.

[–] blackbeans@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It sounds logical. However, by that definition, game boxes with download codes would be physical as well... Yet Sony isn't killing those.

To me it's clear that it's not about the method of distribution or the way data is processed, it's about their business model in general.

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The game is still downloaded from a server via codes in a box. The distribution of the game is still digital.

[–] blackbeans@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How about we ship a box with both a digital download code and a disc? Would you classify it as digital?

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I’d classify the digital copy as digital, and the disc as physical if it has the game on it.

This is pretty straight forward man. Did you download the game from a server? Digital. Did you play it or install it from a physical medium? Physical.

[–] blackbeans@lemmy.zip -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Did you play it or install it from a physical medium? Physical.

So you agree that it's related to the medium then. Not to the distribution.

As you mention, a distributed box without a disc counts as digital. A distributed box with a disc counts as physical.

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (1 children)

No, and I don’t know how you can’t understand this. Where do the GAME files come from? Disc or cartridge? Physical. Internet? Digital.

[–] blackbeans@lemmy.zip 0 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

You mentioned:

This intentionally misses the point.

It’s physical and digital distribution.

You now mention:

Where do the GAME files come from? Disc or cartridge? Physical. Internet? Digital.

So is the definition of digital/physical related to the distribution, or to the medium? My original comment was that it was related to the medium, which is in line with your last comment, but it doesn't match with your initial reply.

[–] GoatSynagogue@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

This all started because you said that games on discs are digital games.