It's not about physical vs. digital games, it's about ownership(popcar.bearblog.dev)
504 points by popcar2 20 hours ago | 374 comments
tl;dr: Sony's move to eliminate PlayStation disks by 2028 isn't just about physical media—it's about eliminating ownership, ending the ability to trade, resell, or preserve games, and pushing consoles toward a Netflix-style subscription model. The PC comparison doesn't hold because PC gamers retain ownership via DRM-free stores (GOG, itch.io) and workarounds like Goldberg Emulator, while console players will be locked into a single walled garden. The author urges readers to support DRM-free stores, emulator developers, and game preservation efforts to push back against the industry's trajectory.
HN Discussion:
  • Regulation should require true ownership rights for purchased digital goods
  • Subscription models are the industry's long-term goal, threatening ownership
  • Piracy, cracks, and alternative devices are the real safeguards for game ownership
  • ~Terminology should change—'buy' misleads consumers since games are licensed
  • Concern that consumer pushback no longer works and cultural acceptance of non-ownership is growing