While people are having a heart attack over digital games, I find it odd that no one ever stopped to think about why physical may actually be an issue in the near future. I mean after all for a game like GTA, selling only digital will prevent multiple purchases for a lot of folks...
The obvious issue with Sony doing physical after 2027 is the PS6 handheld. Im kinda surprised that no one has brought this up before.
Now this issue won't be a same kind of problem for Xbox because their disc contain unique DRM IDs. PS discs do not so a disc to digital program would be harder to pull off.
Also, Sony states that Code in Box will be at retailers. This solves the predictable issue of a casual buying a PS6 game in a store and then realizing their handheld doesn't have a disc drive. It also creates a competitive landscape for digital pricing. This is a win for those of us that are already primarily digital.
I see the value in physical media but knowing that the handheld is coming, I would prefer the digital format if I can't use the disc on this device in the future. For the PS5 in this present day this issue isn't really a thing because even if you buy a disc and only have a digital console, you have the option to add a drive. Clearly Sony had to be thinking about this.
Can anyone think of a possible solution that enables disc play in handheld mode that doesn't create a tsunami of confusion for the consumer?
