ITS OVER Sony Interactive Entertainment to end physical game disc production in January 2028

[BraLoD]

Conina said:

KManX89 said:

Except they can’t do it now because then they’ll just buy the cheaper physical versions without ads (people do still buy physical when the option is given, after all). With everything (and I do mean everything) on their console being tied to a digital storefront, they can literally paywall access to the PS store behind subscriptions and throw in ads or whatever intrusive moneysucking bullshit they like for the added “bonus” of paying to skip them (and getting paid to make them skip ads).

Sure they can add ads for every new physical release and also for older physical games with mandatory updates for multiplayer access.

They could also add the ads on a system level via firmware update. And if you don't update the firmware to the new version, you can play older games ad-free, but all new games (f. e. GTA6 or Wolverine) wouldn't run with the older firmwares.

While the part about things being added through the firmware are possible and real, the bolded part is illegal.

PS5 (and any other PS) discs actually come with the necessary firmware to run the game because of that. Even if the console has never ever connected to the internet, it will play the game if its on the disc.

Which also likely means, if its completely explicity written in the game case that the game contain ads, they can also make you see ads into an offline PS5, because you were informed about it (which you can still discover post purchase and return the disc if you don't like it).