For those unaware, the Nintendo Switch 2 recently got cracked wide open, and now we have games such as Splatoon Raiders, MarioKart World, DK Bananza, and Pokopia all in a semi-playable state on PC (and even on iPhone in the case of MarioKart World). And with this development, my expectations continue to be confirmed: no matter the game, unless it is a title which is incredibly niche or "lost media", it is an inevitablility that all these games you purchase will be freely accessible via emulation within a few years of release. So, if I want to play my Switch games but Nintendo "stripped me of my ownership" via deleting my Nintendo account or because I didn't reinsert my flash card (i.e., 3DS, NSW1/2 cartridge) in my system in over a decade, then I'll just emulate on my PC.

That said: In an all-digital future, my fear is never going to be whether I will always have access to my legally purchased library of games. Rather, it is the loss of choice (which is easily accessible; i.e., I don't need to go through a custom storefront like Etsy and pay extra for the ability) to own a physical object which represents a game I purchased— especially for games that I hold very near and dear. There really is just something special about having shelves and drawers full of physical media which represents your favorites of the medium, whether that be books, movies, vinyls, and so forth.

What about you? Are you of the belief that physical ownership of a game is necessary to have access to a given game? Or do you believe that your ability to play a game remains unchanges regardless of whether you own a physical or digital copy? I speak as somebody who purchases all Nintendo and PlayStation games (back when I owned a PlayStation 5) physically, so the question of physical ownership is one which is very important to me, but not in the way that it is for others. It is for this reason, in fact, why I do not care whether a game is sold via Key Card (in the case of Nintendo Switch 2) or Required Download (in the case of PS5).

The physical object itself has emotional value for me, I too enjoy having shelves of tangible games that I can see and touch, and which can't be arbitrarily taken away from me because a publisher felt like being a dick.

I do buy some games digitally, but where physical is an option, that's my preference.

I own the literal copy of DKC that I bought in November of 1994 with my own Christmas money. It provides the exact same experience that it provided back in 1994 (it has not been altered or updated by a publisher or developer one single time), I have 100% control over it, and there is a direct, emotional connection whenever I look at, or hold it. Digital cannot do any of this for me. It's a hollow experience.

My favorite analogy is the one equating it to sex.

If digital is the orgasm, physical is dinner, making out, foreplay, and an hour of the best sex you've ever had.

It's the whole puzzle, not just a piece.

Right but suppose that one day your cartridge just spontaneously decides to combust or something. Your access to the game remains unchanged since you can very easily find a ROM online and play as though nothing happened. No need for a powerful PC or anything. That's my point: your access to a game is independent of whether you purchased the game digitally or physically. Agree or disagree?

Physical games is something great for me.
Buying "extra cheap physical games", and reselling for the next guy, allowed me to play a great number of games.

I don't emulate so I do like the ownership side of physical games.
I have about 200 physical games, but over 1,000 digital games (many of them small games) across console and PC. If I had more space right now and games were some of the few physical items (other than furniture) that I cared to have I would probably have over 500 physical games.

I still like to buy physical for console, and as long as I’m given the option, that’s what I’ll take.

That being said, PC is the best way of game preservation. I can lose my physical copy whether by theft or just stops working. Meanwhile, I got a ton of games stored in 5 different places that I never have to worry about losing. As much as I love a physical copy, having access to the game is the most important part.