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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Future of Physical Media in consoles - end of disks?

dark_gh0st_b0y on 23 October 2020
SvennoJ said:
dark_gh0st_b0y said:

 I don't see how it would not work. it's just video streaming but with online play. All they need is an app to be installed on whatever supported devices, and the controllers/accessories will have their adapters I guess.

I believe it is very desirable, reduces the costs and the risks associated from having to design a console hardware from scartch each generation. Just cloud processing units.

With 5G being everywhere in a few years, accessiblity won't be an issue either. Everything and everyone is shifting online, and gaming will do too I believe.

In fact, it is already happening.

https://shadow.tech/en-gb/

https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/23/21529925/xbox-tv-streaming-stick-xcloud-cloud-gaming-phil-spencer-interview

https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/20/21525435/amazon-luna-early-access-cloud-gaming

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass/cloud-gaming

Since I've been playing FS 2020 daily I'm now convinced streaming is not for me. At least five times a day the "Connection lost" message pops up. Not much of a problem since the game (like Netflix) caches well ahead and it usually restores within a minute. And if it takes longer you simply lose some detail until the connection can be re-established.

I guess Azure is fine, my ISP is not. It usually happens when 'school' starts nowadays. All the extra online traffic, video back and forth from online schooling puts a lot of strain on the internet. I play early morning and the connection always goes south when 'normal' people get up. If the entire game was streamed my plane would crash every time...

I simply don't 'feel' anything with a digital collection. Can't browse through it, can't touch it, can't hold it. It's not real to me. It's not mine. It's just something I have access to. Not good enough imo.

isuues are to be expected at this stage, a fast and stable connection is a must since cloud gaming does not have the luxury of buffing like Netflix

I believe it will pick up like 5 years from now with high-end PC streaming, when 5G and 4K streaming speeds will be the new standard

I am the same exact, I always buy physical even if it costs more, but I could live with a box with a booklet and a download code later on, and they could always include collectibles and stuff to make it special



don't mind my username, that was more than 10 years ago, I'm a different person now, amazing how people change ^_^

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Conina on 23 October 2020
DPsx7 said:

What if you don't have access because the internet is down?

Play some already downloaded games on the console of your choice or the PC game launcher of your choice or DRM-free downloaded games? Soooooo many options!

Almost all of my download games on PS3, PS4, PSVita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS, Switch, iPad, Android, Steam, GOG, Uplay, Epic Games Store, Origin run offline. All these platforms have offline modes.

Their servers are off for maintenance?

Play some already downloaded games on the console of your choice or the PC game launcher of your choice or DRM-free downloaded games? Soooooo many options!

Ddos? Hacking?

Will all services be hacked or DDos'ed at the same time?

Otherwise: why not play something on one of the other services? If not your internet connection is the problem it is a minor inconvenience.

The best thing is not to rely on one service and not to put all your eggs in one backet. Mix a little: some physical and some digital games, several PC game launchers and/or several consoles. Then you are prepared for internet downtimes, service downtimes and hardware failures (f. e. if the console disc drive stops working). With a handheld (including Switch), smartphone or tablet you can even play for a while if the electrical power is down.  

Last edited by Conina - on 23 October 2020