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[Elder Legend]

That would involve me actually caring...but sorry I can't be bothered with people who are corporate slaves and the worst examples of consumers. Unlike you, I don't embrace anti-consumer practices. Maybe if you actually spent your hard earned money you would have a clue...but you clearly don't.

Talk about hypocrisy. If you actually didn't give a shit then you wouldn't never bothered to quote me in the first place. Lol.

I spend my hard earned money in other places, don't you worry about that.

 

[mckmas8808]

Guess that explains the low physical numbers these days.

These companies are slowly ditching the physical release for a digital release.

I think it's literally only because it's a Japanese game that has a history of doing this.

 

[adamsapple]

I think it's literally only because it's a Japanese game that has a history of doing this.

Again, only one game in the entire RGG franchise was released digital only. It's a franchise that's spanned almost 10 games now.

-

Maybe this game is much smaller in scale than a typical RGG game.

Do we know what the retail price for the game is ? I don't think it will / should sell at full retail.

 

[feynoob]

I think it's literally only because it's a Japanese game that has a history of doing this.

Usually, that is how it starts. This game and Alan wake 2 is a glimpse of the future, with games being bigger and not enough for discs.

 

[FeralEcho]

It appears that the man found his name. It's Alan Wake.

God damn,that made me laugh out loud in the subway. Well done good sir

As For Yakuza...

Not getting it,I don't Intend on supporting the death of phisical media.

 

[Fabieter]

We are living in the worst timeline. Huge yakuza fan but if I don't manage to get it physical iam out until its in a deep sale. (the same with Alan wake 2).

I think in the grand scheme of things, the fact that digital is the mainstream form of distribution is a positive thing. It you think about it it's kind of retarded from a logistical, economical and environmental perspective to massively distribute something in plastic boxes while being able to instantly ship the same product through the net.

The whole apocalyptic verse about sales ending and corporations degenerating into pure evil raising the prices sky high are overblown. Sales are not going away, ever. As soon as a game starts decreasing in demand its price is going down, no matter if it's sold through only one plataform or several.

Beyond that, I personally want physical media to stay at least as a niche, because it's nice for the people who value it and having options is good for the consumer.

Physical had always better sales on consoles like always.

I saw a sale on amazon for one piece odyseey for 23 Euro. The last two times I saw it on psn on sale, it was the deluxe edition for 66 Euro. That will get more common.

I play more than the exclusives on my consoles but if this gets more common than I will drop consoles and get all games through key stores for half the price.

 

[mckmas8808]

Again, only one game in the entire RGG franchise was released digital only. It's a franchise that's spanned almost 10 games now.

-

Maybe this game is much smaller in scale than a typical RGG game.

Do we know what the retail price for the game is ? I don't think it will / should sell at full retail.

Well.....the earlier games didn't even come out in the West before so.......this is better than that at least.

 

[Fabieter]

Again, only one game in the entire RGG franchise was released digital only. It's a franchise that's spanned almost 10 games now.

-

Maybe this game is much smaller in scale than a typical RGG game.

Do we know what the retail price for the game is ? I don't think it will / should sell at full retail.

It's the same price as the new assassin's creed in europe.

 

[ArtHands]

again, you don't like it. but celebrating the dying of an option for people that want to maybe resell their games, or look for better prices, is not a good thing.
especially on PS5, as Sony made it impossible for publishers to sell codes for their games as retail cards, which were also a decent way to get good deals, and is better for a healthy market.

once Sony has the fully power over their digital market place, with no competition from retail, they can price gouge however they want.
Sony is being sued I think in some country, because they don't allow retail codes for games, and I hope they lose and that the rest of the EU follows

It is pretty obvious that was going to be the case since 2 gens ago or so, but every time the warning bell rings, folks kept ignoring it. "Wake me up when digital overtake physical". "vinyl is alive and well which means physicals will never die". "people has been saying digital is the future for many years yet physical is still around". If the industry and consumers insist to be so short sighted and give Sony so much power, therefore a free pass for stopping retail cards, its really on them.

Me I have already bailed to PC a long time ago where I can buy cheap Steam keys from authorized 3rd party sites.

 

[Spukc]

That is one edgelord title xD

 

[DeVeAn]

Me 15 years ago would be bummed. Now the less plastic coasters the better. Games would have been digital only from inception. The infrastructure wasn’t there back then.

 

[Elder Legend]

Me 15 years ago would be bummed. Now the less plastic coasters the better. Games would have been digital only from inception. The infrastructure wasn’t there back then.

Nailed it.

 

[killatopak]

No Asian physical release?

 

[Thief1987]

Maybe this game is much smaller in scale than a typical RGG game.

In an interview with Famitsu, RGG Studio's Masayoshi Yokoyama stated that Like a Dragon Gaiden is likely to be half the length of a mainline title.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Good. As I predicted, physical stuff is slowly fading out. Only a matter of time. Digital is too convenient and faster anyways, games are pre loaded and no need to wait to put disks in and then sit for another 10 minute install.

Also with games costing more money, cutting costs on discs and front covers and boxes makes sense.

Alan Wake 2 - No physical
Like a Dragon - No physical

Thank lord, who's next?

Lol gaming “journalist” indeed.

 

[MasterDerico]

This is pathetic.

 

[The Shepard]

I wondered why the game was so cheap (£45 digital) I guess this is the reason.

 

[hemo memo]

I will wait for a sale then.

 

[Agent_4Seven]

I'm NOT going to buy console games digitally.... EVER. It's just not gonna happen, no matter what game it is (unless it's out of print and physical version cost 2-5 times higher than at launch - which is not the same as only having digital only version from the start!).

 

[Kataploom]

Is it to early for OT name proposals? Because "The franchise that erased it's name" seems like a good one

 

[TwiztidElf]

I like to own a physical copy of all my personal GOTYs. I even double down (physical/digital) when it's something that belongs in instant access (Splatoon3/Street Fighter4).
This makes me sad when this is a potential personal GOTY.
Guess I'll just get the Japanese physical even if I play the digital.

 

[SeraphJan]

It amuses me that some people are dying to see that we lose the option of reselling games, buy used ones or shipping a game that was unreleased in the region.

Downplay physical copy to collectors only is a strawman argument.

I prefer the flexibility of distribution of the game over relying on digital license which is also at the mercy of the online server, even if it means a little bit of exercise of putting a disc into the tray.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Digital-only can fuck right off. I'll only buy something like that when it's dirt cheap.

 

[Team Andromeda]

Don't see the big fuss, everything is going digital even cash and of course, SEGA and the rest will hold behind doing their bit for climate change.

 

[xrnzaaas]

? Well this isn't really new, thats what they did with Yakuza 5 too. Later they put it out on disk and its not like Yakuza 6 or Yakuza 1 and 2 remake along with Yakuza 7 never got releases on disk based on that.

This is a nothing story lol

The original Yakuza 5 was a different thing, because the lack of physical release was backed by the series not being popular in the West (it was also why we didn't get the Yakuza games on the same day as Japan). It all changed after Yakuza 0 and since then we even got niche titles like Ishin.

With Gaiden they simply want you to start buying their digital games by not giving a physical alternative. It's as simple as that.

 

[I Love Rock 'n' Roll]

I can’t sait for full PS5 piracy at this point. Phisical or nothing, digital only for AA and AAA games is legal piracy from devs. F*ck digital! Physical is owning the game with no time limit, selling copy after playing the game, giving iit as a gift, doing what you want with the game. Also 80€ or more for a digital only, good luck with that Sega. I have the whole Yakuza collection in physical disc. F*ck Sega!

 

[EDMIX]

With Gaiden they simply want you to start buying their digital games by not giving a physical alternative.

They have a physical release in Japan with this game though....

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

Good. As I predicted, physical stuff is slowly fading out. Only a matter of time. Digital is too convenient and faster anyways, games are pre loaded and no need to wait to put disks in and then sit for another 10 minute install.

Also with games costing more money, cutting costs on discs and front covers and boxes makes sense.

Alan Wake 2 - No physical
Like a Dragon - No physical

Thank lord, who's next?

I never understood the celebration of the death of more options. There being a physical version doesn’t affect gamers who prefer digital games. It isn’t like the companies are passing the savings to the consumers either. In fact, digital games generally cost considerably more when they shouldn’t. I see where the gaming industry is supposedly heading, but I really feel that an all digital future will be very detrimental for consumers especially based on how most greedy corporations operate.

 

[SenkiDala]

Good. As I predicted, physical stuff is slowly fading out. Only a matter of time. Digital is too convenient and faster anyways, games are pre loaded and no need to wait to put disks in and then sit for another 10 minute install.

Also with games costing more money, cutting costs on discs and front covers and boxes makes sense.

Alan Wake 2 - No physical
Like a Dragon - No physical

Thank lord, who's next?

I totally agree about the fact that digital is the future and I love the convenient part of it.

But physical is very convenient too when you buy games on day one, at least here in France (and I know in many other countries too). I'll give you a real and recent exemple. Street Fighter 6 standard edition is 69,99€ on the PS Store and in France games are also sold in game shops obviously but in hypermarkets too, where they are A LOT cheaper on day one. SF6 is sold 47€ there... And while I love the convenience of not having to change the disc always, if it's 32% off in hypermarkets... I'll buy it there.

Also if everything becomes digital, on consoles at least, the prices could become worst. On PC there are Steam, EGS, Origin, etc so there's different front stores to buy your games from, but on consoles there's the PS Store for PS games and on and Xbox Store for Xbox games...

Also it's easier to lend a game on physical than on digital, I don't lend my games so I don't care but I know that some people do care.

 

[tomato shrub]

If the Asian release comes in English, I might still chime in. If English only comes digital, I'm waiting for a deep sale, same with Alan Wake 2. I just can't pay more than 20 bucks for a digital playing licence, sorry.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Guess that explains the low physical numbers these days.

These companies are slowly ditching the physical release for a digital release.

Happened with PC 15 years ago.

Edit: slowly. For a very long time they still had the super blockbusters in game stores. Stuff like StarCraft and the Sims.

 

[tomato shrub]

Happened with PC 15 years ago.

Edit: slowly. For a very long time they still had the super blockbusters in game stores. Stuff like StarCraft and the Sims.

Ironic. While digital always made most sense on PC, that platform is actually also - in theory - the best for physical. Recently, I wanted to replay the old Resident Evil 3. I only ever possessed that game on a give-away disc from a gaming magazine, that had RE3 and a bunch of demos on it. Guess what, I could still pop it in, install it no problem, map the controls to my Xbox controller and go. No internet needed, no DRM, nothing - just like it should be.

 

[X-Wing]

I'll just import from Japan then.

 

[xrnzaaas]

They have a physical release in Japan with this game though....

And how many people will pay extra to import it from Japan? (with the risk of no English subs)

Plus since it's possible in Japan then why not elsewhere in the world? They're smelling the money from digital-only sales and chasing after that.

 

[adamsapple]

And how many people will pay extra to import it from Japan? (with the risk of no English subs)

Plus since it's possible in Japan then why not elsewhere in the world? They're smelling the money from digital-only sales and chasing after that.

I'm waiting to find out if that version will have English subs and if it does, might just spend a little extra on play-asia to get it.

I wouldn't do this with most franchises but all for RGG, I will.

 

[Labadal]

I really hope they don't do this for Yakuza 8.

 

[NomenNescio]

Physical had always better sales on consoles like always.

Not in my country, like many others. Physical is much, much more expensive here, because games are imported.

 

[DryvBy]

A Yakuza game I'll be skipping. Sad.

 

[Puscifer]

Good. As I predicted, physical stuff is slowly fading out. Only a matter of time. Digital is too convenient and faster anyways, games are pre loaded and no need to wait to put disks in and then sit for another 10 minute install.

Also with games costing more money, cutting costs on discs and front covers and boxes makes sense.

Alan Wake 2 - No physical
Like a Dragon - No physical

Thank lord, who's next?

I'm not shocked we have subscriptions to car fobs and seat warmers when I read stuff like this.

 

[Puscifer]

They have a physical release in Japan with this game though....

If it has English subtitles you can import it but I haven't a feeling it won't. Honestly if it's an all digital future depending on how the next year goes I'm likely going to sell my ps5 and go all in on PC because at least I can hack my collection and keep it, I'm not giving anyone this level of control on consoles for the sake of a "cL0sEd ecOsYsTeM"

 

[Impotaku]

Like a cheapskate more like, and this is why i still regularly import. Thank fuck everything is still region free.

 

[tomato shrub]

 

[adamsapple]

Whelp. Looks like it's just a US only thing then, sigh.

 

[YCoCg]

Europe and Asia will have a physical release so you can just import it from one of the many countries that will have it, so it's still a better situation than Alan Wake 2.

 

[LordCBH]

Europe and Asia will have a physical release so you can just import it from one of the many countries that will have it, so it's still a better situation than Alan Wake 2.

Sounds like Sega of America decided to fuck the fans then…..

 

[Kilau]

Thank lord, who's next?

 

[Nydius]

Doesn't affect me in the slightest. Sucks for plastic hoarders I guess.

Doesn’t have shit to do with “plastic hoarders”. Digital only on walled garden console marketplaces eliminates competitive pricing and destroys what few consumer copyright protections we have.

If you want to bend over and spread your cheeks wide so companies can charge you more and fuck you of your rights for the sake of “convenience”, that’s your prerogative. But you don’t get to dictate terms to everyone.

 

[Captain Toad]

It's the last generation until we are all digital only, anyway. Might as well start getting used to it.

 

[Aenima]

Hopefully in europe they will have a Physical version, otherwise i just have to wait for a promo or to be droped on PS+. I like to support the Yakuza series with my money day 1, but im not supporting the death of physical options.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Damn, Sega’s going with no physical release?

The writing’s on the wall. I expect to hear this more often, and I wonder how much of it has to do with Sony revamping PS5 to be physical optional?
I wonder if publishers don’t expect many physical add ins to be sold? Just a theory, but you never know.