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Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 won’t have a physical version

Has this affected your decision whether or not to buy the game?

  • Yes - I’ve changed my mind and won’t be buying

    Votes: 22 25.3%
  • Maybe - I’ll now buy when cheaper

    Votes: 18 20.7%
  • No - I’ll still buy it

    Votes: 9 10.3%
  • No - I wasn’t going to buy it anyway

    Votes: 38 43.7%

  • Total voters
    87
I was temped to buy this on physical when cheaper.

However for me, as a keen supporter of physical media I can’t support this.

Considering this is the most highly acclaimed Microsoft Studios game of the current generation (and there haven’t been many), I think Microsoft have made a big mistake here, especially considering PlayStation and Switch owners are far more keen on physical media than Xbox owners.

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A question for owners of the physical Xbox Series version.

Is the full game available on disc?

If I had a Series X with no internet connection, could I play all single player content from disc?

It just seems strange why Xbox has physical and PlayStation doesn’t, is this merely to try to increase Xbox retail presence on store shelves compared to PlayStation?

I assume Switch 2 will receive the same treatment.
 

RyRy93

Member
It’s a big game but this is the kind of game you keep returning to months later rather than a one and done game so I would have gotten it digital anyway.
 

Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
Easy no for now. Imagine the size of this digital game after all those updates, patches...
Just be aware that these get delisted much sooner than most games. It's actually huge to buy a digital license for it while available. Lots of people still have the 360 Forza titles and can download them whenever they want, as long as they actually bought it when it was there.
 
Disappointing. But other MS games coming to PS5 will have physical copy like Doom Dark ages, Ninja Gaiden Black 2, and even Indiana Jones. That is I find this strange.

I assume Activision and Bethesda had a say on whether or not Doom and Indie have physical versions.

Ninja Gaiden 2, if they want it to sell well in Japan, needs physical.

Either way, Microsoft continue to shoot themselves in the foot.
 

AutomaticPrince

Neo Member
I was going to buy day 1 if physical, now I'll pass. I might pick it up in a sale eventually.

On a side note maybe its because I'm newish or just plain dumb, I can't figure out how to vote in these polls.
 
It's a pretty stupid move on Xbox's part, if you're going to release your games on PS5, release them in physical format and with their disc if you want to sell, at full price and digitally...no.
 

Stuart360

Member
With the known licencing issues with games like this, MS is sending it to die by going Digital Only
There may only be a couple of years left on the licenses, judging from FH4. So that could be why, although you would of thought they would of renewed the licenses for launch on a major playform. Still it is an older game now so maybe they dont expect huge sales.

Also someone said digital isnt as popular on Playstation as Xbox, which is true, but still isnt isnt digital on Playstation something like 70-80%?
 

Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
There may only be a couple of years left on the licenses, judging from FH4. So that could be why, although you would of thought they would of renewed the licenses for launch on a major playform. Still it is an older game now so maybe they dont expect huge sales.

Also someone said digital isnt as popular on Playstation as Xbox, which is true, but still isnt isnt digital on Playstation something like 70-80%?
It's their loss really. Physical isn't even going to be more than a side option in PS6, let alone PS7 where it will just be unplayable. Or get your license and you can keep until Sony delists their store. Your PS5 will stop working before then. Lotta people still stuck in the past are in for a rude awakening, but hey, it's their call 100%.

When PS drops the disc drive completely, this will be off the store and people will have lost their chance.
 
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reinking

Gold Member
I wasn’t expecting a physical release. I expect new releases to be available physical but I do not expect many previous Xbox titles to release on disc.
 
Also someone said digital isnt as popular on Playstation as Xbox, which is true, but still isnt isnt digital on Playstation something like 70-80%?

Only in America, but then Microsoft don’t seem to care about selling games outside America anyway.

Third party Microsoft is repeating the same mistakes as the old first party Microsoft.
 
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xrnzaaas

Member
I was going to buy it eventually just to have it in my collection. Not going to do this now.

Same with Indy if it won't have a retail release. I really don't like how aggressively Microsoft is pulling away from the retail market and I won't support it.
 

sendit

Member
No plan on buying this game on the PS5 as I already have the definitive version on PC, but people saying this will hinder sales are out of touch. Most people don't give a shit about physical releases (anyone outside of Neogaf).
 
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Makoto-Yuki

Gold Member
every other industry has moved to digital. movies, tv, books, music. but oh not gaming because gamers are too stubborn and want their plastic toys.

at least with movies/music there is a reason to keep physical media around as it can offer better quality. books doesn't really make a difference and there is absolutely no difference between a physical and digital game. you don't get better performance. all a disc is these days is a half finished game and a glorified license. you still don't own the full game.

the sooner we move to digital only the better. i hope Sony ditches it next gen or keeps forcing those stuck in the past to pay more for an add on disc drive but a time will come where they rip the bandaid off once and for all.

i have to laugh at people who say they will stop playing games because of no physical. can't really like games that much then.

the writing is on the wall. we've had digital only consoles for years now. but of course Sony and Microsoft need to go slowly so the sensitive gamers don't get too upset.
 

Sooner

Member
the sooner we move to digital only the better. i hope Sony ditches it next gen or keeps forcing those stuck in the past to pay more for an add on disc drive but a time will come where they rip the bandaid off once and for all.

If they don't put a disc drive as a default, they won't bother making disc versions of games at all, so physical games will be dead at that point.
 

Makoto-Yuki

Gold Member
If they don't put a disc drive as a default, they won't bother making disc versions of games at all, so physical games will be dead at that point.
i think this gen has really been them warming people up to it. we got all digital PS5 and PS5 Pro is all digital. Even got the Series S and all digital Series X.

they should just ditch discs completely next gen but i can see them dragging it out another generation. the physical gang will throw a shit fit. but again eventually they will need to accept the future.
 
It genuinely perplexes me why some are so eager to kill off physical media. I'm not a fan of digital media because I like to own my purchases, but have absolutely no problem with both digital and physical media options being available for the consumer.
 

Sooner

Member
I've the optional disc drive slapped on to my PS5 PRO and physical games are plentiful. 🤷🏼‍♂️

That's not a comparable situation.

The base model still has a disc-drive, which makes up 90% of the PS5s on the market, so obviously.

If zero PS6s come with a disc drive, there will not be enough people buying the seperate disc drive to still justify making physical versions of PS6 games and everything that goes along with that.

I'm not saying there won't be a version of PS6 with a disc drive, but IF there is not, there won't be discs at all.
 
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Topher

Identifies as young
Then I'll wait for when it drops to $30. And then, maybe if I don't have anything else to play. If I can't resell it or rent it then that's a hard sell for me.
 

Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
That's not a comparable situation.

The base model still has a disc-drive, which makes up 90% of the PS5s on the market, so obviously.

If zero PS6s come with a disc drive, there will not be enough people buying the seperate disc drive to still justify making physical versions of PS6 games and everything that goes along with that.

I'm not saying there won't be a version of PS6 with a disc drive, but IF there is not, there won't be discs at all.
Just let them find out on their own at this point.
 

Spukc

always chasing the next thrill
Like who the fuck wants to buy an old ass xbox game?

Fuck man,

Also goodluck to sony with that no physical market shit as europe is starting to hit them hard
 
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yurinka

Member
I may understand that for selling 4 copies of their Xbox version of their games they may want to skip physical.

I could understand the decision for old ports of games with low sales (like HiFi Rush or Hellblade 2) ut this game should sell well on PS. And specially Horizon 6 once it releases day one on PS.

But who knows, maybe MS is trying to cut as much costs as possible and increase their profit margin as much as possible. And that would include to go full digital even for their best seller games outside maybe just CoD.
 
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laynelane

Member
If you're not all digital by now, you only have yourself to blame going forward.

What would I blame myself for? If a game doesn't have a physical release, I can choose to not buy it. Missing a game here and there isn't exactly some sort of great hardship.

You know, back when digital first became a thing, there was a lot of talk about how it was going to be the cheaper option for various reasons. That never panned out. Then there's been issues here and there with accessing digital libraries when services/internet go down or in the event of account bans. I'm sure there's other issues too, but the strength of digital seems to rest entirely in not having to put in a disc. I find it strange how aggressive the push to make everyone all digital is - and it's not only coming from corporations either. Although, at least with corporations, I can see how it benefits them. I don't see the benefit in gamers giving others a hard time, though.
 

Topher

Identifies as young
That's not a comparable situation.

The base model still has a disc-drive, which makes up 90% of the PS5s on the market, so obviously.

If zero PS6s come with a disc drive, there will not be enough people buying the seperate disc drive to still justify making physical versions of PS6 games and everything that goes along with that.

I'm not saying there won't be a version of PS6 with a disc drive, but IF there is not, there won't be discs at all.

Yes there will. Plenty of countries that don't buy digital will make sure of that. There are still a ton of games on disc today and I think this idea that it is all going to evaporate in the next three to four years is a bit silly.

If you're not all digital by now, you only have yourself to blame going forward.

And that's just absurd. What are my consequences for not being "all digital by now"?
 
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FrankWza

Member
Then I'll wait for when it drops to $30. And then, maybe if I don't have anything else to play. If I can't resell it or rent it then that's a hard sell for me.
Unless you only play racing /driving games, why would anyone give their car time on PS5 to anything but GT7? If you want a quick fix for this type of game you can buy motorfest really cheap
 
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That's not a comparable situation.

The base model still has a disc-drive, which makes up 90% of the PS5s on the market, so obviously.

If zero PS6s come with a disc drive, there will not be enough people buying the seperate disc drive to still justify making physical versions of PS6 games and everything that goes along with that.

I'm not saying there won't be a version of PS6 with a disc drive, but IF there is not, there won't be discs at all.
I'll be surprised if the PS6 doesn't come with an optional disc drive. People in the know have speculated there will be physical media for years to come regarding PlayStation. Either way I'll either quit gaming all together or build a decent PC, where I have more/better consumer rights.
 

Topher

Identifies as young
Unless you only play racing /driving games, why would anyone give their car time on PS5 to anything but GT7? If you want a quick fix for this type of game you can buy motorfest really cheap

Because I prefer racing games that are more arcade than sim. Is Motorfest like Horizon?
 
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Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
I'll be surprised if the PS6 doesn't come with an optional disc drive. People in the know have speculated there will be physical media for years to come regarding PlayStation. Either way I'll either quit gaming all together or build a decent PC, where I have more/better consumer rights.
It would be genuinely shocking if it didn't have an optional drive. I'm sure it will. Might even get 15% of owners to buy one. 20% if you want to be very bullish and assume there's almost no drop off, which seems extremely unlikely.
 
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