Many people are not happy about the direction of video games. This includes the new expensive prices of games, with $70 and $80 games, and the potential price of new games going all the way up to $90. The problem is that many games that you purchase are not physical copies, but digital copies. Physical copies are not perfect either, and both have pros and cons like everything else.
The pros of having digital copies are great. You have a copy of the game stored on a cloud gaming platform that does not take up any physical space. This includes games from the PlayStation Store, Steam, Xbox, or Epic Games (and there are many others). All of your games are stored on these platforms where you can download them and play them on your hard drive. There are also great subscription plans like Xbox Game Pass that allow you to play new games as long as you pay for the $12 a month subscription.
This all sounds great, and it is. Having physical media that takes up space and collects dust is not great. However, because a user has digital copies of a game instead of an actual physical copy, they technically don’t own their games. An example from Gizmodo states that “Valve updated Steam’s shopping carts to notify users that they’re only buying a ‘license’ for the game, not the game itself.” (Barr, October 11, 2024). Other platforms have the same rules, where you are actually buying a license to play the game and that is it.
See, this is fine, except the prices of these games are going up, and many companies are saying that you don’t really own your games. This has been stated with physical disc copies of video games as well. Still, with older games like for the PlayStation 2, if you have a physical copy of the game on a disc, you can always play it on a PlayStation 2 or an emulator. With some PS5 games, the box says that an internet connection is required to play the game. This means that the full game is not on the disc, which is questionable. Why even sell a disc then?
The developer of a video game should not be allowed to take a game away from you. But there have been cases where people buy games from a digital storefront and the games get taken away or go offline. Sometimes it is understandable if a player gets banned from a game or the company shuts down a game and refunds the people who bought it.
One example is the game “The Crew,” which is an open-world racing game created by Ubisoft. Two people took legal action against the company after they shut down the game, stating this: “At the time, the plaintiffs claimed that Ubisoft misled players by telling them they were buying a game, when in fact, all they were renting was a limited license to access a game that Defendants choose to maintain at their own noblesse oblige.” (Middler, April 10, 2025). One big problem was the people who purchased the game were not refunded after the game was taken down. Another big problem is understanding the difference between renting a video game and owning one.
One thing that I think and understand about companies is that video games are getting more expensive to make, and they probably want to eliminate piracy at all costs. However, many games being released that are over the previous $60 price point are poorly received or average at best. Many indie developers have been having more success than these massive companies, which is a great thing. They make better games and charge a fraction of the price for them. Being an indie developer is something that requires a lot of time and effort to see success, but it seems more than possible to create games even as an individual developer.
Another issue is the lack of transparency from game publishers. When you buy a physical copy of a game, you expect to have the full game on the disc. But now, it’s common for discs to act merely as keys to download the game online. This practice is misleading and undermines the value of physical media.
Furthermore, the reliance on online servers means that once a game’s servers are shut down, the game becomes unplayable. This is especially problematic for single-player games that shouldn’t require an internet connection. Gamers should have the right to access and play the games they’ve purchased, regardless of the publisher’s decisions.
The situation with “The Crew” highlights the need for better consumer protection laws in the gaming industry. Gamers should be informed about the nature of their purchases and have legal recourse when companies fail to deliver on their promises.
Conclusion
While digital copies of video games offer convenience, they come with significant drawbacks. The lack of true ownership, the potential for games to become unplayable, and the high prices are all concerns that need to be addressed. Gamers should be cautious with their purchases and advocate for better practices in the industry.
For people who play games on PC, the best choice right now are Steam, Xbox PC Game Pass, and GOG. Steam has amazing discounts for gamers, with one example being the Steam Summer Sale. Xbox PC Game Pass works the same way as the console counterpart, with great new games that you can play. GOG is one of the few stores that you can buy games from and own a file copy of the game (like a .exe file of the game). This is great for someone who has problems with digital media.
For newer consoles, it is probably best to stick to digital media right now. Do not consider buying a physical disc of a game that says “Internet Required to Install the Game.” If you want to play games and save money, get Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series S or X and PlayStation Plus Memberships for your PS5. Consider buying physical copies of games when they go on sale as well, or download free-to-play games. Just make sure to be careful with your money in the future.
Works Cited
https://gizmodo.com/steam-finally-makes-it-clear-you-dont-own-your-games-2000511155
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