Well because even the physical copy is essentially just software, and current laws (in the US) give very few rights to the end-users. All console games have DRM that tries to prevent users from copying it or using it on different hardware, and it’s all bullshit. It’s all about profits and control, and what’s profitable is to get everyone to buy digital versions of games with DRM that can’t be resold, and to sell you games as a service so that you rely on the hardware provider for all your software needs. Bonus points when Microsoft or Sony releases a digital-only version of their hardware and controls the pricing for the single store from which users can buy games.
Personally, I’m not interested in renting games, but I’m not against people who are. Same with music; I’m not interested in renting my music from Spotify so I buy physical CDs and digital FLACs that are drm-free. I prefer to buy games on GOG.com because they are drm-free. My big gripe is with digital libraries that a company can decide to change or take away from you at any time, or otherwise lock you out of. Hell, with a single firmware update console makers can even ban physical copies from working if they wanted to. It’s like Nintendo coming into my house and stealing or smashing all my Switch cartridges, and saying they are allowed to because of the EULA I agreed to.
Well because even the physical copy is essentially just software, and current laws (in the US) give very few rights to the end-users. All console games have DRM that tries to prevent users from copying it or using it on different hardware, and it’s all bullshit. It’s all about profits and control, and what’s profitable is to get everyone to buy digital versions of games with DRM that can’t be resold, and to sell you games as a service so that you rely on the hardware provider for all your software needs. Bonus points when Microsoft or Sony releases a digital-only version of their hardware and controls the pricing for the single store from which users can buy games.
Personally, I’m not interested in renting games, but I’m not against people who are. Same with music; I’m not interested in renting my music from Spotify so I buy physical CDs and digital FLACs that are drm-free. I prefer to buy games on GOG.com because they are drm-free. My big gripe is with digital libraries that a company can decide to change or take away from you at any time, or otherwise lock you out of. Hell, with a single firmware update console makers can even ban physical copies from working if they wanted to. It’s like Nintendo coming into my house and stealing or smashing all my Switch cartridges, and saying they are allowed to because of the EULA I agreed to.