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What's your preferred way of buying games? (digital/physical/physical digital) (programming.dev)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by the16bitgamer@programming.dev to c/patientgamers@sh.itjust.works
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Ran across this in a discussion about Nintendo's Virtual Game Cards and Key Cards.

For myself it's

Physical > Perpetual Digital (GOG) > Key Cards (Switch 2) > DRM Digital (Steam/PS3/Xbox 360) > Account DRM Digital (PS4/Switch/Xbox One) > System Locked Digital (3DS/Wii U) > GamePass > Streaming Games (Amazon Luna/Stadia)

For some context.

While Key Cards are digital they are not tied to hardware which means so long as the servers are still running the game can be downloaded and played... presuming no additional authentication is required.

DRM Digital is bellow that since services like Epic Games, and Steam still require re-authentication from time to time. Though Steam is getting better thanks to the Steam Deck.

GamePass is low because it is the same as Game Rental. You don't own the game. Good to try never to own.

On that note, physical games with download codes inside don't even get a place on my list. Got tricked into buying Patapon 2 this way and I always read the games fine print ever since.

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[-] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 8 points 1 day ago

90% of the games I play are bought on Steam or GOG, 9% are free Epic giveaways and the last 1% is Alan Wake 2 which I had to buy on Epic because it's not available anywhere else and I wanted to support Remedy.

I know the discussion about digital only, and I think game preservation is a great cause. There is definitely a danger with digital only. However, for me as a user having a digital library is just unbeatably convenient. My whole library is easily browsable and sortable and with modern high speed fiber internet any game I feel like playing or re-playing is just a click and a few minutes away.

I don't really have any desire to go back to having to constantly fuck around with discs when I want to play something.

[-] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 hours ago

I agree about the fact that having digital games is great for just launching them without leaving your chair, but managing your digital storage space can be a bigger hassle in some cases

[-] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 1 points 9 hours ago

Yeah install sizes are getting outrageously large these days, I can see you running out of space if you like to keep many games installed and ready to return to. I never run into it because I am typically "install -> play through once -> uninstall", but it could definitely be a problem yeah.

[-] Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 hours ago

It’s true that I forgot that you can just uninstall them if you don’t plan on replaying them😅

this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2025
39 points (97.6% liked)

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