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submitted 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) by the16bitgamer@programming.dev to c/patientgamers@sh.itjust.works

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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[-] slimerancher@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago

I don't think I have thought about it like this. I prefer digital, but it's purely from ease of use point of view.

For me it's where do I want to play this game? My preference is: Handheld console -> Home Console -> PC

As for PC, Gog used to be my goto platform a long time ago, but then reduced their Linux support and Steam started focusing on it, so I switched to Steam 100%, but I play very little on PC, so practically speaking this doesn't make too much of a difference.

So, with current systems that I have, this becomes something like: Switch -> PlayStation -> Steam.

As for the discussion between owning and renting, I used to be a collector, but with time, don't care about "owning" games too much, for 90% of the games I'll play it once for 30-40 hours (or 90-100 hours if it's a long RPG) and then probably never touch them again, at least not for next decade or so, so whatever let's me enjoy that legally, at the cheapest rate, is fine for me.

I do have some opinions about Gamepass, but that is how it effects the ecosystem, so not sure if it's relevant here or not.

this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2025
38 points (97.5% liked)

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