Physical VS Digital Games - Is Game Collecting Worth it?

Hey everyone, I had been thinking a lot about if physical game collecting was still worth it in 2024 so I made this video to go over the pros and cons compared to buying digital games instead. Thanks for watching!

[@fpvpilot7713]

Just back up Steam games. If they ever closed you could make the games run without Steam. This makes them better than physical games. Stay away from console digital, if they close games are gone especially if the console broke.

[@michaelpros]

Really good point, digital console stores are such a double edged sword because they're so convienant but takes away your control of the game. Thanks for watching!

[@antusFireNova64]

The digital/physical ratio you see flying around is misleading since it generally also includes digital only games (mostly indies) and stuff like dlc

[@michaelpros]

That's a fair point, I think it also includes mobile games as well which I forgot to mention! Thanks for bringing that up and watching!

[@pn5846]

Bro this here is some goood shit you deserve more subs fs

[@michaelpros]

Thanks, that means a lot! glad you liked it!

[@shun2232]

Digital for PC and physical for Switch that's how I've always rolled, and if I ever get a PS5 (probably not cause they keep bringing their games to pc) im doing physical only for that as well

[@michaelpros]

I do pretty much the same thing, thanks for watching!

[@dylan.t180]

They made the switch for movies and music because they offered all of them and a reasonable price. But as they start raising the prices removing access to content, i wonder if we'll see a switch back. Most people I know have cut streaming gone to piracy. Hopefully there's still money in purchasing films and music. Although with how films are locked down, the DRM and quality is worse. Requires that connection and an account can't do imports or out of print/ rare films. I don't really know what the future holds. Plus Sony just announced they were going to remove a bunch of stuff and then extended the licence for 30 months. Everything's up in the air and I just hope physical media sticks around long enough to weather the storm and go back to being somewhat popular a man can dream

[@michaelpros]

I hope so too man, I'm finally at the point where I can afford to collect physical media and it seems everyday the options become less and less. Thanks for watching!

[@Kappaclaus46]

Delisting doesn't remove the game from your library... it just remove the ability to purchase the game so its the equivalent of the end of production of physical copies. Displaying your games is also possibile with digital. Steam have an amazing profile system that let you display the games you own or your favorite game etc. physical copies and physical hardware continues to age and will die in the future. Some of my ps2 games dont work anymore and also my ps2 stopped working some years ago. That day i felt like a part of myself died. Now days i buy physical games only where i am forced like for some old games that never got a digital release in the first place.

[@michaelpros]

Totally fair, I completely missworded that in my script, although I think it has more of an effect compared to the end of physical production since there is no way to buy from someone who already owns the games like there is with physical. I didn't really consider the digital display options, I know there are some other options for this as well, I was mostly trying to make an appeal for decorating your physical space with your collection but tbf that isn't everyone's style. All collections can die, I guess I would just prefer it happen because of age instead of any other reason. Thanks for watching!

[@Kappaclaus46]

@@michaelpros delisting its in fact a remnant of the old way publishers deals with licenses. At the time there was no point in having a full time licenses in their product because they know they will sell it just for a year or 2. Now days games keep selling for decades so its important to keep games on the market for basically free revenue. Batman arkham knight its from 9 years ago and still gets huge players spikes when there is a sale. The problem is that some publishers dont understand this concept and keep delisting games after 4-5 years.

[@russellmania5349]

I can sell all my physical games on Ebay when I am done with them. You can't sell your digital games. Physical copies depreciate in value a lot quicker, so can get old games a lot cheaper and shop around for the best price.

[@michaelpros]

This is one of the biggest pros in my opinion, thanks for watching!

[@riezexeero7392]

Physical is better but unfortunately, if the companies stop making them (like pc physical games) nothing we can do.

[@michaelpros]

Yeah it's sad that that option is really in the hands of the manufacturers, all we can really do is show that there is still an interest for physical and hope they listen. Thanks for watching!

[@bradleyokane]

Physical games are just drm keys, you still have to install them and all your progress is tied to an account and in many cases require an internet connection. So why bother. Since the 360/PS3 you cannot be sure that the whole game is on the disc, with day 1 and additional patches updated the game. Making the disc nothing more than a drm key. The best way play games in my opinion isthe following: For multiplayer games, I just use gamepass as they all have a limited active life, so why spend £70 for something you cant use when you want in future. Only exceptions is games likd Titanfall 2 which have both single and multiplayer. For single play games, I use GOG on PC. Games are DRM free, your save file is not tied to an account, and you can make copies of the game to preserve and back up the files on hard drives for redundancy. While Steam is king on PC, its still tied to an account and you dont own what you buy, on GOG you do Thats my opinion, whats everyones thoughts?

[@allenwhiteside7838]

Since companies are forcing people go zdigital did it myself but only if can download for free sailing the high seas sa ing a ton of money. The advantage of digital is easier and faster making it to high seas

[@michaelpros]

Fair enough, I pick up physical when I can but I totally see your point. Thanks for watching!

[@suspendedhatch]

Have your pet at home or pay to visit your pet at the petstore. Then you lose your password, the petstore raises their prices, gets hacked, accuses you of hacking, or goes out of business.

[@StevenShelbyDesign]

I like fiscal games but with updates unless you get the complete version after it gas been out

[@DRAGONSAREPRETTYCOOL]

Physical games decrease chances of your games getting stolen easily and you dont have to worry about your credit card money getting stolen(when i were to get physical games i use cash)

[@mountainmgtow5421]

The only pro argument for digital games is pirating, and that's only for game-preservation. I haven't yet seen any evidence of disc-rot, and I've been collecting since PS1. All my games still work, even my burned PS1 discs.

[@lahujehu]

One guy just got banned from minecraft for naming one his villagers "idiot"... in his own private server with no other human players. i like the freedom in physical. No sony goon is going to come to my house and break my disc in half, because i named a character wrong in a single player ps3 game, lol.

[@michaelpros]

That's insane, I see trying to keep people safe from harassment and stuff but doing that to someone in a private server is crazy!

[@dolfholland]

Digital wil be a prison governments are telling game dev to promote digital wy for a new system for the whole world social credit system we all can stop the digital world not buy or dowload digital we are in power when we al.work.together come on people !!!