We Still Need Game Rentals...

[@SnipeMD]

The biggest issue with video game rentals nowadays is that the vast majority of video games aren't always on the disk or cartridge, many of which require updates of varying file sizes to work properly. SNES, Genesis and other consoles from the 3rd to 7th generation were ideal for rentals due to the way games were made back then. Games couldn't be updated easily so oftentimes developers had to make sure their games were completed on time and we're of decently high quality so they'd actually sell, much less see high rental numbers. This paired with game companies actually artificially increasing the difficulty of games specifically to counter game rentals lead to the death of that service. Nintendo and other companies still do Game Trials, but video game rentals, demos and the "try before you buy" mentality peaked with the 360's XBLA when virtually every game had a demo or free trial and the industry has gone downhill ever since.

[@kang6914]

Yeah that and the new form of “game rentals” now is pretty much services like XBOX Gamepass, PlayStation Now, Nintendo Switch Online etc which I much more prefer to be able to pay one price, rather it be for a month, 3 months or a year and get to try out a bunch of different games or just play some classics and I have a good amount of time to either complete them or play them enough to decide if I like them or not. Then cancel at any time. I actually never liked game rentals even when they were a thing. Movie rentals makes more sense. That’s actually one of the few things about modern gaming that I can say I like better than retro. I usually prefer retro gaming but rentals is not one of them. Also just like you said we have demos and Game Trials as well now.

[@zerocline7001]

Game pass on consoles is the closest you will get.

[@ManiaMadden]

In Oregon we also had Hollywood Video and that’s all we used

[@hoogledesigns]

Game companies cant afford to do demos anymore because they would probably lose so many sales. I cant be the only 1 that has spent upto $100 on a game played it fo 30 mins or less to never pick it up again if I had a demo to discover I didnt like it then they would have lost $100.

[@BigBrosFilms]

Just torrent a game to try it out then buy it if you like it. Consider the torrent like a rental. Also checking out game pass for a month is also like getting rentals.

[@KevinPascal-lv9xr]

Dude this es 2021 @D of course most people will move on to 7th Gen Gaming 😅