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Instead of cancelling discs..

harryyyjack · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:21 · permalink

I think what Sony should do, or Xbox or Nintendo for that matter, is split the cost associated with owning a disc and playing the game on your account.

In my ideal world, this is how game distribution would work.

I buy a brand new disc for $60. It also comes with a Digital Code. I key it in. I have now associated that disc and game to my account. The code is a one time use to link the disc to my account, not a digital download code. I need the disc to play.

When I am done, Isell the disc to a Video Game Shop. They buy it from me at $15. They now sell it to another buyer at $20 without any code. It's just a disc with the content. The new buyer has only paid $20 to own the physical copy. Maybe he's a collector.

If he decides to play the disc, he needs to now buy a digital code to associate the disc with HIS account. So he pays Sony $20 to be able to play the game, with a disc on the platform.

Sony has now made $80 from 2 players. The store has made $5. I paid $45 in the end. Instead of $60. The other guy has paid $40 but also now has a physical copy to show for it. Anyone with the physical copy can play the game, but they each need to purchase a Accessibility Code to associate their account with a disc, cheaper than a full digital copy, or maybe more expensive?

Obviously my analogy is very crude and my maths isn't mathing. But from a concept point of view I just thought it'd be great if Game Publishers and Console platform holders can learn to separate, and keep alive, the physical medium, from the accessibility to interact with that content in that medium.

alewkaeee · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:25 · permalink

This is basically what Xbox was roasted for in 2013.

Havrik3434 · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:25 · permalink

Congratulations you've reinvented the "online pass" from the PS3 generation except worse. Everyone hated it then.

hunterOFhunting · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:26 · permalink

Lol or hear me out, and this is a little crazy, consumers can go back to being respected and they can keep the choice to buy physical or not.

harryyyjack · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:27 · permalink

Yep. It's a choice between 2 evils. This one is a lesser evil than eliminating discs altogether in my sad stupid opinion.... I do both digital and disc. I'll be sad to see discs go... I like having them on my shelf and not worry about having enough space on my SSD.

aim2please · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:28 · permalink

Isn't that what killed the Xbox one? Microsoft wanted their cut when people sold their games second hand or borrowed them to friends. Weird how we came back around again.

chupakabrikK · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:29 · permalink

The main thing your suggestion doesn’t take account of is one of the main reasons people site for disc preservation: game preservation. The access code doesn’t prevent Sony from delisting the game since they can simply stop selling codes……at the same time nothing stops them from updating the OS with something that prevents playing a game that’s on a disc.

harryyyjack · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:29 · permalink

Yeah. 10000% We should have the choice. But it seems we're going to have to suck it up and forgo physical discs moving forward.

lzmxbos · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:30 · permalink

Too convoluted.

Physical fans like the entire game on disc and not having to download additional files or having to activate it.

It's just easier for Sony to kill discs completely.

hunterOFhunting · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:31 · permalink

Staying in an abusive relationship is unhealthy

harryyyjack · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:31 · permalink

Yep.. and so now we got an even worse option of not having any physical discs and will be stuck with dynamic pricing and the risk of having purchased games taken away from us completely at the whims and fancy of publishers and developers.

harryyyjack · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:32 · permalink

Hahaha. Yes sir. Time to go back to playing card games like solitaire. Thanks for the chuckle.

TheMightyElephant · 7 Sep 2026 at 13:36 · permalink
It's just a disc with the content. The new buyer has only paid $20 to own the physical copy. Maybe he's a collector.
Paid $20 for nothing essentially.
If he decides to play the disc, he needs to now buy a digital code to associate the disc with HIS account. So he pays Sony $20 to be able to play the game, with a disc on the platform.
This essentially prices out stores from selling used games.
Anyone with the physical copy can play the game, but they each need to purchase a Accessibility Code to associate their account with a disc, cheaper than a full digital copy, or maybe more expensive?
If I need to buy a code, then anyone with a physical copy can't play the game. Why not just have a license number for the game? I have game license #1 for GTA VI, I play it for a year, then I go to GameStop and transfer that license to them, then they can resell it. You go to to GameStop with a QR code (print out or PS app) for your specific account, they scan it, it transfers license #1 to you. Why does Sony need a cut each time?