With the end of physical PlayStation games looming, the need for clear digital ownership rights is more pressing than ever.
For its part, Sony believes your rights are very clear: you do not own your digital games, and it’s unlikely you’re stupid enough to believe otherwise. At least, that’s roughly the argument the company’s lawyers are presenting in response to a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Sony argues that its current customer-facing disclosures ensure that “reasonable consumers would not be misled” into believing they actually own their digital games. That’s according to a Game File report (paid article link) citing an August 21 filing Sony’s lawyers made in California’s Northern District.
I bought a switch 2 on points because of duskbloods. I have 3 switch lites and a regular switch. I kinda stopped playing for a while and missed the whole virtual card thing until I fired up my new switch 2. So enraged I almost threw it at the window. Luckily 90% of my frames are physical though. But ya the proximity and having them online is bullshit. It’s the same problem I gave with Netflix. Driving somewhere with no WiFi or cell dead zones? Don’t assume those saved videos with play!
Before virtual card, a lot of my switch games were virtual, and it worked well for us.
I was okay with the risk of a license being revokable for any reason, tbh, because I found that to be lower than the risk of my kid losing a game cart.
I’ve been proven right at least once…Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which I reluctantly bought because I really wanted to play Galaxy and Sunshine…but I digress. Pretty sure he lost the Forgotten Land cart too.
Now tho? I’ll take that chance, to hell with the odds. The amount of times I can’t play a game because it’s on the other switch that’s offline is too damn high.
God damnit Nintendo, convenience is like, the #1 selling point of digital games, and you somehow managed to completely screw the pooch on it.
It’s the kind of anti-consumer practice that drives me mad and honestly justifies piracy far, far more than it disuades it.
And on top of that, it was a rug pull. Meaning it cost my trust in Nintendo as a brand, and really brought to the forefront of my attention the limitations of digital games across the whole industry. A real “we’ve altered the terms of our agreement, pray we don’t alter them further” moment.
So, ya know, thanks for that Nintendo. Hope it was worth it.
Yup you have all my same complains. My digital games are either digital only (I bought lots of limited run and such) and my kids the digital was convenient. Like I have physical Minecraft, they all have digital. It’s kind of like having a classic car then the manufacturer one day turning it off (electric cars in 59 years 💀) because they feel like they’re not making money off you anymore.