- The PlayStation transition to digital-only by 2028 isn't just about eliminating disks but aims to end true ownership of games, including trading and preserving them.
- Ownership loss means no ability to trade, sell, or lend games, a tradition among gamers that companies dislike because it reduces profits from new sales.
- Digital-only consoles threaten game preservation, as many titles risk becoming lost media if not archived by users, especially with stronger security in future hardware.
- Consumers lose options like buying used, renting, or finding discounts at local stores, limiting choices to a single digital storefront controlled by Sony.
- Unlike consoles, PC gaming remains digital but allows ownership through DRM-free stores and methods to preserve games, avoiding being locked into one ecosystem.
- The industry's push toward subscription models, inspired by Netflix, may lead to games being exclusively available through services, with constant online verification required.
- To combat this, support DRM-free platforms, game preservation efforts, and indie developers to maintain digital ownership rights and resist monopolization.