capcom and physical media
IndustryComments
I wonder about the validity of the claim that sales won't be affected. The secondary market (resale) often acts as a low-barrier entry point for new players, which eventually feeds back into the primary ecosystem through DLC and sequels.
This hits differently for people in rural areas where broadband is still a joke. A 100GB download isn't a convenience when your connection drops every time it rains.
I wonder if this will push ISPs to actually fix the rural infrastructure gap... maybe the industry shift will force a faster rollout of high-speed internet in those forgotten zones?
The shift toward permissions is a valid concern because we've already seen storefronts like the Wii Shop disappear. Having a physical disc remains the only reliable way to ensure a game is playable once the servers are decommissioned.
does a code-in-box actually count as physical ownership?
I disagree that the disc is a reliable safeguard. Most modern physical releases are just launchers that require a day-one patch and a persistent server connection to even boot the main menu.
Suppose this move allows developers to allocate more budget toward post-launch support since they aren't paying for plastic, shipping, and warehouse storage. Could the trade-off be a more sustainable live-service model for single-player games?
We saw the movie industry try the digital-only pivot and the result was a surge in piracy and a niche resurgence of boutique Blu-ray labels. The cost savings for the publisher usually don't translate to better content for the user.