When was the last time you bought a physical game?
- Thread starter poochyena
- Start date
This is video games, I assume. Cause I've totally bought board games recently.
I still occasionally buy physical for the Switch because the carts are small and easy to carry and the storage isn’t vast.
yes. I meant to specify that too but I hit enter and that submitted the thread before I finished typing. oops.
I bought AC: Odyssey for the XBone after having gotten it through Steam, realizing that they wanted to put their crap on my PC even when there was already a content delivery system with Steam, and got it refunded.
The XBone disc for AC:O is still sealed.
Before that? I honestly can't remember.
The XBone disc for AC:O is still sealed.
Before that? I honestly can't remember.
Well, my brother buys me a physical copy the new Madden every year for my birthday... does that count? 
Not including that, though, I guess the only time I get physical copies is when I back a game via crowdfunding (Kickstarter, etc.). I always opt for the physical copy tier, and have some pretty cool signed boxes sitting on a shelf that I'm too afraid to actually open. I guess the next one to join the collection will be the spiritual successor to Star Control, "Free Stars." But otherwise, I pretty much go digital.
Not including that, though, I guess the only time I get physical copies is when I back a game via crowdfunding (Kickstarter, etc.). I always opt for the physical copy tier, and have some pretty cool signed boxes sitting on a shelf that I'm too afraid to actually open. I guess the next one to join the collection will be the spiritual successor to Star Control, "Free Stars." But otherwise, I pretty much go digital.
Probably was Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm (2013).
I may have picked up some other super cheap game(and not played it), but when most physical copies are codes to redeem on Steam or another launcher, there's not much point to dealing with physical copies.
I may have picked up some other super cheap game(and not played it), but when most physical copies are codes to redeem on Steam or another launcher, there's not much point to dealing with physical copies.
derevo_people
Smack-Fu Master, in training
I haven't bought any physical games since I got the internet. Actually I don't know why people need physical games now, when you can collect all the games in your Steam library or smth. Perhaps only for trading or buying used once with a discount, but I think it may be some punishment for launching a used game while connecting to web. Or there is no such thing?
Switch. Super Mario Wonder. Less than 6 months ago.
If possible, I tend to buy physical games for my Switch. After I beat them, I send them to my younger brother. He has FAR less discretionary income than I do, and I know he really appreciates it when a new switch game shows up with the latest batch of books or comics that I'm passing along to him.
He then does the same thing. I think Mario Odyssey went to his SO's young niece, for example.
If possible, I tend to buy physical games for my Switch. After I beat them, I send them to my younger brother. He has FAR less discretionary income than I do, and I know he really appreciates it when a new switch game shows up with the latest batch of books or comics that I'm passing along to him.
He then does the same thing. I think Mario Odyssey went to his SO's young niece, for example.
Dragonscript
Ars Scholae Palatinae
I purchased a game for the switch 3 days ago for a vacation i'm starting this weekend.
Bought the PS5 version of Last of Us when it was on sale two weeks ago. Ordered the Luigi's Mansion 2 remake a few days ago. I mostly play on console these days and while digital delivery is smooth and painless and every game I buy on disc still needs a damn download to be playable, I still like having physical copies of games.
PC games? Can you even buy physical copies of most PC games these days? Feels like it's all just "GO TO THE STEAM PAGE! GO NOW! PHYSICAL MEDIA IS EXPENSIVE AND FOR LOSERS!"
PC games? Can you even buy physical copies of most PC games these days? Feels like it's all just "GO TO THE STEAM PAGE! GO NOW! PHYSICAL MEDIA IS EXPENSIVE AND FOR LOSERS!"
orionquest
Ars Praefectus
Can't remember. But probably close to 10 years.
Why, are you buying lots of physical copies?
Why, are you buying lots of physical copies?
Just about two years ago, I imported some used PS2, PS3 and Dreamcast games from Japan via Buyee. (No affiliation, just a happy customer.)
The most recent non-used game I bought a physical copy of was Lost Judgment for PS5 in 2021.
The most recent non-used game I bought a physical copy of was Lost Judgment for PS5 in 2021.
Frosty Grin
Ars Legatus Legionis
PC, the last physical release I bought was Cyberpunk because BB had some sort of goodie deal with it. Switch was a lot more recent - within the last year since it's got limited storage and a lot of deals on physical stuff more than digital.
Portal 2 came out over 13 years ago, though.7 to 10 years ago, when Portal 2 came out.
That was also the last physical game I bought. I got a copy off eBay a few years ago to play it again, because the Xbox digital version was still like $40. I guess I sold my original disc when I traded in my 360.
I almost always buy games on sale - I have no interest in multiplayer, so there's no reason to be playing "when everyone else is playing". And I always prefer to buy physically, because I have the space for it, because physical games have more regular long tail discounts, and because I'm wary of games eventually being pulled from virtual storefronts. These days, though, almost all my physical purchases are over the internet - almost every brick & mortar store near me that used to sell physical games has stopped doing so, and there's almost no used games stores left (other than the local Gamestop, which tends to have a pretty terrible selection and not-great prices). I periodically check through Gamefly's used game selection and pick up any games I've had an interest in when they drop to $25 or less - every game I've got from them has been in great condition.
Oh, and most of my purchases are PS5/PS4 games. We're a Mac-only household, and despite having grown up during the birth of computer games (I was a huge Infocom junky, and still fondly remember being blown away by the range of choices and playstyles in the original Deus Ex), I find the experience of playing while leaning back in a comfy chair in front of a 65" TV screen vastly superior. I still have a Steam wishlist that I'll occasionally pick up a game from when a sale hits, but honestly it's probably been a year or two since I last did so.
Oh, and most of my purchases are PS5/PS4 games. We're a Mac-only household, and despite having grown up during the birth of computer games (I was a huge Infocom junky, and still fondly remember being blown away by the range of choices and playstyles in the original Deus Ex), I find the experience of playing while leaning back in a comfy chair in front of a 65" TV screen vastly superior. I still have a Steam wishlist that I'll occasionally pick up a game from when a sale hits, but honestly it's probably been a year or two since I last did so.
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I think it's been 15 years since I had a PC with a disc drive to even use physical media. I still bought physical for consoles but I've phased those out except the Switch due to everything else being on PC anyway.
10-13 for my last PC game (a World of Warcraft expansion, I think) but 7-10 for my last console purchase. Digital downloads make it just not worth the hassle of buying/keeping physical media anymore.
What if its a classic game I bought to play?
But of new games, I buy physical Switch games. PC games obviously not, but thats because they just aren't available anymore. If publishers brought back big box games with goodies inside(kinda like what Limited Run does) I'd be all over that.
And honestly, my reasoning for physical Switch games is that I think in 20-30 years they're gonna be worth something. I could be completely wrong on that but I'm taking that chance.
But of new games, I buy physical Switch games. PC games obviously not, but thats because they just aren't available anymore. If publishers brought back big box games with goodies inside(kinda like what Limited Run does) I'd be all over that.
And honestly, my reasoning for physical Switch games is that I think in 20-30 years they're gonna be worth something. I could be completely wrong on that but I'm taking that chance.
X-Com 2 for PC in 2016, but only because Amazon had a big discount on the physical copy that was better than any of the offers for the digital version.
I try to get the digital versions of games, books and music (lossless FLAC from qobuz) since it takes up no space as uses less resources than physical versions.
I don't buy movies anymore, but with streaming services yanking content for cost-cutting I might rethink that. Or get an AppleTV and buy them from Apple since my brother has mentioned Apple has upgraded his old movie purchases over the years from the original 480p to 1080p then to 4K in some cases.
I try to get the digital versions of games, books and music (lossless FLAC from qobuz) since it takes up no space as uses less resources than physical versions.
I don't buy movies anymore, but with streaming services yanking content for cost-cutting I might rethink that. Or get an AppleTV and buy them from Apple since my brother has mentioned Apple has upgraded his old movie purchases over the years from the original 480p to 1080p then to 4K in some cases.
Switch games are in a weird spot because of limited space on the console itself and the fact that the custom SD cards used by Nintendo are fast enough.
I did go out of my way to track down a physical copy of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 despite that being out of print for YEARS but that’s just me being weird.
I still by discs for the PS5 though those, while usually cheaper than online, aren’t as useful since the game gets installed regardless.
I did go out of my way to track down a physical copy of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 despite that being out of print for YEARS but that’s just me being weird.
I still by discs for the PS5 though those, while usually cheaper than online, aren’t as useful since the game gets installed regardless.
The last physical PC games I bought were XCOM: Enemy Within (which was little more than a code in a box with a disc to install Steam) and The Saboteur because it was on a Best Buy clearance rack for $5. XCOM would have been around 2014, Saboteur probably 2016ish. The last physical game I bought was back in 2021 when I bought the Mass Effect Trilogy for my friend's birthday, dude had never played them but had played Andromeda.
I guess to some degree it's hard to care about physical copies of games now that we've spent the last 2-3 generations ensuring that almost every single disc-based game still requires day-1 patching as well as an install to a hard drive, so most of the convenience is lost.
I guess to some degree it's hard to care about physical copies of games now that we've spent the last 2-3 generations ensuring that almost every single disc-based game still requires day-1 patching as well as an install to a hard drive, so most of the convenience is lost.
Last week I bought Paper Mario remaster and again in two weeks when I buy Luigi’s Mansion 2. I almost always buy physical.
I believe I physically purchased Batman: Arkham Asylum years ago, because it came with a nice little statue of Batman. Same with Assassin's Creed.
Edit: Oh, sweet FSM and his noodly appendages. That was 2009! Damn, I'm old.
Edit: Oh, sweet FSM and his noodly appendages. That was 2009! Damn, I'm old.
I remember sitting on the can with the CIV 3 deluxe manual. I think that's the last physical game/media I ever bought for PC. There were Nintendo games after that though.
Actually, upon further thought, I did buy Gary Grigsby's War in the East 2 in 2021. It came with a download/Steam code but I bought the physical manual, which was well worth it. Hardback and 520 pages. I still flip through it when I'm playing.
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I got a physical disc copy of Cyberpunk 2077 for the Xbox in 2021 because I was able to get it via credit card points. Before that, the last game that came with a disc and not just a download code had to have been Destiny: The Taken King in 2016 since it was on sale at Best Buy just before Rise Of Iron came out.
I haven't bougth a physical PC game since, gosh, 2009? It may have even been the Orange Box for, like, €15 or something. My computing life definitely changed in 2011 anyway.
I moved to consoles (Switch) in 2017, and all the big titles I have physical. The last one being Super Mario Wonder. I've bought a bunch of indies online, though, and during covid even got AC:NH and Yoshi's Crafted World digitally.
The thing about physical is that not only I save console space , but I can share with a couple of friends. Sharing! Does that make me a pirate? Plus, I keep telling myself I can recover probably 40% off Zeldas and Marios if sold. Not that I will if "Switch 2" has backwards compatibility though...
I moved to consoles (Switch) in 2017, and all the big titles I have physical. The last one being Super Mario Wonder. I've bought a bunch of indies online, though, and during covid even got AC:NH and Yoshi's Crafted World digitally.
The thing about physical is that not only I save console space , but I can share with a couple of friends. Sharing! Does that make me a pirate? Plus, I keep telling myself I can recover probably 40% off Zeldas and Marios if sold. Not that I will if "Switch 2" has backwards compatibility though...