Category: Gaming

In 2013, Sony buried Xbox under an avalanche of public mockery with a simple, devastating 21-second video showing how to hand a physical game disc to a friend.

The video was a direct response to Microsoft’s announcement of its full-digital strategy for its Xbox console.

This year, the PlayStation-maker announced plans that sound like a direct copy of what Microsoft tried to pull in 2013: get rid of discs entirely and go fully digital.

With Xbox going through tumultuous times, this single decision by Sony could set the stage for one of the greatest corporate reversals in tech history.

For over a decade, Microsoft has carried the scar of that E3 PR disaster, but Sony’s potential abandonment of physical media hands Xbox a golden, ironic opportunity to flip the script.

All Microsoft has to do is to abandon its all-digital plans and ship the next Xbox with a disc drive and confirm that discs remain an integral part of the Xbox experience. It could even copy Sony’s 2013 mockery by creating its own “used game instructional video”, showing how Xbox gamers can continue to lend games to friends.

What could happen?

• Xbox could position itself as the defender of consumer choice, game preservation, and ownership rights. It would go from the company that tried to kill used games to the only place left where you can actually buy, sell and trade your games.
• Brick and mortar stores would, likely, heavily promote Xbox software and still offer it to customers. While Sony plans to place empty boxes in stores that contain just a download code, its main focus will be on its own store.
• If Sony completely cuts out physical discs, major retail chains lose a revenue stream (not just from game sales, but from the foot traffic of people trading in used games and buying gift cards)
• Microsoft risks lower profit margins, as it still has to manufacture, ship, and license physical discs and disc drives.
• Gamers that prefer physical might switch over to Xbox.

Ultimately, a world where Xbox guards the physical gate while PlayStation embraces a total digital lockdown would redefine the console wars. Sony would secure maximum control over its storefront and increase digital profit margins, but it would do so at the cost of consumer goodwill, collector loyalty, and retail partnerships.

For Microsoft, keeping the disc drive alive isn’t just about preserving plastic; it is a calculated masterstroke to win back the hearts of gamers who feel abandoned by the industry. In a poetic twist of fate, the company that once tried to eliminate physical media could become its final savior—turning Sony’s ultimate digital future into a victory.

Up until today, gaming consoles were designed to play physical media. From the cartridges-days to CD, Blu-Ray and Flash cards. While newer consoles added virtual stores to buy digital versions of games and content, gamers up until now had always the choice between the two options.

Both offer advantages. Digital means that you can start playing immediately, download always the latest version without any 0-day patching marathons, and do not have to find the Blu-Ray or cartridge first before playing the game.

Physical media comes with its own set of advantages, at least those that still come with a disc and not just a download code (virtual in disguise). The main advantage is that you can lend or sell the game at any time. Buy it, play it, and sell it once you are done. With digital, there is a chance that games are taken away from you at one point in time, because you buy only licenses.

Sony plans to end the Disc

Sony announced this week that it is ending the production of physical discs in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles. Sony claims that the change is a response to shifting consumer preferences.

All new games releasing January 2028 or later will only come in digital format. They can be purchased on the PlayStation Store or at retailers, but also only in digital format. Think of the code in a box releases that are out already or will come out in the future.

Microsoft might follow

While Microsoft has not yet officially buried physical releases, The Verge reports that Microsoft is working on a system to turn physical game discs into virtual copies in preparation for the move.

The idea is simple: When you buy a physical copy, it is added automatically to your game library on installation. However, unlike on PlayStation, where you can’t lend or sell it, lending or selling remains an option, reportedly.

When you sell the game and the new buyer installs it, it is removed from your library and added to the buyer’s.

The end is near

While digital-only gamers could say that this does not really matter to them, it is shortsighted. For the companies, Sony especially, it is a way to dry out the second hand market. If you can’t buy used games anymore, then you may be inclined to pay full price online. More money in Sony’s pockets and less options and rights for gamers.

There is another aspect to this. Some gamers prefer physical boxes and content. While these have deteriorated in quality since the good old days, where games used to come with big manuals and extras at no extra charge, it could seriously dampen the collector’s edition market as well.

I have made up my mind a long time ago. I prefer physical, as it gives me full ownership of the copy. I can sell or lend the game at any time, or put it on a shelf to look at its glorious artwork.

I won’t buy digital games on consoles and if this really hits in 2028, Sony won’t squeeze any more money out of my pockets. Will focus my efforts on retro gaming then. Lots of great games out there that need to be replayed or played for the first time.

What about you? Are you a gamer? Do you prefer physical or digital?

PC gaming store Gog has started its Summer Sale a moment ago. It runs for the next 20 days and gives you access to more than 8,000 discounted games on the platform.

You may know that I prefer Gog over other digital games stores because of its stance on DRM, or more precisely, the lack of it. It is also not enforcing the use of its client and you can download all games for offline keeping and playing.

That is a refreshing stance in today’s connected world were most online stores try to hold your games hostage. If you lose your account or Internet, you are often not able to play the games until things are restored.

While Gog offers excellent games, some of the major publishers ignore it outright or push only classic games to the platform. Still, it is a great place, especially for classic computer games and independent games.

The best starting point for the sale is the main browser. While you can browse the 171 pages of games if you have a lot of time, I suggest you make use of the filters and options. Hiding DLC and extras may be a good start.

You can also set a price range, hide products that you own, or filter by genre, status, operating system, language and much more.

Gog says that games are discounted by up to 80 percent. If you sort by price, you find games starting as low as $0.29.

I list a few recommendations here usually. This time, I would like to list games that are on my list, that are likely very good, but that I have not played yet.

• Deus Ex Bundle ($12.79) – Includes all four Deus Ex games. I have to admit that I never played the series, even though the early games were heralded as true masterpieces. The games are also available standalone.
• The Zork Anthology ($3.89) – Never played the classic text-based adventure game series, but always wanted to give it a go. A refreshing contrast to the games of today.
• Batsugun ($5.15) – I love shoot ’em up games. Batsugun is a classic Japanese that made waves on Sega’s Saturn console back in the days.
• Metal Slug Tactics ($16.45) – A new game that is all about strategic decisions on small maps. Plays in the Metal Slug universe and you can pick between different characters and loadouts.

So, those are my recommendations. Maybe you have some more? Let me know in the comment section below.

The price of gaming consoles used to go down the longer they were on the market. Now it seems that the opposite is happening. In early August, Nintendo announced a price increase for Switch hardware in the United States. In May, Microsoft announced price increases for Xbox hardware and games.

Now, Sony, maker of the PlayStation 5, is also announcing a price increase in the United States.

Gamespot reports that PS5 consoles will cost $50 more going forward in the United States.

• PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition: now $500, previously $450
• PlayStation 5 Slim: now $550, previously $500
• PlayStation 5 Pro: now $750, previously $700

The systems are still available for the older prices at Amazon and other third-party retailers, according to the news outlet. So, if you always wanted to buy one, you may still be able to buy a PS5 for the lower price before retailers are adjusting it.

Sony is not changing the price of accessories at this point. The company announced price changes in other markets earlier this year.

In Europe, Sony increased the price of the digital edition by 50 Euros, but kept the price of the standard edition with disc drive.

Sony did not reveal why it is increasing the price in the United States, but tariffs may play a role in Sony’s decision. The United States have increased tariff rates on countries where the PlayStation 5 is produced.

Microsoft’s current generation Xbox platform is lagging behind the Japanese competition in terms of sales. Nintendo and Sony sold more than twice the number of consoles each.

Xbox performs badly, even though Microsoft spent more money on acquisitions of gaming studios than ever before. Now, Microsoft announced another round of layoffs, many of which are hitting Xbox employees or employees in gaming studios that produce games for Xbox.

Is that the preparation of Microsoft’s exit from consoles? Write off the money and move on to bigger things?

Microsoft confirmed the next generation of Xbox consoles already and revealed vital information. While the next Xbox may not be a traditional Xbox console anymore, it could give Microsoft’s ailing games business the push it needs.

Here is what might happen: Microsoft announced plans to introduce third-party games stores to Xbox. It would not really make much sense to introduce these stores without options to play games from these stores.

The next Xbox could therefore be a PC in console format, like Valve’s fabled Steam Machine. Connect to a TV, play your favorite PC games. Icing on the cake would be backwards compatibility with classic Xbox games, which Microsoft should and probably will add support for.

With PC suddenly on board, Xbox would support more games than ever produced for consoles up to this date. Even if the system would support just a few major stores, say Steam, Gog, the Microsoft Store, it would enable support for tens of thousands of games on day one. Even better, if you are a PC gamer already, you could connect your accounts to Xbox to play the games you bought already.

With massive games support, first-party titles become less of a focus to sell the next generation console. While a next generation Halo might still help sell the system, it would probably help as much as blockbuster PC games that would suddenly all be available on the Xbox system as well.

To be fair, Microsoft did not release that many Xbox exclusive games since the launch of this Xbox generation. Some, like Starfield, were console-exclusive but launched on PC as well.

So, to sum it up. Next Xbox could be powered by Windows that also supports previous generation Xbox games. It would be the end of true Xbox gaming though.

Question is, would you buy it? What would Microsoft have to do to get you to buy it? Let me know in the comments below.

As you may know, I prefer to buy my PC games on Gog. While I do not buy that many anymore, due to a lack of time mostly, I sometimes have the desire to replay a classic game or try a new independent game that I heard about.

Gog holds sales year round, but the Summer Sale is always one of the largest. A good opportunity to purchase one or two games that have been sitting on my wishlist for some time.

Gog says that the Summer Sale 2025 offers over 8,000 deals with discounts of up to 95 percent. Here is the main link to the sale. It is probably a good idea to use the excellent filters on the left side of the page to reduce the 161 pages of games that are on sale.

You can, for example, hide DLC and extra listings, set a price range, or pick genres, features, or tags.

As always, here are some of my suggestions:

Into the Breach

One of my all-time favorites. A turn-based strategy game with lots of variety, short but intense levels, lots of replayability, and fun.

You control three units and are tasked with defending cities and the earth population against an alien threat. Each of your units, mechs mostly, have different unique abilities, that can be expanded as they gain levels and new equipment.

FTL: Advanced Edition

Faster Than Light plays in space. It is a strategy game that gives you command of a ship and a diverse crew of aliens. You can upgrade the ship, encounter enemies and wondrous things. It is randomized and rogue-lite, and if you do not mind the graphics, one of the best experiences you can have while playing a game.

Day of the Tentacle Remastered

The remastered edition of the 1993 sequel to Maniac Mansion. It is a classic adventure game by LucasArts that has lots of humor. Unlike Maniac Mansion, which asked you to pick three characters out of a selection, you always play the same three characters in the game.

Your task is to prevent that an evil mutated purple tentacle is taking over the world. Involves time traveling, lots of fun.

Now You: have another pick? Let me know in the comments below.

Microsoft confirmed today that Xbox is not dead. In fact, the company announced Xbox consoles, a partnership with AMD, and what sounded like support for PC gaming stores and games on the next Xbox devices.

Xbox-chief Sarah Bond made the announcement in a video on YouTube. It is just a minute in total playtime and while short, includes some major announcements.

But first, here is the video.

The big announcements are the following ones.

About the partnership with AMD, multiple Xbox consoles, and a potential Xbox handheld:

I’m thrilled to share we’ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices including our next-generation Xbox consoles, in your living room, and in your hands.

Xbox will support multiple stores. The mention of Windows is a strong hint at support for Windows gaming stores such as Steam.

[..] delivering you an Xbox experience not locked to a single store or tied to one device. hat’s why we’re working closely with the Windows team, to ensure that Windows is the number one platform for gaming.

Xbox will include AI features and will be backwards compatible.

Together with AMD we’re advancing the state of art in gaming silicon to deliver the next generation of graphics innovation to unlock a deeper level of visual quality and immersive gameplay and player experiences enhanced with the power of AI, all while maintaining compatibility with your existing library of Xbox games.

Closing Words

Microsoft will release new Xbox consoles in the near future, likely around the same time that Sony will release its PS6 (console and handheld) to the public. It is too early to tell if the next Xbox will indeed support PC games.

Now You: do you play games at all on consoles or the PC? Would you buy an Xbox console or handheld that can play PC games?