Post
When games stop existing as physical objects and your entire library lives on servers someone else controls.
The shift from physical to digital game distribution has been accelerating for over a decade. PC gaming went almost fully digital years ago via Steam. Console gaming is following: the PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S ship without disc drives, and an increasing percentage of game sales are digital downloads. This shift benefits platform holders (no manufacturing, shipping, or retailer cuts) and offers consumer convenience. But it raises serious concerns: players don't own digital games; they license them. Games can be delisted, servers shut down, and entire libraries revoked. The Ubisoft controversy, where The Crew was removed from players' libraries entirely, made the ownership question impossible to ignore.
Example
When Ubisoft shut down The Crew's servers in 2024, players who had purchased the game lost access entirely, even for single-player content that theoretically didn't require servers. This prompted regulatory attention in Europe about digital ownership rights. Meanwhile, the retro gaming market for physical cartridges and discs is booming precisely because physical media can't be revoked, creating an ironic parallel market driven by ownership anxiety.
Why it matters
The digital-only trend is fundamentally changing what 'buying a game' means. Players are increasingly renting access rather than purchasing goods, with enormous implications for game preservation, consumer rights, and the resale market. The outcome of ongoing legislative battles about digital ownership will shape the gaming landscape for decades.
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