This is a translation of an overseas article, so there may be inaccuracies.
https://www.avpasion.com/bethesda-reabre-debate-formato-fisico/
Bethesda has reignited the debate on video game formats: What exactly is physical gaming and why is it better?
Like what happens in the film industry, the format of video games is a topic that sparks much debate in the community. Essentially, two different versions exist: one is the so-called 'physical format (package)' that has always existed, and the other is the modern 'digital format' that has been gaining ground in recent years.
Looking at the current situation, the digital format basically offers cheaper prices in many cases (especially on PC), is much more convenient to use initially, and doesn't require physical space to store games, which is why it appears to be the most widely used.
That being said, while the physical format will probably never disappear, in fact it appears that companies are employing every possible means to push it to the back burner.
Will the physical format disappear?
Based on my experience in this industry, I think I can confidently say that the physical format will never disappear. Although it is losing ground to the digital format, in fact it is still deeply rooted among gamers, especially among those who grew up at a time when buying titles in offline stores was the only possibility.
It may not disappear, but many companies are making decisions to essentially eliminate certain advantages that physical formats had.
Specifically, this can be seen particularly in the Nintendo Switch console lineup, where we find two types of so-called 'key cards' and 'code in a box'.
The aforementioned 'key card' is essentially a cartridge with nothing inside, and it simply serves to allow you to download the digital version of the game to your console. While one advantage of the physical format—that it can be shared as it is not tied to your account—is maintained, direct DRM (Digital Rights Management) is applied, so you must connect to Nintendo's servers to download the game.
Now the more serious one is 'code in a box', which contains only a piece of paper with a code inside the box that must be registered to your account. Since this cannot be shared and is not actually physical, many call it 'fake physical format'.
Bethesda's recent move was exactly this way, and this has reignited the debate about whether this can be considered a true physical format. Specifically, they decided to release 'Fallout 4' and 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim' versions for Nintendo Switch 2 in this format, which angered the company's fans who love physical formats quite a bit.
Is the physical format still worth it?
To be honest, modern physical formats hardly resemble old games in any way, and this is not only due to these two specific cases but also to recent releases in general.
Although there are some exceptional and hopeful cases, most modern games released in this format don't actually deserve this title. This is because most games require updates to run, which essentially makes them dependent on servers and subjects them to significant DRM.
There are many reasons for doing this, but essentially the digital format generates much higher net profits for industry companies, so choosing it is a fairly smart decision. Additionally, using options like 'key cards' or 'code in a box' is a so-called 'win-win' for companies, as it costs much less to operate while discouraging the desire to purchase physical games.
Of course, there are sufficient reasons to choose physical format over digital, but what is worth buying depends on each user's priorities.
▶ Original source: https://www.avpasion.com/bethesda-reabre-debate-formato-fisico/
