PC gaming storefront Good Old Games (GOG) took a shot at PlayStation on social media by declaring that gamers do not need a storefront’s permission to play any purchased games. GOG’s message came days after PlayStation announced its intention to shift away from physical game discs by January 2028.
Sony’s intention to move away from releasing PlayStation titles on physical discs after three decades immediately drew the ire of gamers, developers, and other companies. Since PlayStation’s announcement, fans have called on the company to reconsider its move away from physical media. Despite the ongoing petitions against Sony’s decision, Dr. Serkan Toto of the consulting firm Kantan Games stated that PlayStation is unlikely to change its stance against physical releases come 2028.
With the gaming industry at large criticizing Sony’s move toward digital exclusivity, GOG followed suit. Despite being a digital PC storefront, it stated on social media that users can download the offline installer for any games on the GOG platform and save the data to a disc format of their choice as a way to keep a copy. GOG reaffirmed its anti-DRM policy by stating that gamers should not need any storefront’s permission to play any games. Although Steam is the largest PC gaming storefront by most metrics, GOG has carved a niche by being one of the most reliable storefronts for obtaining classic and modern PC titles across multiple genres.
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PlayStation’s move toward digital exclusivity could pose problems for some users. Some PlayStation users raised concerns that Sony’s region-locking policies could prevent players who move to another country from playing any digital titles on their account. As of this writing, PlayStation Network users cannot change the country or region that an account is based in. However, this is not the case with Steam or with Nintendo and Xbox consoles, as users can change or transfer regions easily. Although GOG did not outright name Sony in its message, the point was not lost on its user base. Several users replied with positive messages to GOG while also mocking PlayStation.
Image via Sony
Image via PlayStation
Image via Sony
Image via PlayStationAdditionally, Sony could run into some legal headwinds with its upcoming change. Plans to file a formal antitrust complaint against PlayStation were announced by two Mexican government officials, Federal Representative Irais Reyes and Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio. Reyes stated that, should physical discs disappear, it would create a monopoly by forcing users to purchase digital games through the PlayStation Store. Although digital PlayStation titles can be sold through storefronts like Amazon, the codes must still be redeemed through Sony’s network. Colosio claimed that PlayStation’s decision was made under the assumption that every user has access to an ISP with fast download speeds, which is not always the case.
Though the company is staying the course in its plans, Sony subsequently stated that games released before January 2028 would still have physical copies printed as necessary. Ergo, games such as Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will likely be among the last major titles to receive a physical disc release on the PS5.
