People are also starting to realise that most of these very expensive games don’t truly belong to them anymore. Up to date gaming has become more expensive than it ever has, except most of it is behind a server that can be shut down at a moment’s notice. Why pay that much for a something that will be taken away? Will I be able to access my steam library if Steam goes under? When I used to buy a physical Cartrage, it was mine. If I decided I didn’t like the game anymore, I could sell it.
You can’t do that as often anymore. Nintendo Switch has physical copies still, but most consoles are moving to digital only, and others are locking even physical copies to a single account so that you can’t resell. The new Playstation and Xbox have versions of their consoles that are digital only, and I assume Nintendo will follow eventually. And then you have the gaming companies that are trying to turn gaming into a Netflix style subscription based streaming service shudder, and if corporations want it, it will happen in time.
Rental stores aren’t a thing any more either. So basically, there are less and less ways the average non-wealthy person can access games. There is a reason why little kids today are all playing free to play mobile garbage these days, because it’s the only new games they can at least access without a credit card.
TLDR: Capitalism is destroying all media and art, emulation and piracy based retro gaming is the only thing preserving gaming.
Honestly I have to disagree. I don’t think people care so much if their games truly belong to them. I think a lot of people don’t really go back and play games they’ve already beaten very often. I really think it all comes down to confidence in the companies that make the games. Steam is objectively shitty but gamers still love it even if it going down means that they lose access to their games. It is the de facto game launcher on PCs because valve has a track record of treating their customers well. Everyone has confidence in valve, and by extension steam.
Keep in mind the video says that people are playing games that are on average 7 years old, and if we look at gaming around 2017, we still see gaming with battle passes, microtransactions, streaming, and all other anti-consumer behavior from devs. This really has nothing to do with emulated retro games, and if you consider the average, someone playing a game from 30 years ago Is being balanced out by four people. Playing games released one year ago.
Fully agree on capitalism destroying art and media though, absolutely true.
People are also starting to realise that most of these very expensive games don’t truly belong to them anymore. Up to date gaming has become more expensive than it ever has, except most of it is behind a server that can be shut down at a moment’s notice. Why pay that much for a something that will be taken away? Will I be able to access my steam library if Steam goes under? When I used to buy a physical Cartrage, it was mine. If I decided I didn’t like the game anymore, I could sell it.
You can’t do that as often anymore. Nintendo Switch has physical copies still, but most consoles are moving to digital only, and others are locking even physical copies to a single account so that you can’t resell. The new Playstation and Xbox have versions of their consoles that are digital only, and I assume Nintendo will follow eventually. And then you have the gaming companies that are trying to turn gaming into a Netflix style subscription based streaming service shudder, and if corporations want it, it will happen in time.
Rental stores aren’t a thing any more either. So basically, there are less and less ways the average non-wealthy person can access games. There is a reason why little kids today are all playing free to play mobile garbage these days, because it’s the only new games they can at least access without a credit card.
TLDR: Capitalism is destroying all media and art, emulation and piracy based retro gaming is the only thing preserving gaming.
Honestly I have to disagree. I don’t think people care so much if their games truly belong to them. I think a lot of people don’t really go back and play games they’ve already beaten very often. I really think it all comes down to confidence in the companies that make the games. Steam is objectively shitty but gamers still love it even if it going down means that they lose access to their games. It is the de facto game launcher on PCs because valve has a track record of treating their customers well. Everyone has confidence in valve, and by extension steam.
Keep in mind the video says that people are playing games that are on average 7 years old, and if we look at gaming around 2017, we still see gaming with battle passes, microtransactions, streaming, and all other anti-consumer behavior from devs. This really has nothing to do with emulated retro games, and if you consider the average, someone playing a game from 30 years ago Is being balanced out by four people. Playing games released one year ago.
Fully agree on capitalism destroying art and media though, absolutely true.
Who is locking physical games to one console? There was a rescinded plan about that with the Xbox One, but that’s the last I’ve heard of it.