Plus physical media on consoles is effectively worthless now, even on the Switch 2 with most of its library set to be downloads with literal license dongles ala the Game-Key Card which is targeted at third parties as a cheaper option than putting the whole game on a cart.
That Game-Key Card format will effectively render most of the Switch 2 library impossible to emulate assuming they need online access to run.
And even on PC, there’s nothing stopping publishers from getting smart and using kernel-level anticheat as a DRM substitute for single-player games, EA already set a precedent internally within their operations for doing that with EAAC on the latest WRC installment, for example.
As for the Switch 2, I wouldn’t put it above Nintendo to completely axe the cart slot for the Switch 3, if there even is a Switch 3 and the games industry doesn’t collapse again before that has a chance to happen, and make it a digital-exclusive console.
there are more single player games out there than you could ever play and you can own them forever.
the move to always online is an attempt to compete with their biggest competition, their entire back catalogue.
if I still gave a shit about new consoles an empty box with a game code or anything with always online would be deal breakers.
PSA: PS3 has a ton of great games you likely never played and shops literally can’t give them away right now. why pay over $100 for the remaster that you don’t own when you can own the original for $1
Plus physical media on consoles is effectively worthless now, even on the Switch 2 with most of its library set to be downloads with literal license dongles ala the Game-Key Card which is targeted at third parties as a cheaper option than putting the whole game on a cart.
That Game-Key Card format will effectively render most of the Switch 2 library impossible to emulate assuming they need online access to run.
And even on PC, there’s nothing stopping publishers from getting smart and using kernel-level anticheat as a DRM substitute for single-player games, EA already set a precedent internally within their operations for doing that with EAAC on the latest WRC installment, for example.
As for the Switch 2, I wouldn’t put it above Nintendo to completely axe the cart slot for the Switch 3, if there even is a Switch 3 and the games industry doesn’t collapse again before that has a chance to happen, and make it a digital-exclusive console.
there are more single player games out there than you could ever play and you can own them forever.
the move to always online is an attempt to compete with their biggest competition, their entire back catalogue.
if I still gave a shit about new consoles an empty box with a game code or anything with always online would be deal breakers.
PSA: PS3 has a ton of great games you likely never played and shops literally can’t give them away right now. why pay over $100 for the remaster that you don’t own when you can own the original for $1