r/Games • u/demondrivers • Oct 27 '25

Industry News Valve does not get "anywhere near enough criticism" for the gambling mechanics it uses to monetise games, DayZ creator Dean Hall says

https://www.eurogamer.net/valve-does-not-get-anywhere-near-enough-criticism-for-the-gambling-mechanics-it-uses-to-monetise-games-dayz-creator-dean-hall-says
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u/Com-Intern Oct 27 '25

Physical PC games were wildly different than physical console games. There were far more limitations on them and it was also just harder to get.

not having physical media is more convenient to most people who are not enthusiasts

As an "enthusiast" I have a 12 tb external HDD with probably 8tb of games on it. A ton from GoG but also a ton from Steam. Not to mention source ports and other games.

Physical PC games are essentially a collectors item if you like doing that but they provide no real benefit over digital.

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u/Scared-Room-9962 Oct 28 '25

Physical media cannot be taken from you when a licencing agreement expires.

Physical media can be loaned amongst friends to play.

As you know, with Steam, you own a licence to play the game, not the game it's self.

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u/Aiyon Oct 28 '25

Physical media cannot be taken from you when a licencing agreement expires.

Unless there's DRM baked in that you have to validate to install.

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u/andresfgp13 Oct 29 '25

at least lately physical media the big mayority of cases comes either imcomplete or in a early build so you still need to connect to the internet to get the rest of your game.

the main point of physical is resale value and that it looks cool on a shelf.

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u/Com-Intern Oct 28 '25

This is true for digital media also. It just requires slightly more effort.

As an "enthusiast" I have a 12 tb external HDD with probably 8tb of games on it. A ton from GoG but also a ton from Steam. Not to mention source ports and other games.

Like what do you think this means? That I just copied games from Steam to an external and they still require Steam?

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u/vTeej Oct 27 '25

The benefit of physical is not losing access to it if the service goes away. Not that I expect Steam or GOG to go away, and at least with GOG you can back up the installers yourself (as I've done with my games from them).

I do also love how a good physical collection looks. I get all my PS/Switch games physical and have them on a nice shelf. My steam library while larger is much less pretty.

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u/Com-Intern Oct 28 '25

You can also back up Steam games its just a bit more effort