This is good news, glad we can have physical and digital. :D

PS4: Sony Sees a Disc-Based Future

Discs will still be the "primary delivery mechanism" for PlayStation 4 games for the "forseeable future".

Sony's Jim Ryan has told IGN that Blu-Ray discs will still be the PlayStation 4's dominant delivery mechanism for games, despite a wider move towards a more connected console.

Sony has upped its game in the digital distribution field over the past year or two with the PS3, delivering games to PSN day-and-date with their retail releases (although still at full RRP, which in Europe especially is often far in excess of the price you can expect to pay in a shop.) But although Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's president and CEO sees the trend towards digital downloads continuing, he still sees a primarily disc-based future for the console.

"Clearly, and this applies not just to games but to pretty much every form of entertainment, there is a trend to increased digital consumption, and that is happening now on PS3 and will continue and will probably accelerate on PS4," he told IGN. "But the primary delivery mechanism for the big games on the PS4 platform will continue to be Blu-Ray discs, for the foreseeable future."

What counts as the forseeable future? Five years? "That sort of horizon, yes," Ryan agrees. The reasoning behind this is that PS4 games will take up so much space that in many parts of the world, downloading them just won't be realistic. "For our big first-party games, weve encouraged the studios to make as much use of the BD50 [50-gigabyte Blu-Ray drive] as they possibly can some of these things run to like 45 gigs," he says.

"If you go down to Southern Europe, where we have very big and important businesses, it can take you 3 days over a standard internet connection to download a file of the size, and thats not fun. There are certain gating factors in terms of internet infrastructure that mandate that the disc-based solution is going to be the primary delivery mechanism for the foreseeable future."

Sony's PlayStation 4 was unveiled in New York last Wednesday. You can catch up with all IGN's coverage on our PS4 hub.

I preferphysical copies so this is good news 

So that confirms further information about the PS4 hardware. Blu-ray as a medium.

Can't see it lasting TBH. everything is going towards DD these days

I hope games can install next gen.  

Can't see it lasting TBH. everything is going towards DD these days

seanmcloughlin

The large majority of console players do not have internet and we don't have the bandwith for an all DD based medium.

I love having hard copies, gives my shelves life.

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

Can't see it lasting TBH. everything is going towards DD these days

Blazerdt47

The large majority of console players do not have internet and we don't have the bandwith for an all DD based medium.

True, But I still can't see it lasting. 

[QUOTE="seanmcloughlin"]

Can't see it lasting TBH. everything is going towards DD these days

Slashkice

Every PS4 game is going up on PSN so they're covered there too.

I would go digital-only if the specification is appropriate, depending on what kind of hard drive that PS4 is using. If it supports 7,200RPM, then that would be great.

I don't think PS4 will use 3.5" form factor, it's too big. It holds up to 4TB which is nice. It's more likely that it will be 2.5" which holds up to 1TB; I'm unsure if it's enough for games. If a final decision come that it's enough, I'll go digital-only so I can enjoy faster loading, better performance and quieter system operation.

That's good! Why would anyone buy from the PSN store when all digital downloads won't even transfer to the PS4. It proves to me that buying digitally is pointless. I prefer physical media.

That's good! Why would anyone buy from the PSN store when all digital downloads won't even transfer to the PS4. It proves to me that buying digitally is pointless. I prefer physical media.

Jak-25

People are using the console in different ways. Some people like sharing and playing games at friend's houses. Some people don't share and only play games on his/her own console.

I'm the one who don't like sharing, so I can go digital.

If you're wondering why I don't like sharing is because people could scratch my discs and put fingerprints on the bottom layer.

Eventually when DD has overtaken Blu-ray physical discs, pheraps 5-8-to 10 years down the road, Sony will advance with the flow.

Hence, Gaikai.

good a nintendo sony gen for me lol 

Steam is the greatest gift to PC gaming/gaming in general.

DD is the future. I would have bought a lot less games if Steam didnt exist. I really hope i have the option to buy 720/PS4 games day one without having to step foot inside a Gamestop/Best Buy. The only downside is, MS and Sony are greedy *******. Valve treats it's customers right.

Yeah this is the last gen for disc media. 

I hope games can install next gen.  

StrongDeadlift

I'm not sure just exactly what you're saying. There will no longer be mandatory installs when you buy a disc and games you download will be playable immediately. 

Can't see it lasting TBH. everything is going towards DD these days

seanmcloughlin

PC games are still being sold in physical format. Physical wont go anywhere anytime soon. It may lose market share but it wont disappear or even turn irrelevant anytime soon. I'll keep supporting it while I can

[QUOTE="Jak-25"]

That's good! Why would anyone buy from the PSN store when all digital downloads won't even transfer to the PS4. It proves to me that buying digitally is pointless. I prefer physical media.

GeForce-

People are using the console in different ways. Some people like sharing and playing games at friend's houses. Some people don't share and only play games on his/her own console.

I'm the one who don't like sharing, so I can go digital.

If you're wondering why I don't like sharing is because people could scratch my discs and put fingerprints on the bottom layer.

If we are talking about PS3/PS4, with them being blu-ray disks, they are incredibly hard if nigh impossible to scratch. Just saying.

[QUOTE="NoirLamia777"]

I love having hard copies, gives my shelves life.

TheGuardian03

I also like physical. Then again I stopped buying PC boxed because they require Steam, Origin, Games for Windows or Uplay. Defeats the purpose.

Can't see it lasting TBH. everything is going towards DD these daysseanmcloughlin

Yeah, right.

Yeah this is the last gen for disc media.xhawk27

No, it's not. 

[QUOTE="TheGuardian03"][QUOTE="NoirLamia777"]

I love having hard copies, gives my shelves life.

Truth_Hurts_U

I also like physical. Then again I stopped buying PC boxed because they require Steam, Origin, Games for Windows or Uplay. Defeats the purpose.

I still buy physical PC games if I can find good deals. Recently gave only $5 for SC: Conviction, $2 for TR: Underworld and $3 for Painkiller Universe. All boxed! Its not only on steam one can find great deals! ;)

SONY gets left behind when everyone else goes DD, i hope the Ps4 has Full game installs, it would be like taking a step backwards if it didn't.delta3074

what? you think the next xbox will be DD only? They would loose a HUGE market share if so. Dont fool yourself. Physical PC games and even audio CDs are being sold to this day, what makes you think Nintendo, Sony or MS would give their back to this market?

Everything will trend toward DD and eventually Cloud based gaming where your TV can play ps6 games probably with subscription. 

For consoles? Oh yeah I agree. PC however is mostly DD. I imagine next gen will be much more DD based.

That's good! Why would anyone buy from the PSN store when all digital downloads won't even transfer to the PS4. It proves to me that buying digitally is pointless. I prefer physical media.

Jak-25

Awesomely nothing like psychical copies.