Hi everyone!

For my gaming needs, I have a Steam Deck and a Playstation 5 for now. They’ll probably be joined by a Steam Machine in the next year if the price is under 1000$ with 2 controllers.

For my admin needs, I have a few Linux computers running Fedora.

For my movie needs, I have an HTPC running LibreELEC.

Whenever possible, I’ll get my games on GOG from now on.

A lot of games aren’t on GOG though, so I have to choose between getting physical discs for my PS5 or through Steam.

For now, I can’t get demanding games on Steam since the Deck isn’t powerful enough, but with the arrival of the Machine, I’ll almost have power parity with the PS5.

I don’t plan on selling the PS5 as my son plays some Roblox, the NBA app works better on it than on my TV and I could want some games that Sony won’t release (anymore) on PC.

One day, once my switch to Linux gaming is over I might even give it to my son when hés gonna be old enough to game in his room.

So my question is should I buy physical games on Playstation, with the ability to resell them and get them on GOG one day for cheap, or should I get the games on Steam where they could just be taken away if Steam becomes evil?

Edit/conclusion:

In the end, if I get a Steam Machine, it’ll probably be:

  1. GOG when available
  2. Steam
  3. Playstation physical for their exclusives

Without the Steam Machine, it’ll be the same but I’ll have to take into account that some games are too demanding for the Deck, so it’ll be PS5 physical.

  • placebo@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    3 hours ago

    I treat any digital platform - and for all practical purposes, that includes disks these days - more or less equally. Realistically, what are you going to do if you have 200+ games on GOG and the company “becomes evil”? Download them all and store them on your hardware until the rest of your life? It would be easier to pirate a game from your lost collection when you need it. I personally see little value in DRM-free games because of that. Besides, GOG doesn’t even support Linux.

    PS5 discs have some advantages though:

    • Retail-store discounts can go very low.
    • Or you can buy used discs.
    • And you can resell your discs.

    I’m in a similar position, and I simply wishlist games and buy them when there’s a discount on either platform.

    • Dariusmiles2123@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      1·
      1 hour ago

      Well if GOG becomes evil, I’ll have all my games stored locally and I can do what I want with them.

      While it’s true there is no GOG Galaxy for Linux, I think they sponsor Heroic and it works quite well on Steam Deck to be honest.

      I might get pirated games if my Steam Library gets taken away since, contrary to PS5 or GOG, I wouldn’t be able to do anything with my games.

      In the end, if I get a Steam Machine, it’ll probably be:

      1. GOG when available
      2. Steam
      3. Playstation for their exclusives

      Without the Steam Machine, it’ll be the same but I’ll have to take into account that some games are too demanding for the Deck, so it’ll be PS5 physical.