- A Steam user has found a way to save games to SSDs with an auto-navigation and auto-start script
- These are actually physical ‘game cartridges’ complete with key art
- But expensive SSDs mean this is an expensive endeavor (the Steam player was lucky enough to pick up used drives for cheap)
Physical copies of PlayStation games will end from January 2028, and as the backlash surrounding it continues, a return to physical media on PC has been discovered – and it’s novel, to say the least.
A Steam user on Reddit has managed to store games on ‘cheap 2.5-inch’ SATA SSDs that effectively act as old-school ‘game cartridges’ with key art and a script that automatically navigates Steam to each game’s page. The user also notes that it is possible to launch games automatically from each drive.
This comes amid considerable uproar from gamers following the revelation of Sony’s plan to phase out physical game discs, reportedly around the time the next PlayStation console arrives. It’s a highly controversial move that has united players across all platforms to fight to keep discs and ensure game ownership remains intact.
That said, physical media for PC has been dead for a long time, as a modern desktop PC doesn’t come with a disc drive and there are hardly any publishers selling physical copies for the platform.
With most games only available digitally on PC, these titles could in theory be taken from buyers at any time. The problem is that pro-consumer figures like Gabe Newell, who heads Valve, the owner of Steam, won’t be in charge forever.
So in the future, under new management, it’s possible that more anti-consumer measures or other aspects of PC gaming that consumers don’t like, such as DRM (like Denuvo), will be introduced.
Steam game cartridges
from r/pcmasterrace
Imagine if this ‘game cartridge’ system was adopted by PC game publishers? It’s a clever idea, and a good thought, but clearly not a realistic one. To begin with, it would be a prohibitively expensive method to re-introduce physical PC game copies.
Of course, platforms like Epic Games and Steam require users to be logged in and have their app installed to play games, so it’s still a long way from true game ownership.
However, this concept would be perfectly paired with GOG, a platform that is DRM-free and does not require the launcher to play purchased games – in other words, you own fully purchased games on GOG.
Admittedly, publishers releasing PC game cartridges in the form of SSDs is a dream, especially with the current state of the hardware market and the RAM crisis, complete with skyrocketing SSD prices.
So the idea comes at the wrong time, but if the RAM crisis ever subsides, then maybe it’s something we’ll see more PC abbyists do – and maybe even the odd publisher.
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