One Artist's Rendition of Possible Xbox 720 Design

The other day I was surfing the internet and stumbled upon the fact that the Xbox’s next generation console will be deemed the Xbox 720.  Wanting to know anything I could about it,  Googled it and pretty much came up with nada.  But in my search, I came across a small article (that I couldn’t go back and find again to post here) that brought up a really interesting point.  Since I couldn’t find the article, I found another one that discusses the same topic: the possibility of DownLoadable Content (DLC) replacing physical games.

What would happen if the Xbox 720, the PS4, and the next generation of Nintendo consoles all ditched the tradition of putting a game into your console?  Ever since the days of shoving those damn cartridges into the original Nintendo, video game systems have relied on outside sources loaded with game data – cartridges, discs, even memory cards.  In recent years, gamers have been given the ability to download game content right onto your system, but for the most part those DLC packages only added onto games.

But in a few years, when the next generation of consoles are released, internet speeds will be faster.  Hard drives on the game systems will be bigger (Xbox 720 is rumored to be 1 terabyte).  And I think that one-two punch will mean many more gamers being open to the possibility of  downloading full games right to their consoles.  No need to go out and waste time buying your next video game at the local GameStop – just get comfy on the couch and download it right off of Xbox Live.  You wont even need to get out of your pajamas.

In the article I linked to above, they argue that not all gamers will be amped about the switch to full-game downloads.  Writes author Toni Schwartz:

“There are many other reasons why people prefer a retail copy of a game. For some, it’s an aesthetic thing. They like collecting boxes and lining them up on the shelf, or they like the box art. Others simply like to own something tangible, to be able to hold the disk in their hands. Finally, many folks don’t like the idea that if they have to buy a new computer/console, they may have to repurchase the game.”

Stores like this could become a thing of the past

Schwartz makes some valuable points, but what if this big decision isn’t the  consumer’s choice to make?  Let’s face it: we gamers will have to deal with whatever Sony / Nintendo / and or Microsoft choose to do with their systems.  It’s either make do with what they give us, or stop gaming.  So, if the next generation consoles do end up ditching physical games, it could mean major problems for all the stores out there who rely on selling the newest and hottest video games.  If the newest game in the Grand Theft Auto franchise were to be released exclusively on Xbox Live, the lack of sales at stores like GameStop and EB Games would be devastating.  And without game sales, I highly doubt those stores could survive off of sales from console accessories alone.

Besides the possible death of game stores, it would just flat out suck if there were no more physical copies of video games.  No more collection of games to display proudly under the TV.  Oh and if your friend wants to try out that new game you just beat, too bad.  And gone will be the days of trading in your old used games for store credit.

So let this be my preemptive plea to Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft – make the right decision and keep hard copies around!