Even if you buy them on Blu-ray, quite a few titles still require an internet connection to download.

Sony’s recent announcement that it will stop producing disc-based versions of its first-party games sparked a major debate because many gamers prefer physical editions because they are safer for owning and playing games. After all, owning a tangible product seems like a better choice than owning only a digital license. However, a recent study revealed that many physical games require additional downloads to become playable. This means that many PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series discs are unable to provide a full gaming experience when first used without an internet connection.

Over the years, DoesItPlay has tested hundreds of titles on various consoles and platforms to determine their offline play and download requirements. According to the study, half of the Xbox Series titles tested required internet downloads to be fully playable. For the PlayStation 5, this percentage was lower. Of the 792 games tested, 34% required additional internet downloads to provide the full intended experience, bringing the total number of games on this list to 269. At least 87% of the Xbox Series titles tested are playable in offline mode without a constant internet connection. For the PlayStation 5, however, this figure stands at 93% of the more than 700 analyzed titles.

Clemens Itsel, the chief administrator of DoesItPlay, told Ars Technica that physical games would not disappear unless a company like Sony deliberately phased them out. There is a clear trend of larger companies increasingly ignoring physical releases. Sony has clarified that negative player reactions to the disc dilemma have not affected its business operations and that it remains committed to its decision. In fact, for boxed editions, Sony offers an alternative to discs in the form of codes included with the game.

Source: Tech4gamers, Ars Technica