The European “physical” release for Marvel Vs Capcom Fighting Collection for Switch in Europe will be a code in a box:
[EMEA] Out now for digital on Nintendo Switch, PS4 & Steam. Switch (code in box) & PS4 (disc in box) physical on Nov 22. Check your local store for details, offers may vary. Xbox One in 2025!
Why do they do this?!? 🤬
Why do they do this?!?
I guess its either:
- they think it will improve sales because the second hand market for “code in a box” is small
- they think it will cost sales but by less than the money they save by not manufacturing game cards
- they don’t know if either is true but they are willing to experiment to find out.
When its some regions only like this is feels like a/b testing. And to be honest its a pretty safe play for them because the die hard physical fans will just order internationally.
Another possibility: the console vendors are catching whiff of the whole gate keeper mess, and they don’t want to be at risk of being forced to open up their physical cartridge DRM mechanisms to allow third party cartridges for the relatively small EU market (compared to the rest of the world). Moving towards digital is much easier as result.
It is also clear as day that they’re testing the waters with Nintendo players who are generally deemed to be more casual, and lesser likely to push back compared to the more savvy other major consoles. Once this blows over, they will just move to digital everything across the board, citing successes and cost savings on the other platforms as basis for the move.
God fucking damnit I remember my little sister bringing home just dance and it was a code in a box and I just about had an aneurysm. Even worse was when I saw at Walmart that they do the same thing with fucking Fortnite, and it’s literally just a code for v-bucks.
Like most stores specifically have a section for gift cards that come with game codes, but no by all means waste more fucking plastic.
