I Still Can’t Believe the Avowed ‘Physical’ Edition Is a $95 Download Code in a Box

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I’m really looking forward to the game “Avowed“. The developer, Obsidian Entertainment, is widely recognized as one of the top RPG creators in the industry, especially considering the decline of BioWare. Unfortunately, the marketing for “Avowed” has been a bit shaky, but given Obsidian’s track record, I have faith that they know what they’re doing. It’s quite disheartening for me, as someone who prefers physical copies of games, to see how “Avowed” labels its “physical edition“.

What’s In The Box?

For a while now, I’ve advocated for keeping traditional game discs or cartridges. One significant advantage is being able to resell the game once you no longer need it. However, it seems that game publishers aren’t fond of this idea because it might decrease their sales. With the rise of digital-only consoles and subscription services, it appears that publishers prefer us not to own physical games directly.

It seems clear that I believe indie games are justifiable in the realm of digital gaming. This is because independent developers and publishers often lack the resources for affordable mass production of physical media. However, companies like Sony and Microsoft possess these capabilities.

I hadn’t expected that studying the tangible version of “The Avowed” game, scheduled for release on February 18, would leave me speechless. After all, isn’t a physical edition just a real-world copy of the game, perhaps with an instruction manual if you’re fortunate? However, Obsidian and Microsoft have a different perspective on that.

On their website, Obsidian Entertainment describes that “Avowed” comes in two digital versions and one physical version. Alrighty then, I’d like to go for the one physical copy, if you don’t mind.

Wow, I can’t believe it! This “physical edition” they’re talking about is actually called the “Avowed Premium Edition SteelBook“, and it’ll cost you a pretty penny at $94.99. But Can you believe that for a top-tier AAA game?

Game Pass or Bust

It’s not entirely unexpected given the minimal buzz in industry circles about this matter. However, it does strike me as unusual that a “physical edition” of a AAA game is being marketed without an actual disc containing the game itself. Despite my disagreement with such practices, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing digital versions of top-tier games priced at full value (or even higher). What’s more concerning is the increasing trend of major releases abandoning physical versions entirely, like what happened with Alan Wake 2. Labeling a release as a “physical edition” when it comes in a SteelBook case feels strange to me. The only tangible components of the $94.99 offering are a map and a letter from the developer, presumably expressing gratitude for your $95 investment in a digital code. Even the artbook and soundtrack that accompany this release are both digital in nature.

In essence, Microsoft’s strategy isn’t hidden or secretive, so I shouldn’t be taken aback by the minimal attention given to traditional game media. Recently, Microsoft’s hardware sales dropped significantly by 29% in the last quarter, while its Game Pass subscription service saw remarkable growth. It appears that Microsoft is less interested in selling consoles and even less keen on selling games. Instead, their aim seems to be to get as many players as possible subscribed to Game Pass, where they pay a monthly fee to play games but do not actually own them.

Allow me to clarify, some gamers find Game Pass a worthwhile investment given the offerings. With Microsoft’s extensive library of IPs and studios (like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard) following their acquisition, there’s an abundance of top-tier games available on Game Pass at launch. However, to fully enjoy the service, you should be fine with playing games quickly but never actually owning them.

A Worrying Trend

As someone who enjoys owning my games and having the ability to trade or sell them, I find the “physical edition” of Avowed disheartening. Expressing my dissatisfaction with the industry trend by not purchasing Avowed seems to be exactly what Microsoft is aiming for. While they want players to experience the game, it appears they’re content if that happens through Game Pass. In fact, that would seem to be their ideal scenario.

Previously, we’ve noticed that Microsoft isn’t hesitant to close studios that create popular games, making their claim of “supporting the developer” less convincing. However, I remain optimistic about the success of _Avowed_, which might deliver the deep, choice-driven RPG experience so eagerly sought by many since the letdown of _Dragon Age: The Veilguard_. Regrettably, I won’t be buying the game for $95 or $69.99 upon release, whether physically in a box or digitally. Instead, I’ll wait to grab it when it potentially comes to the PS5. If there is indeed a genuine physical version available.

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2025-02-12 19:37