I’ve often wondered this. With the sheer volume of titles on modern consoles, is it even possible to have a complete collection of the library? Especially with something like the Switch, where there are also a shit ton of shovelware titles out there, not only digital but physical shovelware as well from Limited Run Games.
Part of me thinks it’s not going to happen, and the other part of me knows that I’m probably severely underestimating collectors’ skills, resources, and obsession.
The issue with PS4/Xbox/Switch library is a certain number physical games won’t work here in 10 years because they need a online account. Another issue are the games that have day 1 patches that fix big issues. I imagine that there will still be a collectors market though. Jut not complete collections.
From my perspective, the Switch has been collectable since it launched, LOL.I think digital store only titles really muddy the waters in terms of completionist collecting. I don’t see any reason why people interested in collecting wouldn’t also collect PS4/Xbox/Switch games though. To me the more pressing question is, what will happen to retro collecting when consoles stop having physical releases? Kids growing up in that time period won’t get the joy of returning to childhood favorites by getting a working console and physical games. That makes me sad, I my self have had a blast putting together a collection of my favorite Genesis and PS1 games along with a lot of consoles from that era.
The biggest issue imho is digital-only games that have been delisted. I’m not to worried about people not being able to play them to relieve memories since pirating them will probably be easy enough. But pirating does defeat the whole point of collecting I assume. I guess people can still assemble a full collection of physical releases only. IDK how collectors of the 3DS are doing it right now after the closure of the digital store, for example.
That hits on an important point, a lot of the games I adored as a kid are very much playable on new platforms legally if I want to. But I find playing games on the original hardware to be fun, and it just feels different. The perfect example is when I wanted to reply Castlevania Symphony of the Night, I found it for a reasonable price for PS1 and played through on the original hardware. The D-Pad’s on PS1 were made different then how they make D-Pads now on modern controllers, so my experience felt just like it did when I played it in the 90’s.
With the release of Diablo 4, that also brings up the point that games are increasingly requiring “always on” connections to play. If they take down those servers, those types of games won’t be playable in a retro collection situation either.
This reminds me to the completionist video (using mlem, don’t know how to link videos) where he’s trying to get the complete 3ds and Wii U libraries and all the hoops he had to jump in order to complete them.
The thing is that even though there will be probably some that will try to achieve a complete collection for these consoles, how many of these games will be unplayable due to not connecting to servers? Modern gaming is in a very sad state…
This reminds me to the completionist video (using mlem, don’t know how to link videos) where he’s trying to get the complete 3ds and Wii U libraries and all the hoops he had to jump in order to complete them.
The thing is that even though there will be probably some that will try to achieve a complete collection for these consoles, how many of these games will be unplayable due to not connecting to servers? Modern gaming is in a very sad state…
