Battlefield 1's PC Release Will be Digital-Only

[Steven Bogos]

Battlefield 1's PC Release Will be Digital-Only

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All three people who still buy PC games on discs will no doubt be dismayed.

In a move that very clearly illustrates the explosive growth of digital storefronts in the PC gaming space, Battlefield 1 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/battlefield%201?os=%20battlefield%201]'s PC version will exclusively be available as a download, and will not have a physical disc version. EA Games confirmed the move today, stating that copies of the game sold in brick-and-mortar stores like GameStop will simply be a box with a download code included inside.

However, an EA rep did state that while there will be no Battlefield 1 PC discs in North America, some international versions of the game will offer a disc inside. He neglected to elaborate which countries in particular.

This applies to both the standard and "digital deluxe" edition of the game. If you're wondering about the super fancy "collector's edition", well, the bad news is that it's exclusive to the PS4 and Xbox One, and won't have a PC release.

While obviously not great news for those of you with poor internet connections, the nature of online shooters like Battlefield these days is that they have rather large day 1 patches and DLC, which means that even if you get a disc you are still usually stuck downloading 10 GB of patches before you can play.

Source: PC Gamer [http://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-1-will-be-digital-only-on-pc-in-north-america/]

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[thewatergamer]

I still think this is a shitty practice, but when it comes to a game that you play solely for the multiplayer...yeah I can't get too pissed off

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Well, it's a good thing that America is the world's leading nation in broadband, with nobody stuck on dialup, low-bandwidth DSL or metered connections!

...oh, wait....

 

[Xan Krieger]

And then to further shoot the game in the foot they'll release it on Origin to make sure they have the smallest customer base possible.

 

[The Enquirer]

I still think this is a shitty practice, but when it comes to a game that you play solely for the multiplayer...yeah I can't get too pissed off

I can still get plenty pissed off. Being forced to dl a game this size could rack up huge bills for some.

I can definitely see why EA is doing this though since they've got the exact logistics on how many digital copies vs physical copies are bought. It may not make financial sense for them to continue supply lines with distributors when they've got a platform immediately available to them where they get 100% of the profits between manufacturing costs and shipping costs.

 

[Brian Tams]

And this is me, EA, flipping you off.

 

[Packadurm]

Hey Steven,

See this article written by your colleague? http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167416-No-Disc-Version-of-Battlefield-1-PC-in-North-America

I don't know why you had to post a separate article that says the same thing, only in a more condescending way to those of us who still like boxes with discs on our shelves, but thanks I guess.

 

[distortedreality]

Hey Steven,

See this article written by your colleague? http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167416-No-Disc-Version-of-Battlefield-1-PC-in-North-America

I don't know why you had to post a separate article that says the same thing, only in a more condescending way to those of us who still like boxes with discs on our shelves, but thanks I guess.

He might be on really slow internet and couldn't afford to use the bandwidth to check if anyone else had posted a story?

 

[RedRockRun]

Meh, it doesn't affect me too much. As much as I can't stand having Origin, Steam, and GoG Galaxy all at once, it's not a deal breaker.

 

[Something Amyss]

You know, took me a minute to remember why this was an issue. I've bought one physical PC disc in the last fifteen years.

Well, it's a good thing that America is the world's leading nation in broadband, with nobody stuck on dialup, low-bandwidth DSL or metered connections!

...oh, wait....

My PS4 has like 18 updates every time I turn it on. Steam always seems to have a new patch for one of my games.

I'm not sure this is the part that's the problem, TBH.

 

[totheendofsin]

Hey Steven,

See this article written by your colleague? http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167416-No-Disc-Version-of-Battlefield-1-PC-in-North-America

I don't know why you had to post a separate article that says the same thing, only in a more condescending way to those of us who still like boxes with discs on our shelves, but thanks I guess.

I was confused because I had sworn I saw this story on the site before, I don't think it's the first time this has happened either

Anyway as sucky as this is I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner. I mean digital distribution probably makes more money on pc so it was only a matter of time before some AAA company decided to cut costs by ditching the physical pc launch altogether

 

[Timedraven 117]

This is not surprising and honestly, I can't see anyone really complaining about it. TBH, I've not bought a PC game in stores since i got Company of Heroes, which i then re-bought on steam because CoH refused to download the updates for the disc version.

I'm a big proponent of Console always having discs, but for my PC its simply more convenient to buy on steam or something.

 

[Ryallen]

People still bought disks? No, really, companies still made PC disks?

 

[Strazdas]

Well it had to happen some time, may as well be EA to push for it. Still they are selling on retail stores anyway, just the steam key things, which still gives profit to assholes like GameStop.

Well, it's a good thing that America is the world's leading nation in broadband, with nobody stuck on dialup, low-bandwidth DSL or metered connections!

...oh, wait....

Hardly EAs fault that US internet service providers think its still the 90s.

I can still get plenty pissed off. Being forced to dl a game this size could rack up huge bills for some.

How? And before you respond, no, data caps are not an excuse, data caps should not exist in the first place.

People still bought disks? No, really, companies still made PC disks?

In 2013 the states were 3% physical copies income.

 

[Squilookle]

Hey Steven,

See this article written by your colleague? http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167416-No-Disc-Version-of-Battlefield-1-PC-in-North-America

I don't know why you had to post a separate article that says the same thing, only in a more condescending way to those of us who still like boxes with discs on our shelves, but thanks I guess.

Couldn't have said it better. The other article was way more informative and helpful.

 

[The Enquirer]

How? And before you respond, no, data caps are not an excuse, data caps should not exist in the first place.

Regardless whether or not something shouldn't exist or not doesn't change the fact that it does. So it's a completely viable reason here.

 

[Strazdas]

How? And before you respond, no, data caps are not an excuse, data caps should not exist in the first place.

Regardless whether or not something shouldn't exist or not doesn't change the fact that it does. So it's a completely viable reason here.

No, its not a viable reason. Just because there is a few people still stuck with internet from the 90s does not mean the company is at fault. Even with datacaps, a single game download wont matter. Data caps are in hundreds of gygabytes anyway.

 

[The Enquirer]

How? And before you respond, no, data caps are not an excuse, data caps should not exist in the first place.

Regardless whether or not something shouldn't exist or not doesn't change the fact that it does. So it's a completely viable reason here.

No, its not a viable reason. Just because there is a few people still stuck with internet from the 90s does not mean the company is at fault. Even with datacaps, a single game download wont matter. Data caps are in hundreds of gygabytes anyway.

Except that isn't actually the case. In the US that may be true however in many places outside of the US, data caps are significantly smaller and much more common.