PlayStation games that show why physical copies still matter

It seems like every other week we're faced with another delisting of video games or a major change in the industry and physical discs stopping in 2028 and announcements of impending PS3/Vita store closures, the next wave of titles being unavailable forever. For some games, the lack of physical copies means that when stores like these close, access is gone forever.

Furthermore, there's often very little that can be done to reverse these decisions, as they can come directly from publishers, developers or even PlayStation, making digital-only ownership all the more difficult. In many ways, these games show exactly why physical copies are so important, and why the future of gaming looks all the more bleak as our connection to games grows thinner and thinner.

We'll highlight games that are still available just because they have physical copies, not digital-only PS3 games that will soon be unavailable.

LittleBigPlanet 3

One of Sony's strongest IPs

Details:

• Ten removed after release

• One of Sony's strongest exclusive IPs

LittleBigPlanet 3 have shown that even PlayStation-published games are not immune to disappearing from digital stores. You're playing as Sackboy again, but this time you'll be able to switch between several adorable creatures, each with their own abilities and tools to help you navigate through progressively more complex stages.

After years of server issues and changes surrounding the franchise, Sony eventually pulled the game from digital sales, ending the ability for new players to purchase it through the PlayStation Store. Fortunately, the physical release of the game ensured that it wasn't completely lost, and if you still want to experience one of the best modern puzzle platformers, then I recommend finding a copy to relive some of the whimsy and wonder.

Deadpool

Merc With Mouth

Details:

• Removed after license agreements expire

• Second-hand copies are quite hard to find at a low price

Deadpool is one of the clearest examples of licensing affecting wildlife conservation. Activision's Marvel license eventually expired, forcing the publisher to remove the game from digital stores despite a loyal following and continued demand from fans who universally praised it as a true homage to the villainous anti-hero.

Physical copies have managed to avoid this uncertainty entirely, but given the game's relative popularity, it's certainly easier to get than to make. Still, I'd argue that it's much better to be able to shoot, slice, and talk your way through the adventure whenever you feel like it than to have the story closed forever, even if it means shelling out a few extra bucks.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Publishing rights strike again

Details:

• Another victim of the expiration of superhero rights

• Still a pretty stellar Spider-Man game

All superhero games seem to suffer the same fate and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 falls into the same category as several other Activision games from Marvel. Once the deal ends, the game will be removed from stores, leaving no official way for new players to purchase it digitally, making physical copies all the more valuable.

In terms of gameplay, it's obviously a step back from the latest versions, but the free movement is pretty cool and makes you feel pretty close to the feeling of flying weightlessly across the city. For those waiting for the next Insomniac game to drop, I see no reason why you can't have the same kind of rush here, provided you're willing to get that disc shipped.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 it's not considered a great game by any means, but that's ultimately irrelevant to whether it should still be accessible or not.

Develop

Pure asymmetric carnage

Details:

• Unique PvP concept

• The huge fan keeps watching even after it's closed

Develop is a name that will be all too familiar to many people; when the game dropped, it felt like we were experiencing something truly unique for the first time in a while. The innovative 4v1 multiplayer formula immediately caught the attention of players and sold millions of copies overnight, yet due to some questionable internal decisions and a general decline in interest, maintaining a healthy player base proved difficult in the long term.

Develop he was quickly taken offline, then brought back, only to die again with the lights off, making the whole point of the game almost completely inaccessible. While multiplayer is lost, physical copies retain the parts of the game that remain playable, and there are ways to play with others, both online and offline, if you're still looking for that monster rush.

Driveclub

Even exclusives can run out of time

Details:

• A first party racing game with a lot of promise

• Everything from music to cars was licensed

Driveclub entered the motorsport scene, showcasing exceptional weather effects, pristine car models, and the perfect balance between arcade fun and simulator controls, making it a real contender for the best racing game of its era. The problem is that when you license specific car models and music, if you don't keep paying those high sums, eventually it all comes crashing down.

That's exactly what happened, and although it took a while, the game was pulled from stores and limited to physical copies only. However, this means that racing fanatics still have access to a top-notch racing game that still holds up today, even if it's been digitally erased forever.