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Why do new games sold digitally on steam cost as much as physical disks for consoles?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Jan 7, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Not sure but… steam library usually doesnt scratch, can be re-downloaded to a new hdd on a new pc, game is usually full of more goodies/customizable than a console disk blah blah. Also disks are obsolete.

143
Words

1 min
Read Time

#47
of 500 in Technology

+91%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

Not sure but… steam library usually doesnt scratch, can be re-downloaded to a new hdd on a new pc, game is usually full of more goodies/customizable than a console disk blah blah. Also disks are obsolete. I dont even have an optical drive and the only time I would have ever really needed one was installing drivers, which a wired connection got me all groovy for. I guess if you got dat crysis 1 or oblivion on disk…but really they want money too. I havent actually seen a newerish, even, game on disk for years. It is a very valid question but in my opinion I would rather pay the same price for a superior product in comparison to the console version even though I dont retain a physical copy. Unless I accidentally format my hdd afyer moving to the Yukon territory

Analysis

Key Concepts: Disk, usually, game

This explanation focuses on disk, usually, game and spans 143 words across 8 sentences. At 91% above the average Technology explanation (75 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Not sure but…” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 8 connected points.

How This Compares in Technology

Ranked #47 of 500 Technology questions by answer depth (top 10%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why new games sold digitally on steam cost as much as physical disks for consoles?

Not sure but… steam library usually doesnt scratch, can be re-downloaded to a new hdd on a new pc, game is usually full of more goodies/customizable than a console disk blah blah. Also disks are obsolete. I dont even have an optical drive and the…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Technology questions?

This is one of the most thorough answer at 143 words, ranked #47 of 500 Technology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are disk, usually, game.

What approach does this answer take to explain new games sold digitally on steam cost as much as physical d?

The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 143 words. It is categorized under Technology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.