Will Gamers Own Their Video Games in the Future?

In the early days of gaming, owning a video game was simple: you bought a cartridge or a disc, and it was yours. Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. With the rise of digital distribution, cloud gaming, and subscription services, the question of whether gamers will truly own their video games in the future is more complicated than ever.

The Shift Toward Digital and Subscription Models

Over the past decade, the gaming industry has steadily moved away from physical media. According to industry reports, over 90% of video game sales are now digital. Platforms like Steam, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and the Nintendo eShop have made it easier than ever to download games instantly. Meanwhile, subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW are reshaping how players access content.

While these models offer convenience and cost-efficiency, they come with trade-offs. With digital downloads, players often don't own the game in a traditional sense—they're purchasing a license to access the software under certain terms. This means that access to a game can be revoked, altered, or discontinued by the publisher at any time.

Ownership vs. Access

This raises a critical distinction: ownership versus access. When you buy a physical game, you own a tangible copy that you can sell, lend, or keep indefinitely. With digital games, particularly those tied to online accounts or DRM (Digital Rights Management), your access can be contingent on factors like server availability, account standing, and publisher decisions.

For example, if a digital storefront shuts down—as was nearly the case with Sony's plans to close the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita stores—gamers can lose access to titles they've already paid for. Additionally, games can be removed from platforms due to licensing issues or policy changes, leaving users unable to redownload them.

The Role of Cloud Gaming

Cloud gaming takes this one step further by removing local downloads altogether. Services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW stream games directly to users’ devices. While this offers unprecedented flexibility, it also cements a model in which gamers never truly own the software—they’re essentially renting access for as long as they pay and the service remains operational.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

From a legal standpoint, the software industry has long argued that users don’t buy games—they buy licenses. This legal framework gives publishers significant control over how games are distributed and accessed. Consumer advocates argue that this undermines users’ rights, especially when games are removed without refund or warning.

Moreover, this model affects preservation. Without physical copies, future generations may find it difficult—or impossible—to access classic games, many of which are already disappearing from digital storefronts.

The Rise of NFTs and Decentralized Gaming?

Some proponents of blockchain technology and NFTs (non-fungible tokens) believe these innovations could restore ownership to players by allowing them to buy, sell, and trade in-game assets independently of publishers. However, this space remains speculative and controversial, with concerns about environmental impact, regulation, and actual utility.

So, Will Gamers Own Their Games in the Future?

The short answer: probably not in the traditional sense.

The industry is clearly trending toward service-based models where access is prioritized over ownership. While physical copies and DRM-free platforms like GOG.com still offer alternatives, they represent a shrinking slice of the market.

Still, gamer demand for ownership, preservation, and consumer rights could influence the future. Developers and publishers who recognize and respect those values may find a loyal audience willing to support more ownership-friendly models.

For now, the best approach for gamers is to stay informed, support platforms that align with their values, and recognize that the concept of "owning" a video game is evolving—just like the games themselves.