PlayStation games that show why physical copies still matter

It feels like every other week we're faced with a video game delisting or a major change in the industry, and with the end of physical discs in 2028 and the announcement of the impending closure of PS3/Vita stores, another wave of titles will be unavailable forever. In the case of some games, the lack of physical copies means that when stores like these close, access is gone forever.

Also, there's often very little that can be done to reverse these decisions, as they can come from publishers, developers or even PlayStation directly, making digital-only products all the more unpleasant to own. In many ways, these games show exactly why physical copies are so important and why the future of games 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.

Little Big Planet 3

One of Sony's strongest IP addresses

Details:

• Delisted a decade after release

• One of Sony's strongest exclusive IPs

Little Big Planet 3 showed that even games published by PlayStation are not immune to disappearing from digital storefronts. You play as Sackboy again, but this time you get to switch between several adorable creatures, each with their own abilities and tools to help you navigate the progressively complex stages.

After years of server issues and changes to the franchise, Sony eventually removed 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 lost entirely, and if you still want to experience one of the best modern puzzle platformers out there, I suggest you look for a copy to relive some of the whimsy and wonder.

Deadpool

Mercen With A Mouth

Details:

• Delisted after the license agreements expired

• Used copies are quite hard to come by for a low price

Deadpool is one of the clearest examples of licenses affecting game management. Activision's Marvel license eventually expired, forcing the publisher to pull the game from digital storefronts despite a loyal following and continued demand from fans who widely hailed it as a true homage to the foul-mouthed anti-hero.

Physical copies have managed to avoid that uncertainty entirely, but due to the game's relative popularity, getting your hands on one is certainly easier said than done. Still, I'd argue that being able to shoot, cut, and talk your way through the adventure whenever you want is much better than having the story end forever, even if it means shelling out a few extra bucks.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The publishing rights strike again

Details:

• Another victim of superhero rights expires

• Still a pretty great Spider-Man game

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

From a gameplay standpoint, it's obviously a step back from recent releases, but free-roaming feels pretty good, and it manages to make you feel pretty close to the sensation of flying weightlessly over an entire city. For those waiting for the next Insomniac game to be released, I see no reason why you can't get the same kind of rush here, provided you're willing to get that disc sent in.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 isn't considered a good game by any means, but whether or not it should still be available is ultimately irrelevant.

Develop

Pure asymmetrical carnage

Details:

• Unique PvP concept

• Large fan following even after closing

Develop is a name many people will know all too well; when the game released it felt like we were experiencing something genuinely unique for the first time in a while. The innovative 4v1 multiplayer formula grabbed players instantly, and millions of copies were sold overnight, but due to some questionable internal decisions and a general decline in interest, it proved difficult to maintain a healthy player base long term.

Develop was quickly taken offline, then brought back, only to die again, with the lights off making the whole point of the game almost completely unplayable. Although multiplayer is lost, physical copies preserve 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 monstrous rush.

Driving Club

Even exclusive products can run out

Details:

• First party racing game with a lot of promise

• Everything from music to cars was licensed

Driving Club was launched into the motorsport scene and showcases exceptional weather effects, immaculate car models and a perfect balance of arcade fun and simulator handling, cementing it as a real contender for the best racing game of the era. The problem is that when you license specific car models and music, unless you keep paying those high dollar amounts, it will eventually crash.

That's exactly what happened, and although it took a while, the game was pulled from stores and limited to physical copies only. What it does mean, though, is that racing fanatics can still access a top-notch racing game that holds up today, even if it was digitally erased forever.