Hello everyone!
I know based on the title it sounds confusing. But I thought of an idea for modern gaming that would be such a monumental thing for physical collectors who also like the convenience of digital gaming.
It's like the great equalizer that gives us the seemless swapping of digital games and the conveneince of an all digital library but the physical disc for those who want to own the games and trade them.
The idea is heavily inspired by the remote keyless entry of new cars. If you have a newer model car or have rented one. You may notice that you don't have to phyiscally insert the key into the car. The car actually unlocks itself once it detects that you have gotten close to it by a chip that is inside the key. Same with keyless start cars. You press a button and it knows you own the car because the key is on your person and near it.
The best way to describe it, is to think of the car as the console. and they key as the game.
Imagine each disc having a very small micro ship inside of it. Or some sort of micro chip on this disc edge. And when it is in a 50 feet proximity to the console. You can begin playing it from your digital library. Because the console will know that you do in fact own the game. But it will save you the time and annoyance of swapping discs. When you just want to lay in bed and play seemlessly. It's like accessing your entire physical collection without actually swapping the discs
. It also doesn't worry the company that 2 people will use the same game because it's impossible because it will only play with the console it is downloaded on. Each sensor will be specific to the downloaded file.
With current gen consoles, if you download a game, you still have to have the disc in the console in order to play it. If not you could easily sell your games and still play them. Only digital games can be switched seemlessly from the comfort of your couch with the UI.
But if the Xbox or PS5 could sense if the chip was near it just like the key fob, it could let you play the game with assurance that you do in fact own it as it is nearby. Same way a car lets you access it with the key even without inserting it.
I really hope we see techonology like this. Because it gives all the perks of both digital and physical collecting in one. The convenience of not having to swap a disc anytime you want to change games but also the neatness of curating a collection and haven't actual physical media to sell or trade.
Does anyone think this is a good idea?
Has it ever been tired?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.