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More than a decade later, the team behind N++ is back with a multiplayer sequelBack in 2015, the two-person studio Metanet released N++, a brutally hard 2D platformer that was a decade in the making, building off of previous releases dating back to the freeware Flash title N. At the time, cofounder Raigan Burns issued some famous last words: “We hope it’s not another 10 years before we come up with a game.” But now here we are, more than a decade later, and N is getting another sequel. And this time the focus is on multiplayer.The new game is called, absurdly, N Plus Infinity Times Two. Whereas N++ was meant to be the ultimate single-player version of the N concept, this game is described as “the ultimate virtual couch party game with a low skill floor and no skill ceiling.” That means the same slick, acrobatic platforming action and gorgeous graphic design-inspired visuals, but now built around playing competitively or cooperatively with pals across a handful of different modes. It’s launching on the PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC at some point in 2027.The duo at Metanet was up to a few different things over the last 11 years. In addition to uprooting from Toronto to Montreal, they’ve been prototyping ideas for a few potentially bigger projects, and last year released a 10-year anniversary update for N++. But then, “We started getting the ‘let’s take another crack at it’ bug in 2022,” Burns tells The Verge.The studio operates in an unusual way, at least compared to most of the game industry. Despite having two hits in N+ and N++, Metanet hasn’t grown or scaled up in any way. And the reason comes down to the way they make games: It simply takes a lot of time to find a game idea that’s worth pursuing as a commercial project. “We’ve resisted doing something that would compromise our ability to keep iterating and prototyping until something good shows up,” says Burns.“It’s important to feel that magic,” cofounder Mare Sheppard adds. “That’s what’s compelling about making games. That’s when we know that we’re doing it in a way that’s right for us.” Burns has a clear analogy for how they work: “We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.” This philosophy seems especially prescient given the state of the games industry, where even the biggest hits operate in a way that’s clearly unsustainable.“We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.”In the case of N Plus Infinity Times Two — unfortunately I can’t think of a good way to shorten that title — the spark came in part from watching how younger players interact with games. Even when they’re playing solo, kids are typically still chatting with friends on their phones, essentially turning everything into a multiplayer experience. Burns and Sheppard wanted to find a way to marry that idea with the couch co-op experiences they grew up on, which led to revisiting the N concept but with a multiplayer spin.The two describe making N++ as a grueling experience. If you think the game’s levels are hard, just imagine having to playtest them over and over. Part of the excitement about N Plus Infinity Times Two wasn’t just finding a spin on the formula that would be fun to play, but also to develop. “This one really feels like we’re having fun,” says Burns. “We’re really fluent in this one instrument. So now the fun challenge becomes playing new styles of music we’ve never played before, but with this thing we’re really comfortable with.”Image: Metanet SoftwareAs creative industries from games to Hollywood become increasingly homogenous, Burns also believes that there’s something important about doing work that’s distinct, even if it means revisiting a previous idea, like through the multiple versions of N. It’s similar to titles like Hades II and Silksong: indie-developed sequels that iterated a core concept, but with a fresh angle that made them more than a by-the-numbers follow-up. “Being yourself is more fun and exciting anyways,” Burns explains. “But I honestly think it’s more commercially viable to do something only you can do, because then you have no competition.”As for what’s next after N Plus Infinity Times Two, the pair obviously aren’t revealing anything just yet. There are a few bigger 3D game ideas kicking around, but those would necessitate some of that scaling up that the studio has so far avoided. What they won’t close the door on, however, is coming back to the idea of N again at some point in the future.“If we can do something that expresses something new, or lets us see things in a different way, or we get a different perspective on what this game is or how to play it, that’s exciting,” says Sheppard. “I think we no longer think this is definitively going to be the last one. We’ve abandoned that idea. It doesn’t have to be.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterSenior entertainment editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew WebsterEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingInterviewCloseInterviewPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All InterviewReportCloseReportPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Report#decade #team #multiplayer #sequelEntertainment,Gaming,Interview,Report

More than a decade later, the team behind N++ is back with a multiplayer sequel

Back in 2015, the two-person studio Metanet released N++, a brutally hard 2D platformer that was a decade in the making, building off of previous releases dating back to the freeware Flash title N. At the time, cofounder Raigan Burns issued some famous last words: “We hope it’s not another 10 years before we come up with a game.” But now here we are, more than a decade later, and N is getting another sequel. And this time the focus is on multiplayer.

The new game is called, absurdly, N Plus Infinity Times Two. Whereas N++ was meant to be the ultimate single-player version of the N concept, this game is described as “the ultimate virtual couch party game with a low skill floor and no skill ceiling.” That means the same slick, acrobatic platforming action and gorgeous graphic design-inspired visuals, but now built around playing competitively or cooperatively with pals across a handful of different modes. It’s launching on the PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC at some point in 2027.

The duo at Metanet was up to a few different things over the last 11 years. In addition to uprooting from Toronto to Montreal, they’ve been prototyping ideas for a few potentially bigger projects, and last year released a 10-year anniversary update for N++. But then, “We started getting the ‘let’s take another crack at it’ bug in 2022,” Burns tells The Verge.

The studio operates in an unusual way, at least compared to most of the game industry. Despite having two hits in N+ and N++, Metanet hasn’t grown or scaled up in any way. And the reason comes down to the way they make games: It simply takes a lot of time to find a game idea that’s worth pursuing as a commercial project. “We’ve resisted doing something that would compromise our ability to keep iterating and prototyping until something good shows up,” says Burns.

“It’s important to feel that magic,” cofounder Mare Sheppard adds. “That’s what’s compelling about making games. That’s when we know that we’re doing it in a way that’s right for us.” Burns has a clear analogy for how they work: “We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.” This philosophy seems especially prescient given the state of the games industry, where even the biggest hits operate in a way that’s clearly unsustainable.

“We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.”

In the case of N Plus Infinity Times Two — unfortunately I can’t think of a good way to shorten that title — the spark came in part from watching how younger players interact with games. Even when they’re playing solo, kids are typically still chatting with friends on their phones, essentially turning everything into a multiplayer experience. Burns and Sheppard wanted to find a way to marry that idea with the couch co-op experiences they grew up on, which led to revisiting the N concept but with a multiplayer spin.

The two describe making N++ as a grueling experience. If you think the game’s levels are hard, just imagine having to playtest them over and over. Part of the excitement about N Plus Infinity Times Two wasn’t just finding a spin on the formula that would be fun to play, but also to develop. “This one really feels like we’re having fun,” says Burns. “We’re really fluent in this one instrument. So now the fun challenge becomes playing new styles of music we’ve never played before, but with this thing we’re really comfortable with.”

A screenshot from the video game N Plus Infinity Times Two.

Image: Metanet Software

As creative industries from games to Hollywood become increasingly homogenous, Burns also believes that there’s something important about doing work that’s distinct, even if it means revisiting a previous idea, like through the multiple versions of N. It’s similar to titles like Hades II and Silksong: indie-developed sequels that iterated a core concept, but with a fresh angle that made them more than a by-the-numbers follow-up. “Being yourself is more fun and exciting anyways,” Burns explains. “But I honestly think it’s more commercially viable to do something only you can do, because then you have no competition.”

As for what’s next after N Plus Infinity Times Two, the pair obviously aren’t revealing anything just yet. There are a few bigger 3D game ideas kicking around, but those would necessitate some of that scaling up that the studio has so far avoided. What they won’t close the door on, however, is coming back to the idea of N again at some point in the future.

“If we can do something that expresses something new, or lets us see things in a different way, or we get a different perspective on what this game is or how to play it, that’s exciting,” says Sheppard. “I think we no longer think this is definitively going to be the last one. We’ve abandoned that idea. It doesn’t have to be.”

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Back in 2015, the two-person studio Metanet released N++, a brutally hard 2D platformer that was a decade in the making, building off of previous releases dating back to the freeware Flash title N. At the time, cofounder Raigan Burns issued some famous last words: “We hope it’s not another 10 years before we come up with a game.” But now here we are, more than a decade later, and N is getting another sequel. And this time the focus is on multiplayer.

The new game is called, absurdly, N Plus Infinity Times Two. Whereas N++ was meant to be the ultimate single-player version of the N concept, this game is described as “the ultimate virtual couch party game with a low skill floor and no skill ceiling.” That means the same slick, acrobatic platforming action and gorgeous graphic design-inspired visuals, but now built around playing competitively or cooperatively with pals across a handful of different modes. It’s launching on the PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC at some point in 2027.

The duo at Metanet was up to a few different things over the last 11 years. In addition to uprooting from Toronto to Montreal, they’ve been prototyping ideas for a few potentially bigger projects, and last year released a 10-year anniversary update for N++. But then, “We started getting the ‘let’s take another crack at it’ bug in 2022,” Burns tells The Verge.

The studio operates in an unusual way, at least compared to most of the game industry. Despite having two hits in N+ and N++, Metanet hasn’t grown or scaled up in any way. And the reason comes down to the way they make games: It simply takes a lot of time to find a game idea that’s worth pursuing as a commercial project. “We’ve resisted doing something that would compromise our ability to keep iterating and prototyping until something good shows up,” says Burns.

“It’s important to feel that magic,” cofounder Mare Sheppard adds. “That’s what’s compelling about making games. That’s when we know that we’re doing it in a way that’s right for us.” Burns has a clear analogy for how they work: “We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.” This philosophy seems especially prescient given the state of the games industry, where even the biggest hits operate in a way that’s clearly unsustainable.

“We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.”

In the case of N Plus Infinity Times Two — unfortunately I can’t think of a good way to shorten that title — the spark came in part from watching how younger players interact with games. Even when they’re playing solo, kids are typically still chatting with friends on their phones, essentially turning everything into a multiplayer experience. Burns and Sheppard wanted to find a way to marry that idea with the couch co-op experiences they grew up on, which led to revisiting the N concept but with a multiplayer spin.

The two describe making N++ as a grueling experience. If you think the game’s levels are hard, just imagine having to playtest them over and over. Part of the excitement about N Plus Infinity Times Two wasn’t just finding a spin on the formula that would be fun to play, but also to develop. “This one really feels like we’re having fun,” says Burns. “We’re really fluent in this one instrument. So now the fun challenge becomes playing new styles of music we’ve never played before, but with this thing we’re really comfortable with.”

Image: Metanet Software

As creative industries from games to Hollywood become increasingly homogenous, Burns also believes that there’s something important about doing work that’s distinct, even if it means revisiting a previous idea, like through the multiple versions of N. It’s similar to titles like Hades II and Silksong: indie-developed sequels that iterated a core concept, but with a fresh angle that made them more than a by-the-numbers follow-up. “Being yourself is more fun and exciting anyways,” Burns explains. “But I honestly think it’s more commercially viable to do something only you can do, because then you have no competition.”

As for what’s next after N Plus Infinity Times Two, the pair obviously aren’t revealing anything just yet. There are a few bigger 3D game ideas kicking around, but those would necessitate some of that scaling up that the studio has so far avoided. What they won’t close the door on, however, is coming back to the idea of N again at some point in the future.

“If we can do something that expresses something new, or lets us see things in a different way, or we get a different perspective on what this game is or how to play it, that’s exciting,” says Sheppard. “I think we no longer think this is definitively going to be the last one. We’ve abandoned that idea. It doesn’t have to be.”

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This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on video games and physical media, follow Jay Peters. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.

As a kid, I relished trips to Best Buy, GameStop, and the nearby mall so that I could browse video games. I loved sifting through games and chatting with my friends at the store about upcoming releases. On the lucky days I actually got a new game from the store, I treasured reading through every page of the manual on the drive home. Over the years, I built up a collection of games that I was proud of.

That was a long time ago. Shortly after college, I sold my collection of older games and hardware because I wasn’t using them and wanted the money for other things. (Probably weekends out.) Starting with the Nintendo Switch in 2017, I started buying games digitally because it was easier to just download stuff, and I wouldn’t have to accumulate physical game cases. Now, I don’t own any physical games: My Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam libraries are all digital.

I’m not the only player who has moved to mostly digital games. Digital libraries are increasingly convenient, especially as console makers have made efforts to keep backwards compatibility across generations. Some players can’t play physical games at all, as PlayStation and Xbox launched the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles with all-digital console options that were cheaper than the versions with disc drives. On PC, digital libraries through platforms like Steam have been the reality for quite some time. Capcom, one of the biggest publishers around, reported that an astounding 93 percent of its game sales were for digital copies in its last fiscal year — a figure that it expects will rise to 95.4 percent over the fiscal year. Many of the most popular games are only available digitally, like Roblox and Fortnite.

For better or worse, video game players overwhelmingly buy and play digital games. But in the span of a week, two industry giants put nails in the coffin of physical games — or perhaps even poured concrete into the grave.

On June 24th, Rockstar Games finally put a price tag on Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of its scheduled November 19th release on PS5 and Xbox Series X / S: $79.99 for the base edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition. The prices themselves weren’t too unexpected, as even Nintendo has dabbled with $79.99 games for its biggest titles. But what was more shocking was something buried in Rockstar’s post: The physical version of the game won’t have a disc, instead containing a download code in the box.

The announcement was a worrying sign for physical games. Selling games as codes in a box isn’t a new concept, but GTA VI will be the biggest game to do it so far. Rockstar’s choice could push more publishers to do the same for their future titles. By making the game only available on digital storefronts, players can’t easily share it with a friend or sell the game when they’re done with it.

It’s also becoming increasingly clear you can’t rely on digital storefronts. Titles can get pulled for things like licensing or the store closing down. This may not be a problem for GTA VI, as Rockstar will almost certainly make sure the game is easily available on many digital platforms for the foreseeable future, especially if it wants to give the game the same kind of legs as the 13-year-old GTA V. But with digital storefronts, you also have to hope that you aren’t locked out of your account, even by mistake, and lose access to your games. (In 2023, some PlayStation users were unexpectedly banned through no fault of their own, though Sony eventually restored access to their accounts.)

Speaking of PlayStation, just days after Rockstar’s news, Sony dropped an even bigger bomb: It announced that, starting January 2028, it would not make physical discs for any new PlayStation games.

The decision led to widespread criticism online. Sony and PlayStation got yelled at everywhere online, as Kotaku reported, and the PlayStation account didn’t make a new tweet until six days after its announcement about dropping discs. The comments section of Sony’s famous 2013 PS4 game sharing ad where one person just hands a disc to another — an ad made after Xbox announced restrictive DRM plans for the Xbox One — is filled with new comments taking jabs at Sony. Heck, Sony itself showed why killing discs is a terrible idea by, on the same day as the disc news, saying that it would be closing the digital stores for the PS3 and the PS Vita.

Sony’s announcement also drew criticism from retailers and games preservationists. “This is unfortunate news for those who still prefer buying games on physical media, and is certainly a significant hit to consumer rights, the resale market, and game creators whose businesses rely on the physical market,” said Frank Cifaldi, executive director of the Video Game History Foundation.

Sony’s own statement was clear as to why it’s making the change. “This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” Sony said in its announcement. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.” The company’s numbers prove it, too: In the fourth quarter of its 2025 fiscal year, Sony reported that the “Full game software digital download ratio” of games on PS4 and PS5 was 85 percent.

We have to see if Grand Theft Auto VI actually releases on November 19th and if it will ever come out on disc. Despite two major delays, it seems likely the game will at least launch as planned, especially because Rockstar gave the game a price and is pushing preorders.

We’ll also have to see what Microsoft and Nintendo might do. Xbox hasn’t announced what it’s thinking about for discs for Project Helix, its next generation console, but The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that Xbox will “likely soon” stop making physical discs for Xbox games. However, Warren reports that the company is testing a feature that would let you digitize your physical game collection.

Nintendo will probably stick with physical games for a while. According to its last fiscal year report, digital makes up 54.6 percent of game sales, so physical is still a big part of its business. The Switch 2 is also only a year old, and it seems extremely unlikely that Nintendo would stop making physical games for hardware it will be supporting for a long time to come. However, with the Switch 2, Nintendo gives developers the option to sell game-key cards, which are physical carts you can borrow and resell but don’t actually have a game’s data on them. Instead, they serve as keys to let you download a game to your system.

Game stores and preservationists also have to adjust to the fact that physical games are going to be harder to come by. Cifaldi noted that museums and archives have already been preparing for this kind of future “with the expectation that putting discs on a shelf isn’t going to be a long-term solution for preserving new games.” But he called on trade groups to offer solutions to legally preserve digital content for research — efforts that the Entertainment Software Association has previously opposed. “The industry needs to meaningfully come to the table on this issue, because asking museums to download a copy of Grand Theft Auto VI and hope it’ll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution,” Cifaldi says.

Sony now has to navigate an awkward period where it’s launching new games but dealing with pushback from players wanting physical discs. While Sony has been subject to severe blowback after its announcement, it seems unlikely it will reverse course. It’s already repurposing its last PlayStation disc-making factory, after all.

  • The PS5 Pro, Sony’s top-end PlayStation, does not come with a disc drive; that costs an additional $79. Following a recent price hike that spiked the PS5 Pro’s cost to $899.99, that means a PS5 Pro with a disc drive costs nearly $1,000.
  • PlayStation’s own studios are now in the awkward spot of having to confirm that physical versions will be on disc, as Insomniac has for September’s Marvel’s Wolverine and Santa Monica Studio did for God of War Laufey. That Laufey confirmation also signals that the game, which hadn’t been given a release window, will launch before January 2028.
  • For music, physical media sales — including CDs — are reportedly on the rise.
  • Comedian Trevor Noah weighed in on PlayStation’s news, saying that “for a lot of gamers physical discs are the only way they could afford to play games because they could get them secondhand. You can also give games to your younger siblings, which is a great way to introduce them to the games you were playing.”
  • In a post titled “Sony Nerfs Videogame Ownership,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out that “Unlike other digital media like film and TV, video games require a ton of storage. Access to high speed internet is still abysmal in the US, making the high-speeds needed for digital game downloads a luxury some of us may take for granted.”
  • A day after the GTA VI news, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella posted a chart that neatly sums up what’s going on: sales of physical games peaked long ago, back in 2009.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
#future #physical #games #greatColumn,Gaming,The Stepback">The future of physical games is not looking greatThis is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on video games and physical media, follow Jay Peters. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.As a kid, I relished trips to Best Buy, GameStop, and the nearby mall so that I could browse video games. I loved sifting through games and chatting with my friends at the store about upcoming releases. On the lucky days I actually got a new game from the store, I treasured reading through every page of the manual on the drive home. Over the years, I built up a collection of games that I was proud of.That was a long time ago. Shortly after college, I sold my collection of older games and hardware because I wasn’t using them and wanted the money for other things. (Probably weekends out.) Starting with the Nintendo Switch in 2017, I started buying games digitally because it was easier to just download stuff, and I wouldn’t have to accumulate physical game cases. Now, I don’t own any physical games: My Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam libraries are all digital.I’m not the only player who has moved to mostly digital games. Digital libraries are increasingly convenient, especially as console makers have made efforts to keep backwards compatibility across generations. Some players can’t play physical games at all, as PlayStation and Xbox launched the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles with all-digital console options that were cheaper than the versions with disc drives. On PC, digital libraries through platforms like Steam have been the reality for quite some time. Capcom, one of the biggest publishers around, reported that an astounding 93 percent of its game sales were for digital copies in its last fiscal year — a figure that it expects will rise to 95.4 percent over the fiscal year. Many of the most popular games are only available digitally, like Roblox and Fortnite.For better or worse, video game players overwhelmingly buy and play digital games. But in the span of a week, two industry giants put nails in the coffin of physical games — or perhaps even poured concrete into the grave.On June 24th, Rockstar Games finally put a price tag on Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of its scheduled November 19th release on PS5 and Xbox Series X / S: .99 for the base edition and .99 for the Ultimate Edition. The prices themselves weren’t too unexpected, as even Nintendo has dabbled with .99 games for its biggest titles. But what was more shocking was something buried in Rockstar’s post: The physical version of the game won’t have a disc, instead containing a download code in the box.The announcement was a worrying sign for physical games. Selling games as codes in a box isn’t a new concept, but GTA VI will be the biggest game to do it so far. Rockstar’s choice could push more publishers to do the same for their future titles. By making the game only available on digital storefronts, players can’t easily share it with a friend or sell the game when they’re done with it.It’s also becoming increasingly clear you can’t rely on digital storefronts. Titles can get pulled for things like licensing or the store closing down. This may not be a problem for GTA VI, as Rockstar will almost certainly make sure the game is easily available on many digital platforms for the foreseeable future, especially if it wants to give the game the same kind of legs as the 13-year-old GTA V. But with digital storefronts, you also have to hope that you aren’t locked out of your account, even by mistake, and lose access to your games. (In 2023, some PlayStation users were unexpectedly banned through no fault of their own, though Sony eventually restored access to their accounts.)Speaking of PlayStation, just days after Rockstar’s news, Sony dropped an even bigger bomb: It announced that, starting January 2028, it would not make physical discs for any new PlayStation games.The decision led to widespread criticism online. Sony and PlayStation got yelled at everywhere online, as Kotaku reported, and the PlayStation account didn’t make a new tweet until six days after its announcement about dropping discs. The comments section of Sony’s famous 2013 PS4 game sharing ad where one person just hands a disc to another — an ad made after Xbox announced restrictive DRM plans for the Xbox One — is filled with new comments taking jabs at Sony. Heck, Sony itself showed why killing discs is a terrible idea by, on the same day as the disc news, saying that it would be closing the digital stores for the PS3 and the PS Vita.Sony’s announcement also drew criticism from retailers and games preservationists. “This is unfortunate news for those who still prefer buying games on physical media, and is certainly a significant hit to consumer rights, the resale market, and game creators whose businesses rely on the physical market,” said Frank Cifaldi, executive director of the Video Game History Foundation.Sony’s own statement was clear as to why it’s making the change. “This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” Sony said in its announcement. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.” The company’s numbers prove it, too: In the fourth quarter of its 2025 fiscal year, Sony reported that the “Full game software digital download ratio” of games on PS4 and PS5 was 85 percent.We have to see if Grand Theft Auto VI actually releases on November 19th and if it will ever come out on disc. Despite two major delays, it seems likely the game will at least launch as planned, especially because Rockstar gave the game a price and is pushing preorders.We’ll also have to see what Microsoft and Nintendo might do. Xbox hasn’t announced what it’s thinking about for discs for Project Helix, its next generation console, but The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that Xbox will “likely soon” stop making physical discs for Xbox games. However, Warren reports that the company is testing a feature that would let you digitize your physical game collection.Nintendo will probably stick with physical games for a while. According to its last fiscal year report, digital makes up 54.6 percent of game sales, so physical is still a big part of its business. The Switch 2 is also only a year old, and it seems extremely unlikely that Nintendo would stop making physical games for hardware it will be supporting for a long time to come. However, with the Switch 2, Nintendo gives developers the option to sell game-key cards, which are physical carts you can borrow and resell but don’t actually have a game’s data on them. Instead, they serve as keys to let you download a game to your system.Game stores and preservationists also have to adjust to the fact that physical games are going to be harder to come by. Cifaldi noted that museums and archives have already been preparing for this kind of future “with the expectation that putting discs on a shelf isn’t going to be a long-term solution for preserving new games.” But he called on trade groups to offer solutions to legally preserve digital content for research — efforts that the Entertainment Software Association has previously opposed. “The industry needs to meaningfully come to the table on this issue, because asking museums to download a copy of Grand Theft Auto VI and hope it’ll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution,” Cifaldi says.Sony now has to navigate an awkward period where it’s launching new games but dealing with pushback from players wanting physical discs. While Sony has been subject to severe blowback after its announcement, it seems unlikely it will reverse course. It’s already repurposing its last PlayStation disc-making factory, after all.The PS5 Pro, Sony’s top-end PlayStation, does not come with a disc drive; that costs an additional . Following a recent price hike that spiked the PS5 Pro’s cost to 9.99, that means a PS5 Pro with a disc drive costs nearly ,000.PlayStation’s own studios are now in the awkward spot of having to confirm that physical versions will be on disc, as Insomniac has for September’s Marvel’s Wolverine and Santa Monica Studio did for God of War Laufey. That Laufey confirmation also signals that the game, which hadn’t been given a release window, will launch before January 2028.For music, physical media sales — including CDs — are reportedly on the rise.Comedian Trevor Noah weighed in on PlayStation’s news, saying that “for a lot of gamers physical discs are the only way they could afford to play games because they could get them secondhand. You can also give games to your younger siblings, which is a great way to introduce them to the games you were playing.”In a post titled “Sony Nerfs Videogame Ownership,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out that “Unlike other digital media like film and TV, video games require a ton of storage. Access to high speed internet is still abysmal in the US, making the high-speeds needed for digital game downloads a luxury some of us may take for granted.”A day after the GTA VI news, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella posted a chart that neatly sums up what’s going on: sales of physical games peaked long ago, back in 2009.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jay PetersCloseJay PetersPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jay PetersColumnCloseColumnPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ColumnGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingThe StepbackCloseThe StepbackPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All The Stepback#future #physical #games #greatColumn,Gaming,The Stepback

The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on video games and physical media, follow Jay Peters. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.

As a kid, I relished trips to Best Buy, GameStop, and the nearby mall so that I could browse video games. I loved sifting through games and chatting with my friends at the store about upcoming releases. On the lucky days I actually got a new game from the store, I treasured reading through every page of the manual on the drive home. Over the years, I built up a collection of games that I was proud of.

That was a long time ago. Shortly after college, I sold my collection of older games and hardware because I wasn’t using them and wanted the money for other things. (Probably weekends out.) Starting with the Nintendo Switch in 2017, I started buying games digitally because it was easier to just download stuff, and I wouldn’t have to accumulate physical game cases. Now, I don’t own any physical games: My Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam libraries are all digital.

I’m not the only player who has moved to mostly digital games. Digital libraries are increasingly convenient, especially as console makers have made efforts to keep backwards compatibility across generations. Some players can’t play physical games at all, as PlayStation and Xbox launched the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles with all-digital console options that were cheaper than the versions with disc drives. On PC, digital libraries through platforms like Steam have been the reality for quite some time. Capcom, one of the biggest publishers around, reported that an astounding 93 percent of its game sales were for digital copies in its last fiscal year — a figure that it expects will rise to 95.4 percent over the fiscal year. Many of the most popular games are only available digitally, like Roblox and Fortnite.

For better or worse, video game players overwhelmingly buy and play digital games. But in the span of a week, two industry giants put nails in the coffin of physical games — or perhaps even poured concrete into the grave.

On June 24th, Rockstar Games finally put a price tag on Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of its scheduled November 19th release on PS5 and Xbox Series X / S: $79.99 for the base edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition. The prices themselves weren’t too unexpected, as even Nintendo has dabbled with $79.99 games for its biggest titles. But what was more shocking was something buried in Rockstar’s post: The physical version of the game won’t have a disc, instead containing a download code in the box.

The announcement was a worrying sign for physical games. Selling games as codes in a box isn’t a new concept, but GTA VI will be the biggest game to do it so far. Rockstar’s choice could push more publishers to do the same for their future titles. By making the game only available on digital storefronts, players can’t easily share it with a friend or sell the game when they’re done with it.

It’s also becoming increasingly clear you can’t rely on digital storefronts. Titles can get pulled for things like licensing or the store closing down. This may not be a problem for GTA VI, as Rockstar will almost certainly make sure the game is easily available on many digital platforms for the foreseeable future, especially if it wants to give the game the same kind of legs as the 13-year-old GTA V. But with digital storefronts, you also have to hope that you aren’t locked out of your account, even by mistake, and lose access to your games. (In 2023, some PlayStation users were unexpectedly banned through no fault of their own, though Sony eventually restored access to their accounts.)

Speaking of PlayStation, just days after Rockstar’s news, Sony dropped an even bigger bomb: It announced that, starting January 2028, it would not make physical discs for any new PlayStation games.

The decision led to widespread criticism online. Sony and PlayStation got yelled at everywhere online, as Kotaku reported, and the PlayStation account didn’t make a new tweet until six days after its announcement about dropping discs. The comments section of Sony’s famous 2013 PS4 game sharing ad where one person just hands a disc to another — an ad made after Xbox announced restrictive DRM plans for the Xbox One — is filled with new comments taking jabs at Sony. Heck, Sony itself showed why killing discs is a terrible idea by, on the same day as the disc news, saying that it would be closing the digital stores for the PS3 and the PS Vita.

Sony’s announcement also drew criticism from retailers and games preservationists. “This is unfortunate news for those who still prefer buying games on physical media, and is certainly a significant hit to consumer rights, the resale market, and game creators whose businesses rely on the physical market,” said Frank Cifaldi, executive director of the Video Game History Foundation.

Sony’s own statement was clear as to why it’s making the change. “This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” Sony said in its announcement. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.” The company’s numbers prove it, too: In the fourth quarter of its 2025 fiscal year, Sony reported that the “Full game software digital download ratio” of games on PS4 and PS5 was 85 percent.

We have to see if Grand Theft Auto VI actually releases on November 19th and if it will ever come out on disc. Despite two major delays, it seems likely the game will at least launch as planned, especially because Rockstar gave the game a price and is pushing preorders.

We’ll also have to see what Microsoft and Nintendo might do. Xbox hasn’t announced what it’s thinking about for discs for Project Helix, its next generation console, but The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that Xbox will “likely soon” stop making physical discs for Xbox games. However, Warren reports that the company is testing a feature that would let you digitize your physical game collection.

Nintendo will probably stick with physical games for a while. According to its last fiscal year report, digital makes up 54.6 percent of game sales, so physical is still a big part of its business. The Switch 2 is also only a year old, and it seems extremely unlikely that Nintendo would stop making physical games for hardware it will be supporting for a long time to come. However, with the Switch 2, Nintendo gives developers the option to sell game-key cards, which are physical carts you can borrow and resell but don’t actually have a game’s data on them. Instead, they serve as keys to let you download a game to your system.

Game stores and preservationists also have to adjust to the fact that physical games are going to be harder to come by. Cifaldi noted that museums and archives have already been preparing for this kind of future “with the expectation that putting discs on a shelf isn’t going to be a long-term solution for preserving new games.” But he called on trade groups to offer solutions to legally preserve digital content for research — efforts that the Entertainment Software Association has previously opposed. “The industry needs to meaningfully come to the table on this issue, because asking museums to download a copy of Grand Theft Auto VI and hope it’ll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution,” Cifaldi says.

Sony now has to navigate an awkward period where it’s launching new games but dealing with pushback from players wanting physical discs. While Sony has been subject to severe blowback after its announcement, it seems unlikely it will reverse course. It’s already repurposing its last PlayStation disc-making factory, after all.

  • The PS5 Pro, Sony’s top-end PlayStation, does not come with a disc drive; that costs an additional $79. Following a recent price hike that spiked the PS5 Pro’s cost to $899.99, that means a PS5 Pro with a disc drive costs nearly $1,000.
  • PlayStation’s own studios are now in the awkward spot of having to confirm that physical versions will be on disc, as Insomniac has for September’s Marvel’s Wolverine and Santa Monica Studio did for God of War Laufey. That Laufey confirmation also signals that the game, which hadn’t been given a release window, will launch before January 2028.
  • For music, physical media sales — including CDs — are reportedly on the rise.
  • Comedian Trevor Noah weighed in on PlayStation’s news, saying that “for a lot of gamers physical discs are the only way they could afford to play games because they could get them secondhand. You can also give games to your younger siblings, which is a great way to introduce them to the games you were playing.”
  • In a post titled “Sony Nerfs Videogame Ownership,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out that “Unlike other digital media like film and TV, video games require a ton of storage. Access to high speed internet is still abysmal in the US, making the high-speeds needed for digital game downloads a luxury some of us may take for granted.”
  • A day after the GTA VI news, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella posted a chart that neatly sums up what’s going on: sales of physical games peaked long ago, back in 2009.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

#future #physical #games #greatColumn,Gaming,The Stepback">The future of physical games is not looking great

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on video games and physical media, follow Jay Peters. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.

As a kid, I relished trips to Best Buy, GameStop, and the nearby mall so that I could browse video games. I loved sifting through games and chatting with my friends at the store about upcoming releases. On the lucky days I actually got a new game from the store, I treasured reading through every page of the manual on the drive home. Over the years, I built up a collection of games that I was proud of.

That was a long time ago. Shortly after college, I sold my collection of older games and hardware because I wasn’t using them and wanted the money for other things. (Probably weekends out.) Starting with the Nintendo Switch in 2017, I started buying games digitally because it was easier to just download stuff, and I wouldn’t have to accumulate physical game cases. Now, I don’t own any physical games: My Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam libraries are all digital.

I’m not the only player who has moved to mostly digital games. Digital libraries are increasingly convenient, especially as console makers have made efforts to keep backwards compatibility across generations. Some players can’t play physical games at all, as PlayStation and Xbox launched the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles with all-digital console options that were cheaper than the versions with disc drives. On PC, digital libraries through platforms like Steam have been the reality for quite some time. Capcom, one of the biggest publishers around, reported that an astounding 93 percent of its game sales were for digital copies in its last fiscal year — a figure that it expects will rise to 95.4 percent over the fiscal year. Many of the most popular games are only available digitally, like Roblox and Fortnite.

For better or worse, video game players overwhelmingly buy and play digital games. But in the span of a week, two industry giants put nails in the coffin of physical games — or perhaps even poured concrete into the grave.

On June 24th, Rockstar Games finally put a price tag on Grand Theft Auto VI ahead of its scheduled November 19th release on PS5 and Xbox Series X / S: $79.99 for the base edition and $99.99 for the Ultimate Edition. The prices themselves weren’t too unexpected, as even Nintendo has dabbled with $79.99 games for its biggest titles. But what was more shocking was something buried in Rockstar’s post: The physical version of the game won’t have a disc, instead containing a download code in the box.

The announcement was a worrying sign for physical games. Selling games as codes in a box isn’t a new concept, but GTA VI will be the biggest game to do it so far. Rockstar’s choice could push more publishers to do the same for their future titles. By making the game only available on digital storefronts, players can’t easily share it with a friend or sell the game when they’re done with it.

It’s also becoming increasingly clear you can’t rely on digital storefronts. Titles can get pulled for things like licensing or the store closing down. This may not be a problem for GTA VI, as Rockstar will almost certainly make sure the game is easily available on many digital platforms for the foreseeable future, especially if it wants to give the game the same kind of legs as the 13-year-old GTA V. But with digital storefronts, you also have to hope that you aren’t locked out of your account, even by mistake, and lose access to your games. (In 2023, some PlayStation users were unexpectedly banned through no fault of their own, though Sony eventually restored access to their accounts.)

Speaking of PlayStation, just days after Rockstar’s news, Sony dropped an even bigger bomb: It announced that, starting January 2028, it would not make physical discs for any new PlayStation games.

The decision led to widespread criticism online. Sony and PlayStation got yelled at everywhere online, as Kotaku reported, and the PlayStation account didn’t make a new tweet until six days after its announcement about dropping discs. The comments section of Sony’s famous 2013 PS4 game sharing ad where one person just hands a disc to another — an ad made after Xbox announced restrictive DRM plans for the Xbox One — is filled with new comments taking jabs at Sony. Heck, Sony itself showed why killing discs is a terrible idea by, on the same day as the disc news, saying that it would be closing the digital stores for the PS3 and the PS Vita.

Sony’s announcement also drew criticism from retailers and games preservationists. “This is unfortunate news for those who still prefer buying games on physical media, and is certainly a significant hit to consumer rights, the resale market, and game creators whose businesses rely on the physical market,” said Frank Cifaldi, executive director of the Video Game History Foundation.

Sony’s own statement was clear as to why it’s making the change. “This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” Sony said in its announcement. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.” The company’s numbers prove it, too: In the fourth quarter of its 2025 fiscal year, Sony reported that the “Full game software digital download ratio” of games on PS4 and PS5 was 85 percent.

We have to see if Grand Theft Auto VI actually releases on November 19th and if it will ever come out on disc. Despite two major delays, it seems likely the game will at least launch as planned, especially because Rockstar gave the game a price and is pushing preorders.

We’ll also have to see what Microsoft and Nintendo might do. Xbox hasn’t announced what it’s thinking about for discs for Project Helix, its next generation console, but The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that Xbox will “likely soon” stop making physical discs for Xbox games. However, Warren reports that the company is testing a feature that would let you digitize your physical game collection.

Nintendo will probably stick with physical games for a while. According to its last fiscal year report, digital makes up 54.6 percent of game sales, so physical is still a big part of its business. The Switch 2 is also only a year old, and it seems extremely unlikely that Nintendo would stop making physical games for hardware it will be supporting for a long time to come. However, with the Switch 2, Nintendo gives developers the option to sell game-key cards, which are physical carts you can borrow and resell but don’t actually have a game’s data on them. Instead, they serve as keys to let you download a game to your system.

Game stores and preservationists also have to adjust to the fact that physical games are going to be harder to come by. Cifaldi noted that museums and archives have already been preparing for this kind of future “with the expectation that putting discs on a shelf isn’t going to be a long-term solution for preserving new games.” But he called on trade groups to offer solutions to legally preserve digital content for research — efforts that the Entertainment Software Association has previously opposed. “The industry needs to meaningfully come to the table on this issue, because asking museums to download a copy of Grand Theft Auto VI and hope it’ll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution,” Cifaldi says.

Sony now has to navigate an awkward period where it’s launching new games but dealing with pushback from players wanting physical discs. While Sony has been subject to severe blowback after its announcement, it seems unlikely it will reverse course. It’s already repurposing its last PlayStation disc-making factory, after all.

  • The PS5 Pro, Sony’s top-end PlayStation, does not come with a disc drive; that costs an additional $79. Following a recent price hike that spiked the PS5 Pro’s cost to $899.99, that means a PS5 Pro with a disc drive costs nearly $1,000.
  • PlayStation’s own studios are now in the awkward spot of having to confirm that physical versions will be on disc, as Insomniac has for September’s Marvel’s Wolverine and Santa Monica Studio did for God of War Laufey. That Laufey confirmation also signals that the game, which hadn’t been given a release window, will launch before January 2028.
  • For music, physical media sales — including CDs — are reportedly on the rise.
  • Comedian Trevor Noah weighed in on PlayStation’s news, saying that “for a lot of gamers physical discs are the only way they could afford to play games because they could get them secondhand. You can also give games to your younger siblings, which is a great way to introduce them to the games you were playing.”
  • In a post titled “Sony Nerfs Videogame Ownership,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out that “Unlike other digital media like film and TV, video games require a ton of storage. Access to high speed internet is still abysmal in the US, making the high-speeds needed for digital game downloads a luxury some of us may take for granted.”
  • A day after the GTA VI news, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella posted a chart that neatly sums up what’s going on: sales of physical games peaked long ago, back in 2009.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
#future #physical #games #greatColumn,Gaming,The Stepback
Waymo says robotaxi service has resumed after it made “temporary adjustments” in San Francisco amidst a power outage that appears to have affected around 7,000 PG&E customers in the city.

According to a screenshot posted on social media, Waymo told SF customers that service was “temporarily paused” and that “freeway routes are unavailable.”

When TechCrunch reached out to the Alphabet-owned company for comment, a spokesperson said in a statement, “We are making temporary adjustments to our service while we monitor local conditions. We know riders depend on us, and we will return to normal operations as soon as possible.”

Following the initial publication of this article, a Waymo spokesperson added that the company “decided to pause service for approx. one hour to assess the scale of the power outage affecting a large portion of San Francisco and coordinate with local officials.”

Power outages have affected Waymo service in the past, for example when a number of Waymo vehicles stalled on city streets during a blackout in December, and when a similar incident paralyzed traffic during a Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show on the Fourth of July.

As a result, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has called for tougher state regulations to “adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents, planned or not.”

This post has been updated with additional comment from Waymo reflecting that service has resumed.

#Waymo #San #Francisco #service #resumed #onehour #pause #TechCrunchWaymo">Waymo says San Francisco service has resumed after one-hour pause | TechCrunch Waymo says robotaxi service has resumed after it made “temporary adjustments” in San Francisco amidst a power outage that appears to have affected around 7,000 PG&E customers in the city. According to a screenshot posted on social media, Waymo told SF customers that service was “temporarily paused” and that “freeway routes are unavailable.” When TechCrunch reached out to the Alphabet-owned company for comment, a spokesperson said in a statement, “We are making temporary adjustments to our service while we monitor local conditions. We know riders depend on us, and we will return to normal operations as soon as possible.” Following the initial publication of this article, a Waymo spokesperson added that the company “decided to pause service for approx. one hour to assess the scale of the power outage affecting a large portion of San Francisco and coordinate with local officials.” Power outages have affected Waymo service in the past, for example when a number of Waymo vehicles stalled on city streets during a blackout in December, and when a similar incident paralyzed traffic during a Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show on the Fourth of July. As a result, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has called for tougher state regulations to “adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents, planned or not.” This post has been updated with additional comment from Waymo reflecting that service has resumed. #Waymo #San #Francisco #service #resumed #onehour #pause #TechCrunchWaymo

affected around 7,000 PG&E customers in the city.

According to a screenshot posted on social media, Waymo told SF customers that service was “temporarily paused” and that “freeway routes are unavailable.”

When TechCrunch reached out to the Alphabet-owned company for comment, a spokesperson said in a statement, “We are making temporary adjustments to our service while we monitor local conditions. We know riders depend on us, and we will return to normal operations as soon as possible.”

Following the initial publication of this article, a Waymo spokesperson added that the company “decided to pause service for approx. one hour to assess the scale of the power outage affecting a large portion of San Francisco and coordinate with local officials.”

Power outages have affected Waymo service in the past, for example when a number of Waymo vehicles stalled on city streets during a blackout in December, and when a similar incident paralyzed traffic during a Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show on the Fourth of July.

As a result, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has called for tougher state regulations to “adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents, planned or not.”

This post has been updated with additional comment from Waymo reflecting that service has resumed.

#Waymo #San #Francisco #service #resumed #onehour #pause #TechCrunchWaymo">Waymo says San Francisco service has resumed after one-hour pause | TechCrunch

Waymo says robotaxi service has resumed after it made “temporary adjustments” in San Francisco amidst a power outage that appears to have affected around 7,000 PG&E customers in the city.

According to a screenshot posted on social media, Waymo told SF customers that service was “temporarily paused” and that “freeway routes are unavailable.”

When TechCrunch reached out to the Alphabet-owned company for comment, a spokesperson said in a statement, “We are making temporary adjustments to our service while we monitor local conditions. We know riders depend on us, and we will return to normal operations as soon as possible.”

Following the initial publication of this article, a Waymo spokesperson added that the company “decided to pause service for approx. one hour to assess the scale of the power outage affecting a large portion of San Francisco and coordinate with local officials.”

Power outages have affected Waymo service in the past, for example when a number of Waymo vehicles stalled on city streets during a blackout in December, and when a similar incident paralyzed traffic during a Golden Gate Bridge fireworks show on the Fourth of July.

As a result, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has called for tougher state regulations to “adequately address how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents, planned or not.”

This post has been updated with additional comment from Waymo reflecting that service has resumed.

#Waymo #San #Francisco #service #resumed #onehour #pause #TechCrunchWaymo
announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment.

The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.

What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?

Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch. What Does Pixel Care+ Offer? Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at per month and goes up to per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9. There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026. #Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at $8 per month and goes up to $15 per month, while two-year plans cost $159 to $279.

There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a $99 service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between $79 and $99. Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.

#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel">Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch. What Does Pixel Care+ Offer? Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at per month and goes up to per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9. There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026. #Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment.

The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.

What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?

Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch. What Does Pixel Care+ Offer? Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at per month and goes up to per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9. There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026. #Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at $8 per month and goes up to $15 per month, while two-year plans cost $159 to $279.

There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a $99 service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between $79 and $99. Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.

#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel">Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition

Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment.

The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch.

What Does Pixel Care+ Offer?

Google Reopens Pixel Care+ for Older Pixel Phones With Condition Google has announced a limited-time opportunity for eligible Pixel users to purchase Pixel Care+ even after the usual enrollment period. The company normally allows users to add the protection plan within 60 days of buying a new Pixel phone. Google has reopened Pixel Care+ enrollment for a limited time, but only for US customers. Your phone must pass Google’s condition check before enrollment. The company requires that the phone work properly and not be physically damaged. You can sign up until August 2, 2026. Compatible phones are: Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10a. The offer does not cover the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel 8 series, older Pixel devices, or Pixel Watch. What Does Pixel Care+ Offer? Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at per month and goes up to per month, while two-year plans cost 9 to 9. There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between and . Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026. #Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

Pixel Care+ offers protection beyond Google’s standard warranty. It covers accidental damage, hardware failures, and eligible repairs. Google does not charge for eligible front screen, back glass, or battery replacements. The plan also includes next-day replacement and priority support from Pixel experts. Users can add Loss and Theft Protection with a higher-tier plan. Google allows up to two loss-or-theft claims each year. Pricing starts at $8 per month and goes up to $15 per month, while two-year plans cost $159 to $279.

There are a few conditions you must meet before you can purchase Pixel Care+. Google requires your phone to pass a detailed condition inspection. The device cannot have cracked glass, liquid damage, charging issues, faulty buttons, or a swollen battery. Other accidental repairs still include a $99 service fee. Loss and Theft claims require a deductible between $79 and $99. Google does not provide this feature in New York. You must enroll before August 2, 2026.

#Google #Reopens #Pixel #Care #Older #Pixel #Phones #ConditionGoogle Pixel

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