The Wii Shop is still online. Does anyone actually bother checking facts before typing their posts?
And, as Bogus pointed out, Nintendo is the only console manufacturer that currently allows last generation digital content to be used on their current generation console.
You can't play PS3 stuff on PS4, at all, and you can't play Xbox 360 stuff on Xbox One, at all.
Sony has a slight advantage since they support crossplay depending on the title between PS3 and PSV, or PS4 and PSV ... but I haven't seen any titles that are crossplay between PS3 and PS4.
RCBH928 wrote:The disadvantage of physical copies is that consoles eventually die, and you will have to find a working replacement. Not sure how many PS3 controllers will be working in 10 years.
This would be an issue for any games on a system, physical or digital. It sounds like you're assuming a digital release automatically means it'll be usable on new hardware or something.
RCBH928 wrote:The best is the PC where all you need is an OS (which you can emulate like DOSbox) on any available computer. Also the games can be digital OR physical. I also believe PC games are much easier to mod ex.. If Phantasy Star was on PC instead of DC it probably would still have online games. (I know there is a PC release)
This is sort of true ... but you chose the worst possible example. Phantasy Star Online is still playable on PC and Dreamcast due to private servers. And PC has the same problem. Once Steam, Origin, or Uplay bite it, what happens to the games owned through them?
As far as I know, Valve is the only company that's had a strong message of looking for a solution if their service ever dries up so players can still access their content.