Summary
Xbox fans ofCroc: Legend of the Gobboswon’t be able to get a physical copy of the remaster, thanks to low demand. While the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch are both getting physical releases of the game, Xbox, PlayStation 4, and PC users will not be so fortunate. Argonaut Games, the studio behind theCrocremaster, stands by its controversial digital-only Xbox release, but many fans are less enthusiastic about it.
The news of the remaster came as a surprise when Argonautannounced the return ofCrocin August. Fans were again surprised when the initial reveal of the game’s Collector’s Editions only mentioned Switch and PS5 versions. Now Argonaut Games has cleared some things up, but that clarification included the unfortunate detail that Xbox, PC, and PS4 will only be able to play digital versions of the classic platformer.
Back in October, Argonaut Gamesrevealed theCrocremaster Collector’s Editionfor PS5 and Switch, which includes a game disc, a statue of the titular character, a four-disc CD soundtrack, and more. On December 5, news of PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S Collector’s Editions broke, but, notably, these versions included a download code, not a disc. The official Argonaut Twitter account responded to the ensuing criticism on December 11, saying there was “almost no demand” for a physical Xbox version. Offering a Collector’s Edition with a code instead was its way of giving more players the chance to get all the collectibles without needing a PS5 or Switch to play the game.
Croc Remaster Developer Cites Low Demand for Additional Physical Versions
Predictably, fans in the replies were still not satisfied with the answer. Argonaut went on to explain that physical releases require a minimum number of discs from the manufacturer and its projections didn’t suggest enough users on these platforms would buy enough copies to justify making that many. Many Xbox, PC, and PS4 fans are still understandably upset, andCrocisn’t the only game to come under fire recently for a digital-only special edition. The$95AvowedPremium Edition SteelBook does not contain a disc, even though it’s marketed as a “physical” edition.
The lack of a physical version on most platforms is not the only unusual thing about the remaster’s release, either. While it is coming to PC,Crocwill not have a Steam release, instead launching exclusively on GOG. If demand was a concern, it seems odd to not launch on the largest PC gaming platform, and Argonaut’s reasons for doing so are unclear right now. PC release aside, Argonaut Games is a smaller studio, so there may be solid financial reasons for limiting the disc version to just two consoles. At the same time, it’s another hit in a series of blows to fans of physical media as the industry moves closer to a digital-centric future.
