If you’re hoping to own a proper physical copy of Bloober Team’s third-person survival horror Cronos: The New Dawn, then PS5 will be your only option.
Alongside its 5th September release date last week, the Polish developer announced a partnership with distributor Skybound Games to put the promising title on retail store shelves.
But it’ll take advantage of Nintendo’s controversial Game Key Card format on Switch 2, while Xbox will not offer a Blu-ray release at all.
That means if you want a full physical version of the game, you’ll have no choice but to pre-order a PS5 copy.
The developer is incentivising physical purchases by bundling in some bonus content. In addition to a physical sticker set, you’ll also find a valuable supply of in-game content, including an extra skin for the main character. The physical release will retail for $59.99.
Here’s how the developer describes the game:
“Set in a grim world where Eastern European brutalism meets retro-futurist technology, Cronos: The New Dawn lets you experience a gripping story that straddles the line between past and future.”
The deterioration of physical games has been a hot topic across all consoles of late, with Nintendo in particular fuelling the debate due to its decision to introduce Game Key Cards on the Switch 2.
For those who haven’t been following the story closely, these cartridges don’t include any data, and simply serve as a means to download a given game from the Nintendo eShop.
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This has raised important questions about preservation, like what will become of these games should Nintendo ever switch its servers off?
But the PS5 hasn’t been exempt from the debate either: Microsoft releases – like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and DOOM: The Dark Ages – recently shipped on PS5 with only a few megabytes on their discs.
Of course, it’s worth noting that a significant number of PS5 owners now prefer to purchase games digitally, as reflected by Sony’s financial results.
But for those who prefer to purchase physical games, either for collection or preservation purposes, publishers are really beginning to cut down your options overall.
At least in the case of Cronos: The New Dawn, if you prefer to own physically, then PS5 is your only viable choice at launch.
Will you be getting a physical copy of the Bloober Team horror, or will you be giving this game a wide berth? Turn back time in the comments section below.
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As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.