TL;DR:

  • Game Pass is a great service—but not a replacement for ownership.
  • It's a buffet, not a library.
  • Physical games still matter: for collectors, for replayability, and for control.
  • Your gaming lifestyle doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be both.

There’s a certain kind of gamer who’ll tell you they’re on Game Pass the moment you say the word “Xbox.” You didn’t ask. You might not have even brought up gaming. But like a proud vegan at a barbecue, they can’t help but let you know: they have Game Pass.

And honestly? We get it.

In a world where Xbox has often found itself playing catch-up in the console race, Game Pass has become more than just a service. It’s a flex. It’s a movement. It’s the “I don’t need to own games—I experience them” approach to gaming. And fair play to that.

But let’s be clear on something: Game Pass isn’t an “access-everything” Netflix-for-games. It’s a rotating buffet. A great one, sure—but one where dishes get swapped out, favourites disappear, and not everything is on the menu. It’s a brilliant way to sample, to explore, to find your next gaming obsession. But it’s not the same as owning the game you love, returning to it years later, and still having it work offline on your old console.

We get it—Game Pass is a buffet. But sometimes you want the full course meal, the one you own, hold, and revisit years later. That’s why physical still matters.

At Itemdrop, we live in both worlds. We love the excitement of discovery that Game Pass offers, and we know the joy of finding a classic on disc or cartridge, especially one you thought you'd never play again. We sell brand new games, we trade in pre-owned ones, and we stock titles that you won't find on subscription platforms.

Because here’s the thing: for all the “cloud-powered future” talk, the gaming world still runs on passion, nostalgia, and connection. There’s something magical about seeing your shelf of favourites. About owning something. About sharing it, trading it in, or handing it down.

And let’s not forget: Game Pass is still digital. No inserts, no collector’s editions, no box art, no local trades, no resale. It’s convenience over collectability—and depending on your taste, that might not be enough.

So if you’re proudly Game Pass-ing, good for you. It’s a great time to be a gamer. But if you’re also someone who still values the tangible, the tradeable, the timeless—well, that’s why stores like ours still exist.

Want to continue the conversation? Pop into Itemdrop in Seaton, or drop us a reply below. We stock new and classic games across all platforms—no subscription required.