Can Game Publishers Finally Defeat the Disc?

Gino Cordero recalls high school weekends in front of the TV, working his way through Final Fantasy VII on his old Sony PlayStation. “Grinding was just part of the experience,” Cordero says of the slog through various game levels. “You’d get together with friends and say, ‘It took me four hours to beat that wizard, because I had to get to Level 15 first.’ ”

Today, the 34-year-old cook from Austin, Texas, has had it with building up points or strength by “level grinding.” Cordero is intrigued by an offer for Evolve, a shooter title from Take-Two Interactive Software that goes on sale on Feb. 10. Fans who order the $60 game digitally using their Xbox One get to start further along in the game.