Digital Downloads and Refunds

So, I'm sure many people already believe (or hope) that all Video Game (and other entertainment) content in the future will be distributed digitally, right? Because obviously, it's faster, you don't have to go out, and updates and so on can be administrated with ease. But, after having issues with a game I downloaded recently, (RISK: Factions to be precise, see thread HERE) an interesting topic arose: 
 
What of refunds in a totally digital-download-only world? 
 
If we look at one of the main platforms for digital downloads of games today, Xbox Live, they have a strict "no-refund" policy on everything. As soon as you commit your points to downloading something from the marketplace, there is no way you can possibly get your cash back if the game, theme, or anything else is actually faulty. Now of course they have all their strict guidelines as to what can go onto the store, but still, after my experiences with RISK (the game would lock up upon booting the game up, and for other players every time they played online they would get a freeze) it is clear that their system is not fool-proof. In fact, the game is downright broken in some cases, and had it been a disc game it would have been worthy of taking it back to the store and getting a full refund. 
 
However, that's the point, isn't it? There IS no store, no physical item, nothing to take back and nowhere to take it too. You can't get a refund on bits and bytes, so what to do? You're left at the mercy of the digital distributor and the manufacturer of the product to do something. With no option to get a refund, isn't that basically taking away the customer's rights?  
 
So, if the future does become digital download only, cases like this may become more common, and what do you think will happen regarding policies on refunds - or even the chance of getting one at all - for digital downloads of the future? 
 

PS:
Oh, and on a side note, if anyone else has had issues with a digitally downloaded product, please share your experience of what happened!

" So, I'm sure many people already believe (or hope) that all Video Game (and other entertainment) content in the future will be distributed digitally, right? Because obviously, it's faster, you don't have to go out, and updates and so on can be administrated with ease. But, after having issues with a game I downloaded recently, (RISK: Factions to be precise, see thread HERE) an interesting topic arose:  What of refunds in a totally digital-download-only world?  If we look at one of the main platforms for digital downloads of games today, Xbox Live, they have a strict "no-refund" policy on everything. As soon as you commit your points to downloading something from the marketplace, there is no way you can possibly get your cash back if the game, theme, or anything else is actually faulty. Now of course they have all their strict guidelines as to what can go onto the store, but still, after my experiences with RISK (the game would lock up upon booting the game up, and for other players every time they played online they would get a freeze) it is clear that their system is not fool-proof. In fact, the game is downright broken in some cases, and had it been a disc game it would have been worthy of taking it back to the store and getting a full refund.  However, that's the point, isn't it? There IS no store, no physical item, nothing to take back and nowhere to take it too. You can't get a refund on bits and bytes, so what to do? You're left at the mercy of the digital distributor and the manufacturer of the product to do something. With no option to get a refund, isn't that basically taking away the customer's rights?   So, if the future does become digital download only, cases like this may become more common, and what do you think will happen regarding policies on refunds - or even the chance of getting one at all - for digital downloads of the future?  PS:Oh, and on a side note, if anyone else has had issues with a digitally downloaded product, please share your experience of what happened! "

I will never wish for a digital only future... Also, I'm pretty sure it's always faster to drive to your local store and pick up a game then it is to download a multi gigabyte file.

I don't think if a game is broken, that you can take it back to a store and get a refund actually... So it wouldn't be any different. Unless there is a problem with the physical disc. What I'm trying to say is if the game has been made badly you can't get a refund.

In the States, at least, you are never allowed a refund on any game purchase. They will let you replace the copy within the 30 days but I have never been in a store that would give me any sort of money back. So I don't see any difference between now and when its pure digital distribution. 
I'm also quite sure that in the future there will still be reviewers that will let you know if a game is just straight broken or janky so that you don't buy it.

" @The_Laughing_Man: Really? A refund. Nice "

" @Ultimadark said:

" @The_Laughing_Man: Really? A refund. Nice "

I still have the game. Just a 20 dollar code as well.  "

" @The_Laughing_Man said:

" @Ultimadark said:

" @The_Laughing_Man: Really? A refund. Nice "

I still have the game. Just a 20 dollar code as well.  "

Cool, I never thought that EA would do something like that. Did you just send them an e-mail or what? "

No refunds, also they won't let you refund open boxed games anyways, only exchanges. If you had the game on steam for example, you can verify the cache and redownload files to fix it.

i dont think they will ever give you a refund. And if i was a big company i wouldnt give one.