79% of PlayStation game sales in last quarter were digital

https://www.psu.com/news/79-of-ps5-ps4-games-sold-in-sonys-latest-quarter-were-purchased-digitally/

Looks like console sales are finally tipping quite heavily toward digital these days. I imagine Xbox has to be in a similar ballpark. What do people think about this?

As long as physical is still an option, I do not really care.
If they start releasing games digital only, then there will be a cause for concern.

I am that 21%. We're rarer, more unique and more powerful than those copy/pasted unoriginal gamers, the rest of the 79%.

It is what it is. Physical is the only reason why I keep supporting consoles. Take that away from me and I'll be going full PC especially now that I can play PS exclusives on it.

I think one benefit to come is greater accessibility of titles across various platforms. Developing titles for platforms isn't so much as costly as other considerations, mainly fronting royalties on physically produced copies (30% of MSRP) and the burden of needing to reimburse retail/distribution when adjustments are made to MSRP, or when retailers negotiate prices for sales, as well as when competitors price match. This is one reason some publishers opt not to publish games on certain systems, too much additional up front costs, but won't be as much of a burden when royalties can be managed from the point of sale. This could make digital a lot more publisher friendly in that regard, and better for consumers if the titles become more widely available across platforms.

I've been full digital since it became a viable option.. literally zero reason to have to get up and put a disc into your console at this point, particularly with features like Quick Resume taking advantage of the SSD..

iM mad at xenoblade

iM mad that nintendo doesnt refund gamez

@vatususreturns: "It is what it is. Physical is the only reason why I keep supporting consoles. Take that away from me and I'll be going full PC especially now that I can play PS exclusives on it."

I still think consoles can have a place if both platforms manage bridge a console PC environment where entitlements are shared across both devices, in addition to cross platdorm functionaility (save progress and achievement cross-over etc). If they can ever get there.

Though UWP does this on MS side, Windows Store isn't really much of a consideration with many PC gamers. I have seen in past platforms like GOG and Steam offering entitlement bridging and curious whether something similar can happen with console-PC services. I know Valve flirted with something like that when they released Portal 2 on PS3 (gave all PS3 copies a Steam redeem code). Curious if Valve ever considered wanting to have a PC-console bridge at one point, or if they still might consider it.

@marleykilladope: hahahahahahaha

I prefer to buy my games on physical format so hope to see that option continue to be available in the future.

Good. I'd like to see it closer to 95%.

The logistics of physical distribution are an unnecessary burden on the gaming industry. Optical drives are pretty sucky too. When you buy a game you should just have the option to get a flash drive (mail, local pickup, bring your own, etc) if for some reason you are unable to download the data.

So is this a bot that we have on SW? Is this google AI or some welfare AI?

I'd be 100% digital if the games were same priced on consoles, but getting fleeced for 80€ on ps5 vs 60€ or even lower on physical?

I only get digital if there is no other option other wise I am full physical and if I know a physical version of a game is coming out like 2-3 months or something after digital I will wait. You dont really own a digital game and also physical games go on sale morel. When we get to time where its digital only and you cant buy a game from like target, Best Buy etc game prices will just stay higher.

Who would want to have all those garbage discs sitting around? Never mind the fact that you have to hunt them down at a store. Eww.

Digital takeover is inevitable, I just hope the consumer gets some kind of protection from a law that ensures digital content they purchase will always remain available and if its taken down reasonable reparations will be made

I 100% agree with this post… Hell might be freezing over

Gamers and their physical games are bottlenecking their consoles features. The fight against DRM is over. The Publishers won. Just give in, and make things more convenient for yourselves.

Going digital is probably better for the environment

Pretty much went digital last generation and haven't looked back. Just sort of stopped caring about collecting physical games cause I jumped into the PS4 generation late and could get some killer deals online which didn't have me running around to different stores looking for similar sales. Ease of being able to swap between games was super nice too since I kept my PS4 Pro behind my TV where it wasn't easily reached.

Went physical at first with the Switch but because I take it with me so much that soon became a hassle with swapping games around or just not having something with me so digital became the path forward. Rebought a few games so I wouldn't have to worry about it and pretty much keep something like Breath of the Wild in the cartridge slot.

And after being on Steam for 18+ years I prefer the convenience of being digital and not having to worry about what time the mail or delivery service will drop it at my front door or getting to the store to pickup a copy or anything like that. Also currently doing a move and it's sweet knowing I just toss my Switch into its case and I've got everything I need to keep myself entertained. Same thing with my PC and PS4 Pro.

All that is before you get into day one updates, unfinished products on disks, other mandatory updates, and the ability for publishers to take servers offline effectively killing access to many of the features if not all of them in some cases.

Ooof...

On PC, I'm all digital even though they still (technically) make physical copies) but on console I always buy physical copies.

I hope they continue to do so even though the industry is moving to full digital and streaming.

I actually let my son play Game Pass on my phone and he didnt even know it wasnt a native game.

I think I only own two physical copies of PS5 games. Not going to lie, I really hate getting up to change disks for games. lol

Physical games are garbage. Not because it is a "physical medium" (all games are digital) but they are on optical discs. If physical games were on a more modern medium then I can see it having a fighting chance (Switch) but, when you have to install the game at a slower rate than internet speeds and play it IDENTICAL to "digital" it becomes rather pointless. If the argument is that you can resell then I welcome you to the world of subscription gaming that removes the hassle of reselling and cost less. If there is a concern about servers going done and never being able to access your games, that is fear mongering fallacy. I still don't get why gamers who want physical games have not pushed for a modernization of the medium.

One thing that's not showing is all the used games that are being sold, and that's 100% physical. With the game increase prices, i bet you there are more people that would buy a game used instead of spending $105cad for a single game. Like i bought Returnal used, about two months after launch, and i spent about $45cad while the game was still $105cad new. 100% the game and sold it for $40. Win win.

@hardwenzen: Only new ps5 games I've bought are elden and demons.

Ratchet, village, samurai game...all other games are used.

Yup, that's what all the "go digital" shills are always ignoring. If adults buy used because of the price, imagine all the teens and kids.

@hardwenzen: Yeah, GameStop is just banking big time. O wait…

Exactly. You'd be in the next game before you could even get up and get to your PS5.

I've literally NEVER finished BotW because I would have to put the cart in. I'm at the end... Too lazy... That and I kinda don't want it to end. But at this point, like 5 years later, I don't even remember how to play...

The clueless dudebros such as yourself will use gamestop. The rest of us have the likes of ebay, kijiji, etc🤡

I feel that Xbox gamers are too poor to buy games, so they just play c rated games on game pass

@hardwenzen: EBay? Wtf? How old are you?

Old enough to have a Paypal account😂😂😂You on the other hand... OOF.

I just wish that digital games have prices that are competitive compared to physical games and allow gamers to keep their digital games and play them on any platform, present or future.

or to you know sell them....

Digital is going to be the 100% future of music, vg,movies, etc….. Everyone knows it’s coming eventually.

Who says you can't teach a "Naughty" old dog new tricks? lol :P

Doesn't NPD use physical copies for their numbers?

It may require laws to give gamers the right to sell their digital games. Unfortunately, due to the influence of the gaming industry, such laws will unlikely to exist. The industry has so much political clout that I am surprised that there is no gamer advocacy group to advocate laws benefing gamers.

Is it because gaming is a hobby that there is no advocacy group for gamers? A thought.

Most publishers share their digital sales w/ NPD.

The biggest exception is Nintendo; they only share physical sales.

The majority of next gen Xbox sales are the Series S which means Xbox is very likely as high if not higher.

It's safe to say this is the last generation where digital won't be the standard.