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[jm89]

Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social)

For the Jan-Aug period, for all titles with both physical and digital sales tracking, 53% of Switch software sales were done digitally compared to 52% in the same period last year. PS5 is now 78% digital vs 75% digital last year. 91% of XBS software was done digitally this year vs 90% last year.

bsky.app

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Switch owners saving gaming as usual

 

[FalconPunch]

No wonder sony made the drive an add-on. That's wild....

 

[adamsapple]

And this is why physical only sales charts only tell a part of the story.

 

[PauloRoberto]

Is this counting DLCs or only games that can be bought both ways?

 

[adamsapple]

Is this counting DLCs or only games that can be bought both ways?

This is for titles that have both physical and digital versions. Things like digital only titles aren't factored here either.

 

[Bojji]

PS/Xbox gamers:

 

[Three]

PS/Xbox gamers:

You forgot PC there pal?

 

[FalconPunch]

Switch owners saving gaming as usual

I think that because Nintendo cannot be trusted to do digital properly.

 

[Bojji]

You forgot PC there pal?

PC is long gone when it comes to physical games BUT there are many options to obtain games digitally vs. ONE.

Locked console ecosystems are the worst kind of DD.

 

[EN250]

PS/Xbox gamers:

If that's the case, then the meme of PC gaming dead was true all this time, right?

 

[XXL]

PS/Xbox gamers:

 

[Bojji]

Remind of this post when on PS6 they will increase game prices again and you won't have any option to buy them cheaper.

If that's the case, then the meme of PC gaming dead was true all this time, right?

Multiple storefronts and places to buy games. Physical discs are the best thing about consoles and looks like only nintendo is 100% guaranteed to have it next gen.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

And people wonder why PS5 Pro has 2TB instead of a Disc Drive

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Remind of this post when on PS6 they will increase game prices again and you won't have any option to buy them cheaper.



Multiple storefronts and places to buy games. Physical discs are the best thing about consoles and looks like only nintendo is 100% guaranteed to have it next gen.

I don't need multiple store fronts.

That's what you PC guys complain bout constantly.

 

[StereoVsn]

PC is long gone when it comes to physical games BUT there are many options to obtain games digitally vs. ONE.

Locked console ecosystems are the worst kind of DD.

Yep, you even have DRM free options on PC, not to mention multiple launchers, stores, and so on.

There is competition. On consoles you have PSN or Xbox or eShop. The lock in is so much worse.

 

[XXL]

Remind of this post when on PS6 they will increase game prices again and you won't have any option to buy them cheaper.

I haven't bought a physical game for Playstation or PC.....in years. I've never even purchased a game on my Series X.

I get people's love for physical, but PS6 (or PS5 Pro) being digital only doesn't bother me at all....and judging by these numbers, I'm not alone.

 

[TehGoomba7s]

I haven't bought a physical copy of a game since MGSV. Digital is just way more convenient. The only way I'm without Internet connection would be without electricity.

 

[Bojji]

I don't need multiple store fronts.

That's what you PC guys complain bout constantly.

I don't. Options are good, steam die hards are funny.

I haven't bought a physical game for Playstation or PC.....in years.

I get people's love for physical, but PS6 (or PS5 Pro) being digital only doesn't bother me at all....and judging by these numbers, I'm not alone.

It's not about you getting digital games or me getting physical games (i have a lot digital games from sales on PSN). It's about control, and with digital they have 100% control and they can do literally anything while consumers have no rights at all.

It's BAD for everyone.

 

[Mr Moose]

Without numbers it doesn't tell us much really. 5% of nothing is still nothing.

 

[Three]

Yep, you even have DRM free options on PC, not to mention multiple launchers, stores, and so on.

There is competition. On consoles you have PSN or Xbox or eShop. The lock in is so much worse.

On PS you have actual discs you own and can sell though. Just because 75% make the choice to go digital there doesn't mean the choice isn't there. Just as 75% or more of PC users choose the "with DRM" single store that is known as Steam.

 

[adamsapple]

I don't need multiple store fronts.

That's what you PC guys complain bout constantly.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with multiple storefronts. It will promote more competitive sales and shit. Digital games barely drop in prices outside of flash sales here and there.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Isn’t digital more prevalent in the US due to it not being as urbanised as Europe and Japan?

 

[EN250]

Multiple storefronts and places to buy games. Physical discs are the best thing about consoles and looks like only nintendo is 100% guaranteed to have it next gen.

Tell that to EGS, everyone says that, but won't support anything that's not Steam which in the end it's just another walled garden

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with multiple storefronts. It will promote more competitive sales and shit. Digital games barely drop in prices outside of flash sales here and there.

You don't need multiple storefronts on the same console to promote competition. There's zero reason why there should be multiple storefronts on a playstation. And Playstation routinely runs competitive sales.

 

[nowhat]

Hey, there's a static where Xbox is at the top!

 

[adamsapple]

Isn’t digital more prevalent in the US due to it not being as urbanised as Europe and Japan?

Er.. wouldn't it be the other way around? A more urbanized place would mean faster / maybe cheaper internet and more digital availability.

A less urbanized place, in the boonies and shit, would be more prone to physical content from brick and mortar stores.

You don't need multiple storefronts on the same console to promote competition. There's zero reason why there should be multiple storefronts on a playstation. And Playstation routinely runs competitive sales.

Competitive against whom? That's not how it works.

 

[StereoVsn]

On PS you have actual discs you own and can sell though. Just because 75% make the choice to go digital there doesn't mean the choice isn't there. Just as 75% or more of PC users choose the "with DRM" single store that is known as Steam.

And it looks like more and more of the public is ignoring physical options, so much so that Sony’s “Pro” console has disk as optional. PS6 will have it optional as well, if it has it at all.

Also, Steam is NOT DRM. There are games on Steam that don’t have any DRM at all and once you download them, you don’t need Steam launcher anymore.

It’s up to the dev/publisher on how they use that. But even with Steam, there are multitude of storefronts driving down prices. I am apprehensive that on consoles we are going toward the future where physicals are mostly Limited Editions or from 3rd parties line Limited Run games.

And that’s if we even will have disks on next gen PS hardware (MS will ditch them for sure).

 

[XXL]

It's about control, and with digital they have 100% control and they can do literally anything while consumers have no rights at all.

It's BAD for everyone.

I'm not someone who thinks about everything from a dystopian perspective.

People's dystopian predictions are almost always incorrect.

 

[Bojji]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with multiple storefronts. It will promote more competitive sales and shit. Digital games barely drop in prices outside of flash sales here and there.

Exactly.

You don't need multiple storefronts on the same console to promote competition. There's zero reason why there should be multiple storefronts on a playstation. And Playstation routinely runs competitive sales.

Are they competing with themselves? They have literal monopoly in PS ecosystem.

I'm not someone who thinks about everything from a dystopian perspective.

People's dystopian predictions are almost always incorrect.

It's not WW3 level obviously but I can give you prediction for next gen: 80$ games and (at least) 25% increase for PS Plus. It will only get worse once physical dies on consoles.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Competitive against whom? That's not how it works.

All software is in competition with eachother. You don't need an extra storefront to facilitate that. There's regular deals/price drops on the PS store and it's already competitive with Steam

 

[XXL]

It's not WW3 level obviously but I can give you prediction for next gen: 80$ games and (at least) 25% increase for PS Plus. It will only get worse once physical dies on consoles.

I have zero issue with that.

If it doesn't work for people....they won't buy it and the prices would be readjusted or production would stop.

Also (I know people dont like this) the more AI becomes used in gaming it could potentially level out (or reduce) the costs of games made at this scale. Technology is unpredictable.

The market will always figure it out.

If Playstation gets tyrannical, people will go elsewhere, like Steam or Nintendo.

 

[Deerock71]

You forgot PC there pal?

I own a Switch and a Steam Deck...

 

[yogaflame]

For me physical is the best, that will never change.

 

[Bojji]

I have zero issue with that.

If it doesn't work for people....they won't buy it and the prices would be readjusted or production would stop.

Also (I know people dont like this) the more AI becomes used in gaming it could potentially level out (or reduce) the costs of games made at this scale. Technology is unpredictable.

The market will always figure it out.

If Playstation gets tyrannical, people will go elsewhere, like Steam or Nintendo.

Where? Xbox is almost dead and it has the same politics, while casual console gamers won't jump to PC. Sony will just keep getting away with this. There is always Nintendo but they are 1.5 gens behind...

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Where? Xbox is almost dead and it has the same politics, while casual console gamers won't jump to PC. Sony will just keep getting away with this. There is always Nintendo but they are 1.5 gens behind...

Getting away with....what again?

 

[Three]

And it looks like more and more of the public is ignoring physical options, so much so that Sony’s “Pro” console has disk as optional. PS6 will have it optional as well, if it has it at all.

Which only makes sense. You don't want to be forcefully charging people for a disc drive when more of the public don't necessarily want it. As long as the option remains there then there isn't a problem. The issue comes from publishers ignoring the shrinking minority.

Also, Steam is NOT DRM. There are games on Steam that don’t have any DRM at all and once you download them, you don’t need Steam launcher anymore.
It’s up to the dev/publisher on how they use that. But even with Steam, there are multitude of storefronts driving down prices. I am apprehensive that on consoles we are going toward the future where physicals are mostly Limited Editions or from 3rd parties line Limited Run games.



And that’s if we even will have disks on next gen PS hardware (MS will ditch them for sure).

I didn’t say Steam is DRM I said "with DRM". The Steam Client is DRM though and the games that are DRM free are the ones that do not require the Steam Client after install.

 

[Tajaz2426]

Well, there it is folks. Skynet has been activated on October 18th, in the year of our lord 2024. May God have mercy on our physical libraries.

Good day, sirs.

 

[Bojji]

Getting away with....what again?

Squeezing consumers dry.

And how they can not when there are so many cheerleaders? First to defend them even when they do anti consumer stuff...

 

[adamsapple]

All software is in competition with eachother. You don't need an extra storefront to facilitate that. There's regular deals/price drops on the PS store and it's already competitive with Steam

???

Steam is a whole another hardware category and in no way competing with PSN's storefront.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

???

Steam is a whole another hardware category and in no way competing with PSN's storefront.

I am saying the deals are competitive with steam in terms of pricing. There's not a huge difference, and it tends to vary with each platform's seasonal promotions/deals.

Each piece of software is competing with eachother on the same platform.

 

[LordCBH]

Digital percentage going up fucking sucks….

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Squeezing consumers dry.

And how they can not when there are so many cheerleaders? First to defend them even when they do anti consumer stuff...

Squeezing them dry how? There's nothing terrible about their pricing practices and promotional deals, it's roughly in line with other store fronts

 

[DeepEnigma]

And this is why physical only sales charts only tell a part of the story.

And why using a disc vs no disc console war price comparison is hilarious.

Dozens, dozens of us!

 

[Saber]

This percent is exactly what would expect from USA people.

 

[Bojji]

Squeezing them dry how? There's nothing terrible about their pricing practices and promotional deals, it's roughly in line with other store fronts

I have never seen actual low price deals on PSN while on Steam (or Ubisoft own store) something like 90% is not uncommon.

Comparing new games, price is the same.

But then you have MANY stores with prices like this for keys:

Of course nothing beats physical discs on consoles when it comes to value (and ability to sell) but we know where this is going...

 

[chokotoureiki]

Why so ppl act like buying physical media is like a safety zone against DRM? You do realize that companies can still have control over your physical discs via critical updates that will render your game worthless unless you install them. Life Is Strange: True Colors and Cyberpunk 2077 are good examples of this.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Isn’t digital more prevalent in the US due to it not being as urbanised as Europe and Japan?

I'm sure there's many reasons but you are correct that most of the ROTW not US is still mostly physical

 

[jm89]

All software is in competition with eachother. You don't need an extra storefront to facilitate that. There's regular deals/price drops on the PS store and it's already competitive with Steam

The are other ways to keep the cost down on PSN aswell. Not sure if this is the case with other countries, but in the UK we have several retailers that put PSN credit on sale for 10% off or more.

Also if you sign up to ps stars you can earn points to get credit. Overall you could get a decent discount using both those options.

 

[NonPhixion]

Aren’t 95% of the games sold on digital platforms 3rd party games and not priced by the platform holder?

Do the Doomers think PS will increase there 30% cut or something?