In recent years, digital video game consumption has accelerated, and while there's still a significant market for physical formats, whether on disc or cartridge, it's clear that its presence is gradually shrinking. It’s no coincidence that the latest consoles are leaning more towards digital, as maintaining an option for physical games is becoming increasingly costly. A recent report has revealed some interesting figures that highlight this shift in consumer behavior.
75% of new games in 2024 were purchased digitally in the European market
Respected Gamesindustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring shared data on physical and digital video game sales in 2024 compared to 2023. To start, 75% of all video games released in Europe in 2024 were purchased digitally through PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, eShop, and Steam. This figure marks a 12% increase compared to 2023, when 63% of total game sales were digital, leaving the remainder for physical format. The days of a 50-50 split are behind us, and fewer games are being sold on discs or cartridges.
According to the data, the shift to digital is more pronounced on PlayStation and Xbox, with both systems seeing drops in physical game sales. For Sony's console, physical format sales in Europe decreased from 41% in 2023 to 32% in 2024. Meanwhile, Xbox physical game sales fell from 26% in 2023 to 19% this year.
Nintendo clings to physical format as it works for them, but it's not enough to save the industry
Currently, Nintendo Switch remains the only console that acts as a stronghold for the physical format. According to the report, 67% of all new Switch games sold in 2023 were bought in physical form. So far in 2024, that percentage has only dropped slightly to 65%. It’s important to note that for Nintendo, this is a profitable business as they control both the format and the manufacturing of the game cartridges, a strategy they've followed since the days of cartridges.
Related article: Digital stores will have to acknowledge that players don't own the games; they pay for the use of a license, not a purchase
While physical game sales continue to decline, the report reveals that 32 million copies of physical games have been sold in Europe so far in 2024, and it’s expected that this number will rise during the holiday sales period. However, it's also projected that in the coming years, physical formats will become a niche market, and not all releases will guarantee a physical version. In cases where third-party intervention is needed or to cater to specific audiences, this could impact prices, making physical editions more expensive than they are today.
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