Analyst Mat Piscatella from Circana recently discussed the future of physical games, predicting that the PlayStation 6 may be the last generation of PS consoles to rely on physical media. He proposed that the industry will shift towards an all-digital landscape, with Nintendo possibly following suit one generation later. This prediction aligns with the growing dominance of digital gaming in recent years.
A recent report revealed that up to 90% of the gaming industry now focuses on digital sales, including subscriptions, downloadable content, and full games. This data demonstrates the industry’s direction towards digital platforms.
No More PlayStation Discs
PlayStation embraced digital gaming with the release of PlayStation 4, introducing a robust network infrastructure for game downloads and streaming. Services like PlayStation Now (now PlayStation Plus) allowed users to download games via subscription. This trend has been further developed with platforms like Game Pass, Amazon Luna, Ubisoft Connect, and EA Play.
The introduction of the all-digital version of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S has proven that a disc drive is no longer necessary for gaming. These more affordable variants demonstrate the viability of disc-free consoles.
Piscatella predicts that by the time the PlayStation 7 is released, disc drives will be obsolete.
As the subscription market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2027, it is likely that this transition will occur. Leading retailers in countries like the UK have already shifted focus towards digital software, signaling a broader industry trend.
While digital media offers advantages such as eco-friendliness and accessibility, concerns remain about the potential loss of digital content and high prices. However, digital products eliminate stock shortages and offer instant access.
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