Hard evidence that digital distribution is slowly taking over for physical copies.

[StokedUp]

KBG29 said:

StokedUp said:
I don’t mind digital (my last five games were all digital versions) my only massive problem with it is that there is no reason whatsoever why a digital version of a game should cost more than the physical release but they do! By selling digital they have cut the shipping, packaging and booklet costs yet they always cost so much more.

There has to be more competition, more places in which you can purchase and download a digital version of a game onto your PS4/Xbox. That’s the only way we will stop being took advantage of with the prices available.

Not sure where this comes from. Both PS Store and Xbox Store have times where they are cheaper, and times where they are more expensive. Sometimes a game comes out and goes on sale digitally for $39.99 within weeks of release, while retail is still selling it for $59.99. Other times a game will be full price digitally while a select retailer has it on sale for $39.99. It goes both ways.

There are also constant sales. I can speak for PS Store the most since I am on it a few times a week. You can find amazing sales with many full titles finding their way to $4.99 - $9.99. A lot of times you can get an older game for $14.99 - $29.99 on PS Store, while it is at Walmart or Taget for $59.99. 

I have been all digital since 2010, unless a game only came out physically. I have bought so many games for under $10, and it has driven me to buy and play many games I never would have. It also is nice to have access to my entire collection over Remote Play. 

Digital is definitly going to become the majority of sales in the future, but there will be a portion of the market that sticks with Physical for years to come. Whether that will be 10%, 25%, or 40%, only time will tell. I think having two models, one with a drive and one without could help Sony and Microsoft sway people even more, and I hope they go down that road in the near future. The more people buying digital, the more goes money goes back to devs, and platform holders, and that equals more games, and better digital sales. I welcome the digital future. 

I can only say from my experience, and where I’m from. But 100% of the games I’ve bought for PS4 digitally have all been more expensive than the physical releases. My most recent was God Of war, that cost me 52 but it was 43 in a local store. I simply couldn’t be bothered to get in my car and drive 2 mile to go pick it up :)

Last edited by StokedUp - on 30 April 2018