Shadow1980 said:
How much of that 40% was from games that are digital-only (e.g., nearly all indie games) as well as software that was bundled with a PS4? If Horizon is any indication, only a bit over a quarter of AAA games are sold digitally. Still, 25% is more than double the 12% that it was in 2014 (and of that 12%, three-fifths was bundled software). I honestly find that more than a bit disconcerting, and I hope it's like e-books and digital AAA sales hit a ceiling soon. I do not want console gaming to be digital-only, because if it does go that route, I will cease supporting the industry. I've never downloaded an mp3 or an e-book, and I've never availed myself of the digital copies that come with most Blu-ray releases these days. I'm all about physical media.
I find it even more disconcerting that many gamers are actually encouraging and applauding the shift to digital, completely unaware of just how much of a raw deal it is, especially in the U.S. with our shitty IP laws. You think the games industry does some shitty stuff now? Just wait until they completely control all aspects of the distribution channels, kill off the second-hand market, and take full advantage of the fact that they, and not the consumer, own all those digital copies. And that's to say nothing of other inherent drawbacks to digital.
Between April 2010 and February 2017, I spent precisely zero dollars on "new" digital titles (meaning games released this gen or last gen, not re-releases of old-school games). I picked up Perfect Dark HD and Mega Man 10 when they came out, and, aside from a small handful of Virtual Console games (which was mostly me just double-dipping because I don't have a good retro gaming setup right now), I didn't buy anything else digital until Blaster Master Zero on the Switch (and that was a spur of the moment thing that I got because A) It's an 8-bit style remake of a game I already have, and B) I just wanted something to play on my Switch besides just BotW). I'm still holding out for the possibility of a physical release for Sonic Mania, and I'm hesitant to buy it right now because it's currently digital-only. I just don't like the idea of spending good money on a game that I wouldn't even own. |
I would say something like 20% or less of the revenues is digital-only games. Even more because from that 40% a big chunck is on DLC and other type of sales for retail games.
Yes I also find funny that people are so eager to abdicate from any sense of ownership. But nowadays most sales are done for "comfort" and "easyness" of lazy people, so as you saw in mere 3 years the digital ratio for retail doubled. So maybe in no more than 2 gens the physical editions will be the odd man out.
I have bought a lot of digital retail, but because both things happened, I didn't care enough on the franchise to own the disc and the price was a lot lower than the hardcopy.
AlfredoTurkey said:
DonFerrari said:
Hey guys for long we have discussed about digital sales and digital attach ratios...
So here we have a good interview by Sony that gives us 2 very good piece of info.
1) PSN Store sells 40% of all games on PS4
2) Almost 1/3 (26,9%) of all Horizon Zero Dawn were digital copies (915k of 3.4M).
Source: http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/playstation-is-winning-but-what-next-w485683
PS: another 2 good points.. never doubt Nintendo and Sony will expand their IP offerings to get bigger userbase.
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The difference between Horizon's 26.9% and Sony's 40% numbers is telling. Most of that 40% is made up of smaller, cheaper indie games etc. If we're talking full priced titles, that number goes way down.
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Well if we look at most retail games getting 1/4 of its sale from digital, that leaves 15% of the revenue for DLC and smaller titles.
Dante9 said:
I have gone full digital as well. It's just so convenient to just download while sitting on your couch or doing whatever. You also have instant access to all of the games you are currently working on and you can switch games by pressing a couple of buttons. When I'm done with a game, I'm done, so I can just erase it and I don't have to store physical boxes for no purpose. I used to trade them in at Gamestop but I just can't bother with that anymore. Easy living. |
I don't think that is that much convenient when you are going to play in a different console, or just bought and have to wait 2h to download or redownload the game.
Lawlight said:
Shadow1980 said:
How much of that 40% was from games that are digital-only (e.g., nearly all indie games) as well as software that was bundled with a PS4? If Horizon is any indication, only a bit over a quarter of AAA games are sold digitally. Still, 25% is more than double the 12% that it was in 2014 (and of that 12%, three-fifths was bundled software). I honestly find that more than a bit disconcerting, and I hope it's like e-books and digital AAA sales hit a ceiling soon. I do not want console gaming to be digital-only, because if it does go that route, I will cease supporting the industry. I've never downloaded an mp3 or an e-book, and I've never availed myself of the digital copies that come with most Blu-ray releases these days. I'm all about physical media.
I find it even more disconcerting that many gamers are actually encouraging and applauding the shift to digital, completely unaware of just how much of a raw deal it is, especially in the U.S. with our shitty IP laws. You think the games industry does some shitty stuff now? Just wait until they completely control all aspects of the distribution channels, kill off the second-hand market, and take full advantage of the fact that they, and not the consumer, own all those digital copies. And that's to say nothing of other inherent drawbacks to digital.
Between April 2010 and February 2017, I spent precisely zero dollars on "new" digital titles (meaning games released this gen or last gen, not re-releases of old-school games). I picked up Perfect Dark HD and Mega Man 10 when they came out, and, aside from a small handful of Virtual Console games (which was mostly me just double-dipping because I don't have a good retro gaming setup right now), I didn't buy anything else digital until Blaster Master Zero on the Switch (and that was a spur of the moment thing that I got because A) It's an 8-bit style remake of a game I already have, and B) I just wanted something to play on my Switch besides just BotW). I'm still holding out for the possibility of a physical release for Sonic Mania, and I'm hesitant to buy it right now because it's currently digital-only. I just don't like the idea of spending good money on a game that I wouldn't even own. |
How would you react if I tell you that 48% of the PS4 games that were sold and that appeared in the Top 30 game sold in Japan were digital? And those weren't digital only games.
You bought 0 games digitally from April 2010 to Feb 2017? I spent around $700 (I need to check my excel). You're assuming that people care about who owns the digital games. They just want to play those games.
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They just care about it now, until they get those situations where they can't redownload their game because some license expired or a server was closed.
