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IamAwsome on 06 June 2015
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okr said:
Acevil said:

The problem is Internet Data Caps that do exist and the unnecessarily large sizes of those games. ISP need to change, before digital gaming becomes a full fledge reality, given we could leap over this problem in theory with cloud gaming services. 

Quote from the OP:

"By the end of this year, global sales of console games delivered over the Internet, no disc required, are expected to hit $5.6 billion, up 14 percent from last year, according to PwC."

14% increase in just one year on consoles, i.e. despite popular belief console gamers are already and pretty quickly switching. Next gen the industry won't give gamers the choice anymore. Next gen games won't be inserted, they will be either downloaded or streamed, regardless of individual bandwidth limitations or data caps. It already works on PC, where within a few weeks after release on Steam 2.5 million gamers downloaded the 65GB of GTA V and more than 550.000 already downloaded the 35GB of The Witcher 3 (Steam alone, not counting its original platform GOG), it will easily work on consoles next gen. Game prices will probably be a bit lower on consoles next gen (if gamers are lucky), profits will be higher though than today. And in the end most console-only gamers will accept and even embrace any change, like they always did, see paywall for online play combined (to make it look like a bargain) with selected monthly "free" digital (aha!) games they never would have bought in the first place.

I bet most of those downloads last year were in the US and other 1st world countries that have access to good internet. Not everyone around the world has access to decent internet. Even in the US there are people who have crappy dial-up and satelite internet because that is the only option. How on earth will digital only become a widespread thing? Who wants to wait 24 hours for a ~60GB game to download? This will be even worse if games get bigger next gen.  If the big 3 force the world to change, then they will fall flat on their face. Acevil already mentioned data caps.  Do you really think people will run up their internet bill to play a game? Yes it happened with music and movies, but I just don't see it happening that fast with games. Come to think of it, physical never went away with movies and music. 

As for game prices, I don't see that happening either, but that's a topic for another thread.