Kyuu said:
Well, yes, I think it's clear this is what it always meant.
New games that have physical and digital formats would sell somewhere between 45%-75% digital on Playstation, but as they get older digital ratios go up. But the old games that aren't on shelves don't sell enough to affect the overall split by more than 1-2%. Indies not available physically skew the data more. I was and still am expecting PS6 to have a disc drive option just like the PS5. And according to some weighty reports, it seems like it will. I think Sony understands that physical media is still a major console selling point and they will want to stick with it for at least one more generation, or the departure to PC would only accelerate. Physical is one of the few remaining distinct console advantages.
Let's not forget that PS5 Digital Edition was not upgradable early on, but the revision enabled you to buy an optional disc drive, which was relatively a pro-physical move. I play on my brother's original PS5 DE, and 100% of our game collection is digital (even though I prefer physical) because I'm forced to buy digital. Had we gotten the revision, I would have later got the optional disc drive and bought most games physically.
With that being said, I think it's the 3rd party publishers, not Sony, that will be ditching physical media left right and centre. Publishers have to pay 55%-65% on manufacturing/packaging and retailer and platform fees. Digital reduces these expenses down to 30% on console and even 12% on some PC storefronts. The rapid PC growth will encourage publishers to drop physical altogether regardless of Sony's support. |
What is your source on that 55%-65%? The only information I can find on it is a graph from 2011 that states it is $5 for shipping/manufacturing, $10-$15 to the physical storefront, and the usual 20%-30% cut that digital also pays.
