ITS OVER Sony Interactive Entertainment to end physical game disc production in January 2028

[Salnax]

160rmf said:

Salnax said:

Buying large games digitally is still not an option for me in the current year. Even on PC, I don't have the storage space for multiple AAA games of over 100 GB each. I've already avoided buying a few games for this reason.

GTA6 is going to be the last big hurrah for an era. I can easily believe that half of PS5/XS owners will get it, but then what? Who is going to sell consoles, a product that historically brings in very little net revenue, if there is no chance to make money on software? Why should GameStop, Best Buy, Walmart, or Target sell consoles? Is Sony confident enough to basically cut away thousands of retailers in the USA alone?

They can order the console online 

They can, yes, but:

1. It's another obstacle, especially for people who don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for something to be delivered by mail. Lots of people like doing expensive purchases in person.
2. The presence of items on store shelves increases demand for the item, since it effectively works as a combined advertisement and endorsement of said item.
3. Casuals are less likely to even know a new console and/or games are out, let alone that they should buy it.
4. Game and tech demos at stores, a traditional way of selling new stuff, stops being viable when people can't buy said product there.
5. Stores have historically teamed up with hardware manufacturers and publishers to promote hardware and software.