Gamers Still Prefer Physical Discs Over Digital, According to Findings

MCVUK has conducted a straw poll asking UK gamers to list their preference between digital and physical games, with a staggering 77.1 percent siding with the latter option.

Data is pulled from the twelfth wave of ERA’s consumer tracking survey, which polls anywhere between 1,200 and 1,800 respondents every quarter. When listing their reasons for choosing the physical alternative, the results showed that 23 percent cite “tangibility,” 16.5 percent point to “permanence and security,” “convenience” comes in at 12.9 per cent, 11.6 percent of users picked “habit,” while the “ability to trade titles for other games” accounted for 7.7 per cent of the threshold.

ERA’s Kim Bayley told MCVUK that, “by far the greatest number of potential gamers are physical buyers who are price conscious and buy only occasionally.”

Below, you’ll an illustration of MCVUK’s findings (click to embiggen), revealing just how far gamers in the UK still sway toward physical over digital. But which side of the line do you fall under?

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2016/10/17/physical-vs-digital-report-suggests-gamers-prefer-physical/

Not surprised really.

Yeah, I'm one of those who still prefer physical as well. It just feels more satisfying being able to hold the game in your hands. It feels like you own it.

I remember Spemanig preaching about NX being digital only.This kinda sinks that idea of his.

Honestly + 20% digital is a huge growth, thought few years ago it was only 7%

Did they poll those people at physical game stores?

Ka-pi96 said: In the UK? Where digital games are like £15 more expensive than physical? Yeah... not at all surprising

or £25 more just like FF Type-0 ofered physical at £29.99 vs a £54.99 digital lol.....

Only poeple I know that are close to fully digital are friends who share the library with another family member through the Home/Primary console function who then take turns buying each game, otherwise you gota be filthy rich to be pure digital in the UK hah!

Thats very much in line with how much digital sales are as well.... usually in the 15-20% range.

Those 23% that voted tangibility as the reason why.

I tend to agree, its much more satisfying to own a physical copy of a game you love.

Well, for me, unless the digital is a lot cheaper than the physical I'll just buy physical... either at a great discount later on the road or full price for the games I really like.

We need more information about how the poll was conducted. They mention it was a straw poll which would suggest they asked people at, for example, video game stores. If that is the case then the poll is useless since it is being taken at a physical location where gamers how like physical games go. If it was digital it would have more relevance. But we need more information about how the did this poll.