It matter because people buy them for the options. Like buying cheaper physical games and watch blu-ray/4K movies on it in addition to digital games. Whats the point of a digital only console? To play the four Sony exclusives for the gen? A PC or even the Steam Machine has so many more options and games that its not even comparable. Why would you buy a box with only one storefront when you can buy another one with several? I dont think people understand this. They just see the 85% number and think "Thats a big number. Sony will be fine." Not realizing that includes microtransactions, DLC, old PS1-PS3 games and literally thousands of more games. Look at every individual game sale and you will see that they are closer to 50/50 in many cases. Some even sell more on physical. Thats also probably not including all the limited game site sales and the 7.2 Billion dollar used market. Sure Sony doesnt see any profit from that, but its a big part of console gaming. 

I really don't think Microsoft is all that interested in the console market anymore.
They're more focused on shifting and building Xbox into a platform/ecosystem across all consoles and platforms as opposed to tying itself down to just one system.

Apparently Phil Spencer had some leaked emails where he still wanted to give that a go.

https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/19/23880146/phil-spencer-microsoft-xbox-acquiring-nintendo

So they still wanted to do that even as of a few years ago. I have no idea if it would have led to less problems than buying Activision led to, but it would have def been worse for gaming overall unless it somehow led to Nintendo running off with X-Box's stuff and leaving Microsoft in some strange reaction.....

Though that's also a world where Doom and Bethesda Games are all exclusively on Nintendo, and um....that would be hilarious but probably damage the psyche of PC gamers worse than the Epic Store.

Xbox when presented with an opening

But physical media for shows & movies has also declined significantly and the vast majority of people just stream.

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1772040307

2025 US spending

DVD/Bluray/UHD-$870 million

digital rent/own-$3.8 billion

streaming services-$57.5 billion

 https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/03/16/us-music-industry-revenue/

And this shows that physical made up 11% of revenue for the US music industry in 2025

Like it or not, physical media for shows/movies/games/music has become niche, revenue for physical media makes up a very small portion for each of the categories and that trend is not going to reverse by any notable degree.

I’m not sure how your arguments about PC/Steam/storefronts are relevant in any way so I’ve got nothing to say about those.

For the record, I’m not in favor of physical media going extinct, I wish it would remain an option for the people who want it but my argument isn’t about my personal preferences, it’s about whether or not this decision will have a major impact on PS sales and I just don’t see that happening.

The possibility, yes.

The probability, no.

The price of the PS6, especially if it’s WAY up there, is going to have a much bigger impact on its sales than being all-digital ever will.

Ohh that explains it.

I wasn’t aware of any other disc vs digital PS5 numbers but apparently it was 82% disc versions sold in the US as of 2024.

All of which are playable on PS5 and PC. Indiana Jones is available on Switch 2 on top of all that.