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PlayStation ditching physical games is "a bridge across the bad years" of high hardware costs, analyst says, but it means "casuals and youngsters will drift off to mobile, PC, and free-to-play even faster"
Industry analyst Rhys Elliott suggests Sony's decision to phase out physical PlayStation games by 2028 is a short-term strategy to offset high hardware costs. While it may improve margins during a difficult period, it risks alienating budget-conscious and younger players who might then drift to mobile, PC, or free-to-play markets.
Resident Evil 4 Has Sold More Than Twice As Much As Any Other Current-Gen Remake
The Resident Evil 4 remake has achieved 16.8 million lifetime sales, significantly outselling other current-generation remakes like Ark: Survival Ascended and The Last of Us Part I. Data from Alinea Analytics indicates that remakes are a vital and less risky revenue stream for publishers, providing a proven design and fanbase compared to new intellectual property.
Just seven games: the shrinking state of physical PlayStation sales in 2026
Physical sales of PlayStation games in the US have drastically declined, with only seven titles selling over 100,000 copies since the start of 2026. This trend is exacerbated by the increasing prevalence of digital-only consoles like the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S. Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to cease production of new disc-based titles by January 2028, signaling a significant shift away from physical media.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced enjoys the best launch of any AC game on Steam, making avast sum of money there
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has achieved the biggest launch for an Assassin's Creed title on Steam, generating $35.1 million in revenue as of July 13th. Data from Alinea Analytics indicates that the game sold 701,000 copies on Steam alone, significantly outperforming recent releases like Assassin's Creed Shadows. Despite strong sales, the game has faced some backlash regarding its launch-day DLC and microtransactions.
Data analysis suggests that Steam has made $11B in the first half of this year already
Data analysis from Alinea Analytics suggests Valve's Steam platform has generated $11.1 billion in revenue in the first half of the year, a 14.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to a surge in players in China, successful co-op releases, publishers returning to Steam, and increased sales of both new and back catalogue games. However, the analysis also warns that this growth may exacerbate discoverability issues for smaller studios and new intellectual property.
Steam has raked in an estimated $11.1 billion gross revenue so far this year, says market analyst—its…
A report from Alinea Analytics indicates that Steam generated an estimated $11.1 billion in gross revenue in the first half of 2026, marking its highest-ever six-month period. This growth is attributed to factors like increased game prices, successful new releases, and the return of third-party publishers like Ubisoft to the platform.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced "is on track to be a much-needed hit for Ubisoft," says analyst, selling 5 times the Steam copies Assassin's Creed Shadows did pre-release
Analyst Rhys Elliott suggests that the upcoming remake, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, is poised to be a significant success for Ubisoft, potentially revitalizing the company. Pre-release sales on Steam for Resynced have already surpassed those of Assassin's Creed Shadows and even the lifetime sales of Skull and Bones, indicating strong anticipation driven by nostalgia and the game's PC presence.
Resident Evil Requiem, 007 First Light, and Crimson Desert Are 2026’s Top-Selling PS5 Games – Rumor
A report from Alinea Analytics estimates the top-selling PlayStation 5 games of 2026, with Resident Evil Requiem leading sales at 3.5 million copies. Other titles mentioned include 007 First Light, Crimson Desert, and Forza Horizon 5, with Forza Horizon 6 also anticipated. The report focuses on physical sales figures and revenue generated on the PlayStation 5 platform.
Why Is Sony Killing Discs? It’s “All About Profitability And Control,” Expert Says
Sony will discontinue support for PlayStation game discs in January 2028, citing the increasing share of digital game sales. Analyst Rhys Elliott suggests this move prioritizes profitability and control for Sony by eliminating the second-hand market and encouraging full-price digital purchases. While potentially detrimental to consumers and retailers, the shift could benefit developers by allowing for later submission of final game builds.
Top 6 Best-Selling Games Of 2026, So Far
Alinea Analytics has released sales data for the first half of 2026, with Meccha Chameleon leading the charts with 13 million copies sold across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. FC 26 and Resident Evil Requiem also showed strong performance, rounding out the top sellers.
Fascinating PS5 Sales Estimates Peg Ghost of Yotei as a Triumph
Alinea Analytics has provided sales estimates for first-party PlayStation 5 games, indicating Ghost of Yotei as a significant success with 4.8 million units sold. Other titles like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and MLB The Show 26 also performed well, though Saros and Marathon appear to be underperforming significantly. The data suggests a strong market for Sony's cinematic single-player titles.
James Bond game 007 First Light sales estimated to have reached an impressive milestone a week after launch
The James Bond game 007 First Light has reportedly surpassed two million copies sold within its first week, according to analyst Rhyss Elliot of Alinea Analytics. The game has generated an estimated $150 million, with PlayStation platforms accounting for the majority of both sales and revenue. Additionally, the article lists new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June, including Herdling, Frog Sqwad, and Persona 5 Royal.
Forza Horizon 6 Has Sold Almost 5 Million Copies – Rumor
According to estimates from Alinea Analytics, Forza Horizon 6 has sold approximately 4.9 million copies across PC and Xbox Series X/S, generating over $325 million in revenue. Despite being available on Game Pass, the game has seen strong performance on Xbox platforms and Steam, with a significant portion of players utilizing the subscription service. A PlayStation 5 release is anticipated later this year.
Forza Horizon 6 sells 4.9 million copies despite Xbox Game Pass "cannibalizing" revenue, says analyst
Forza Horizon 6 has achieved 4.9 million in sales since its launch, generating $325 million, with a significant portion sold through the Xbox storefront and Game Pass. Analyst Rhys Elliott notes that while Game Pass is cannibalizing direct sales, Microsoft may be banking on subscription lifetime value, though subscription growth is stagnating.
Subnautica 2 outpaces Crimson Desert, Slay the Spire 2, and more to become "Steam's fastest-selling 2026 game…
Subnautica 2 has become Steam's fastest-selling game of 2026, selling 4.1 million copies in its first week, with four million of those on Steam. The game has generated $100 million in revenue, with $96 million coming from Steam sales. It is outperforming other major releases like Crimson Desert and Slay the Spire 2 in terms of sales speed.
Saros is selling worse than Returnal, analyst estimates, as it competes with hits like Crimson Desert and Resident Evil…
Analyst Rhys Elliott estimates that Housemarque's new roguelike, Saros, has sold over 300,000 copies in its first two weeks, generating over $22 million. This performance is considered weaker than its predecessor, Returnal, due to a crowded market of recent blockbuster releases. Elliott suggests Saros may struggle to break even against its reported budget exceeding $76 million.
Saros PS5 Sales Estimates at 300k, Selling Slower Than Returnal on a Bigger Install Base
Sales estimates from Alinea Analytics suggest that Saros has sold approximately 300,000 copies on PlayStation 5 since its launch two weeks ago. Analyst Rhys Elliot notes that this sales figure may be slower than Returnal's performance, despite the PlayStation 5's significantly larger install base compared to when Returnal was released.
Saros May Struggle To Recoup Its Budget, Despite Great Reviews - Analyst
Despite receiving excellent reviews and being a contender for Game of the Year, Housemarque's Saros may struggle to recoup its reported $76 million development budget due to slower sales compared to its predecessor, Returnal. Analyst Rhys Elliott estimates Saros sold around 300,000 copies in its first two weeks, with a significant portion of players having previously purchased Returnal. The game's performance is being closely watched as an indicator of Sony's strategy for its PlayStation 5 exclusives.
Windrose closes in on two million sales, joining the new games and studios that dominated 2026 so far
The pirate adventure game Windrose has achieved nearly two million sales, leading a trend of smaller studios and original IPs dominating the market in early 2026. Other successful titles include Crimson Desert, FC 26, Pragmata, and Slay the Spire 2, indicating a shift away from AAA dominance towards innovative indie and AA experiences.
Xbox Games On PlayStation Have Made A Staggering Amount Of Money, Report Says
A report from Alinea Analytics indicates that Xbox games released on PlayStation 5 have generated over $650 million in gross revenue. Forza Horizon 5 led sales with over 5.8 million copies, followed by Sea of Thieves and Oblivion Remastered. This data suggests a significant market for Xbox titles on Sony's platform, despite ongoing discussions about the company's multiplatform strategy.
