Mat Piscatella
Reporting and statements that mention Mat Piscatella.
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Industry analyst reports only 7 PlayStation games 'have sold more than 100,000 physical units year-to-date' in the US, as fans demand Sony kill its plan to end the production of discs
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella reports that only seven PlayStation games have sold over 100,000 physical units in the US year-to-date, with only two selling over 10,000 in a single week. This data emerges as fans protest Sony's planned discontinuation of physical disc production in January 2028, though analysts suggest the company will not reverse its decision due to the profitability of digital sales.
US physical game sales hit new low as dev hits out at fans over digital protests
US physical game sales have reached a new low, with only seven games selling over 100,000 physical copies in the past year, according to analyst Mat Piscatella. This trend is contributing to Sony's decision to phase out physical releases for PlayStation games after 2027, despite consumer backlash. Chet Faliszek noted that consumer preference for digital purchases, which account for 85% of PlayStation 4 and 5 sales, is driving this industry shift.
Despite outrage at Sony's shift towards a discless future, only seven PlayStation games have managed more than 100,000 physical sales in the US this year
Despite consumer outcry, only seven PlayStation games have sold over 100,000 physical copies in the US this year, highlighting Sony's business rationale for shifting away from physical discs. Analyst Mat Piscatella noted that in a single week, only two PlayStation games exceeded 10,000 physical sales. Sony plans to cease physical disc production in January 2028.
Two PlayStation Games Sold Over 10,000 Physical Copies in the Week Ending on July 11th – Analyst
Analyst Mat Piscatella noted that only two PlayStation games sold over 10,000 physical copies in the week ending July 11th, with only seven exceeding 100,000 for the year. Despite fan backlash, retailers like GameStop are not opposing Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production in January 2028, citing a natural shift towards digital media preferences.
Only 7 PlayStation games have sold over 100,000 physical copies in the US this year, says analyst, as commenters demand…
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella reports that only seven PlayStation games have sold over 100,000 physical copies in the US this year, suggesting a decline in physical media sales. Despite fan outcry for physical discs, data indicates that digital sales are dominant, with over half of Xbox Series consoles and a quarter of PlayStation 5 consoles lacking physical drives.
Grieving Destiny 2 players on Steam boosted the game from 32nd place all the way up to 5th for US active users last…
Destiny 2 experienced a significant surge in player engagement on Steam, climbing from 32nd to 5th place in monthly active US users according to data from Mat Piscatella. This boost occurred following Bungie's final update for the game, despite recent layoffs impacting the Destiny 2 team as Bungie shifts focus to Marathon.
Half of all games released on Steam will use AI by 2028, study predicts: "AI lowers the barrier not just to make a…
A study by former developer Sulka Haro predicts that by 2028, half of all games released on Steam will incorporate AI-generated content. Currently, around 31% of new Steam games admit to using AI. Haro's analysis suggests that AI tools lower the barrier to entry for game creation, potentially increasing shovelware, though the majority of publishers have not yet released AI-assisted games.
"Good games will get cloned and buried" – AI vibe coding is one of the biggest threats on storefronts…
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella warns that AI-assisted game development, specifically "vibe coding," poses a significant threat to game discovery on digital storefronts like Steam. This technology allows for rapid cloning of existing games, potentially burying original titles and making it even harder for new games to gain visibility. Piscatella expresses concern that this trend, combined with the already challenging discovery landscape, is detrimental to the market.
Your Loyalty To Sony Or Xbox Means Nothing, Analyst Says
Analyst Mat Piscatella states that consumer loyalty to platforms like PlayStation or Xbox means nothing to corporations, as profitability is the sole driver. With the projected high cost of future consoles and the significantly higher margins on digital game sales compared to physical discs, companies like Sony are prioritizing digital distribution. This shift is seen as irreversible due to the lucrative nature of digital sales, despite concerns about game preservation.
Microsoft Spent $80 Billion On Its Bet For Xbox Game Pass. It Did Not Work.
A report indicates Microsoft spent nearly $80 billion over the past decade on initiatives to boost Xbox and Xbox Game Pass, but these efforts did not meet growth expectations. Despite significant investments in acquisitions and third-party deals, Game Pass subscriber numbers have stagnated, leading to recent layoffs and studio divestitures as Microsoft aims to refocus its strategy.
Nintendo probably won't ditch physical games just because PlayStation is, analyst predicts: "Nintendo is going…
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella predicts Nintendo will not follow Sony's lead in phasing out new physical game releases by 2028. Piscatella stated that Nintendo operates independently and is unlikely to alter its strategy based on competitors' decisions. Despite the industry shift towards digital, Nintendo maintains a strong physical market share, particularly with the Nintendo Switch.
The Console Market Is Cooked
The console market is facing significant price increases for both Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 Pro models, driven by a global chip shortage exacerbated by AI development and data center construction. Changing player habits, with a shift towards mobile gaming, also contribute to market volatility. Industry analyst Mat Piscatella discusses these factors, alongside AAA development costs and inflation, suggesting a shrinking console audience as prices rise.
Circana says that it seems unlikely that Nintendo will abandon physical media
Circana's Mat Piscatella suggests it is unlikely Nintendo will discontinue physical media, despite PlayStation phasing out physical games by 2028 and Xbox potentially following suit with their next console. This comes as speculation arises about Nintendo's future strategy regarding physical game releases.
Nintendo Could Inherit The Physical Gaming Crown By Default
Sony and Microsoft are rumored to be moving towards digital-only consoles for their next generations, potentially leaving Nintendo as the sole major manufacturer still supporting physical game releases. Industry analyst Mat Piscatella believes Nintendo will continue its own strategy, unaffected by competitors' shifts. While Nintendo Switch has a strong physical market share, a significant portion of its sales are digital, and some physical releases utilize Game-Key Cards, raising concerns about long-term game preservation.
Nintendo is Unlikely to Follow in Sony’s Footsteps to End Physical Game Production, Says Analyst
Analyst Mat Piscatella believes Nintendo is unlikely to cease physical game production, unlike Sony's planned shift to digital-only by 2028. Piscatella suggests Nintendo will continue supporting physical media through at least the Nintendo Switch 2's lifecycle, citing the company's independent approach and reliance of retail outlets on its sales. This contrasts with Sony's move, which is expected to influence future consoles like the PlayStation 6 and Project Helix to be digital-only.
PlayStation Games Will Go Fully Digital From January 2028 Onwards
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that PlayStation 5 games will transition to a fully digital-only format starting January 2028. This decision, driven by changing consumer preferences and industry trends, means physical disc releases will cease, with retail copies becoming codes sold in boxes. This move aligns with the growing popularity of digital distribution and may indicate future PlayStation consoles will omit disc drives entirely.
As GTA 6 abandons discs, analyst reveals physical games sales in the US actually grew for the first time in 17 years
Despite Grand Theft Auto 6's digital-only launch plan, US physical game sales saw a 3% year-on-year increase for the 12 months ending May 2026, marking the first growth since 2009. Analyst Mat Piscatella notes this uptick is likely temporary, with digital sales dominating and consoles increasingly lacking physical drives, suggesting a limited future for physical media.
Both PS5 and Xbox Series X sales were down in May
Sales for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X experienced significant drops in May, with Sony seeing a 58 percent decrease in units sold and Xbox Series X units falling 12 percent. Despite overall hardware spending growing seven percent year-over-year due to price increases, the Nintendo Switch continued to perform well, offsetting the declines of the other consoles.
PlayStation and Xbox console sales hit record lows in US amid price hikes
US console sales for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S have reached record lows in May, attributed to significant price increases. While overall hardware spending grew due to the Nintendo Switch's strong performance, the average price paid for consoles has risen substantially. This trend is expected to continue until major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 in November.
PS5 And Xbox Series X Both Didn’t Sell Very Well In May
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S experienced a significant drop in unit sales in May, despite an overall increase in hardware spending. Sony sold 58% fewer PS5 units compared to May 2025, marking the lowest May sales since 2000. Xbox unit sales fell 12%, the worst May performance since its launch, though Microsoft saw hardware spending increase due to price hikes. The Nintendo Switch continued its success, offsetting the declines of the other consoles.
