Digital Sales
Ongoing coverage on Digital Sales.
Latest coverage
PlayStation fans plan PS5 protest with one week of not playing any video games
A group of PlayStation gamers are organizing a week-long 'blackout' protest from August 23 to August 30, urging participants to avoid playing any games on Sony's platforms. This action is in response to Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs after 2027, which organizers believe further alienates the fanbase. While the protest aims to impact active player metrics, its effectiveness in reversing Sony's decision is questioned due to the growing dominance of digital sales.
Nintendo Switch eShop latest sales: lowest prices ever for Astalon: Tears of the Earth, Project Highrise, Ruiner, more
The North American Nintendo Switch eShop is featuring new digital sales, including the lowest prices ever for games like Astalon: Tears of the Earth, Project Highrise, and Ruiner. The article lists a comprehensive selection of discounted titles available on the platform.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s PS5 “Physical” Release Will be Region-Locked
Rockstar Games has confirmed that the physical PlayStation 5 release of Grand Theft Auto 6 will be region-locked, preventing codes purchased in one region from being used in another. This restriction does not apply to the Xbox Series X/S version. Despite these controversial decisions, the game has seen record pre-orders and is projected to generate billions in its first week.
Weekend Console Download Deals for July 24: PlayStation & Xbox Summer Sales continue
The PlayStation Summer Sale and Xbox Ultimate Game Sale are ongoing, offering discounts on a wide range of titles for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The Nintendo eShop also features deals, including a sale on Balatro for the Nintendo Switch. PlayStation Plus members can also access free games.
PS5 developers are being told not to talk about physical games on socials
Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly enforcing strict social media guidelines for its developers, preventing them from discussing the company's decision to cease physical game releases after 2027. Despite significant online backlash and petitions, Sony appears prepared for the negative reaction and is maintaining a unified public front, with industry figures like Hideo Kojima and Yoko Taro expressing disappointment.
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.
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.
Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts – July 19, 2026 – Splatoon Raiders shoots to the top before launch
The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop charts for the week of July 19, 2026, show Splatoon Raiders topping the list due to pre-loads ahead of its imminent launch. New releases Denshattack and Go-Go Town also made strong debuts on the charts.
Weekend Console Download Deals for July 17: PlayStation Summer Sale & Xbox Ultimate Game Sale
This weekend offers significant discounts on PlayStation and Xbox digital libraries, with sales like the PlayStation Summer Sale and Xbox Ultimate Game Sale. Notable deals include discounts on Elden Ring Nightreign, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and various first-party and third-party titles across both platforms. Nintendo also has a sale on the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection.
God of War Laufey will have a physical disc on release
Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that God of War Laufey will include a physical disc, potentially marking the last physical release for the series due to Sony's planned phase-out of disc production by January 2028. This announcement follows similar confirmations for Grand Theft Auto VI and Marvel's Wolverine, and comes after Sony revealed its intention to cease disc manufacturing entirely, citing a shift towards digital sales. Other studios like Halo Studios are also ensuring disc options for their upcoming titles, though some may still require day-one downloads.
God Of War Laufey Will Be On A Disc, And That Tells Us When It Could Launch By
Santa Monica Studio confirmed that God of War Laufey will be released on disc, leading to speculation about its launch date before Sony phases out physical media in January 2028. Reporter Jason Schreier previously indicated a February or March 2027 release target for the game, which focuses on Faye's story. The article also touches on Sony's business decision to abandon physical discs and mentions Marvel's Wolverine will also be on disc for PlayStation 5.
PlayStation Ending Discs is Like Apple Shipping PCs Without Disc Drives in 2008, Says Analyst
Analyst Daniel Ahmad compares Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production to Apple's removal of disc drives from PCs in 2008, suggesting the move is a future-facing inevitability driven by the dominance of digital sales. He notes that digital sales now account for around 80% on PlayStation and over 90% on Xbox, with physical media representing only about 5% of Sony's software revenue. Ahmad believes this shift allows Sony to increase margins, strengthen its ecosystem by preventing game resales, and focus on higher-spending core gamers.
Nintendo Switch eShop latest sales: lowest prices ever for TMNT: Mutants Unleashed, BloodRayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites and BloodRayne: ReVamped, more
The North American Nintendo Switch eShop is featuring new sales, including the lowest prices ever for TMNT: Mutants Unleashed, BloodRayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites, and BloodRayne: ReVamped. The article lists numerous other discounted titles from various publishers, with prices and original costs provided for each.
Analyst says Sony going all-in on digital is like the death of PC disc drives: 'Not a single person is complaining…
Analyst Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners compares Sony's decision to stop producing physical game discs by 2028 to Apple removing CD drives from laptops, noting the shift towards digital sales is an inevitable platform-led push. While acknowledging potential consumer rights concerns, Ahmad suggests the trend is driven by the overwhelming majority of digital sales and Sony's increased profitability from its closed digital marketplace.
This Isn’t The First Time PlayStation (And Others) Tried To Kill Used Games
This article discusses how Sony's move away from physical media by 2028 is a culmination of past industry trends, specifically the 'online pass' system implemented by publishers like EA, Ubisoft, and PlayStation in the late 2000s and early 2010s. This practice required single-use codes for online functionality, effectively hindering the used game market and leading to consumer backlash. Despite initial justifications related to online service costs, the practice was phased out, and Sony even championed used games for the PlayStation 4. The article suggests that current market trends, favoring digital sales, now allow platform holders to reintroduce similar restrictions.
Xbox Is Teasing Something Big For Next Week Amid Disc-To-Digital Rumors
Xbox Insiders have been teased about a significant announcement coming next week, fueling rumors of a disc-to-digital program. This potential feature would allow players to transition their physical game libraries to digital formats. The news comes amid speculation about Xbox's next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, and follows Sony's controversial decision to cease PlayStation disc manufacturing in 2028.
'If not PS6, then PS7' — Analyst says PlayStation ending physical discs was bound to happen as 'the console ecosystem is nearly entirely digital at this point'
Analyst Daniel Ahmad believes Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation disc production in 2028 was inevitable due to the significant shift towards digital sales, which now account for around 80% on PlayStation and over 90% on Xbox. This move aligns with Sony's strategy to create a high-margin, closed digital ecosystem, controlling all software sales and eliminating the used game market.
PlayStation ending physical games is "like Apple removing the CD Drive from its laptops," says analyst: "Not a single person is complaining about it today"
Analyst Daniel Ahmad compares Sony's move away from physical PlayStation games to Apple's removal of CD drives from laptops, arguing the shift to digital is inevitable. He cites high digital sales percentages and publisher preferences for higher margins, while also discussing the future cost of consoles and the importance of consumer rights in a digital-first market.
Analysts say that 'digital is just too lucrative' for Sony and that PlayStation 'will not reverse' its decision to end physical disc production even in the face of fans cancelling PS Plus subscriptions
Analysts believe Sony will not reverse its decision to end physical disc production by 2028, despite fan backlash and subscription cancellations. Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games stated that digital sales are significantly more lucrative for Sony, making the potential loss of 1% of PlayStation Plus subscribers insufficient to alter the company's strategy. The profit margins for digital sales, especially for first-party titles where Sony retains 100% of the revenue, far outweigh those of physical copies.
"A hammer blow for games retail" - Experts weigh in on PlayStation's discless future, and the impact it will have on traditional game stores
Sony will cease large-scale production of new physical game discs in January 2028, a move industry experts are calling a "hammer blow" to the already struggling physical game retail market. This decision significantly impacts brick-and-mortar stores and the pre-owned games market, as physical copies lose their resale value and collectability. Experts suggest retailers will need to innovate with digital sales in-store to survive.
