I seldom buy physical games these days. In the past, I had shelves full of CD and DVD boxes of games, a physical reminder of the games I loved. Over the last two generations though, I’ve started buying more and more of my games digitally. Often it’s more than just for the sake of convenience, but also because of price – thanks to the perpetual sales that happen across all of my gaming platforms. I’m sure for many of you it’s the same – you almost exclusively buy games digitally.
That said, it’s just not the case for most people. While the “core” gamers within your circle probably just download their games, most sales are still through physical retail. That will, of course change in the future as more people embrace digital buying. GTA, NBA2K and Red Dead Redemption overlords Take-Two believes that within 20 years, the industry will be 100% digital.
“I think over the long-term, it will be 100% [digital],” Take-Two Interactive president Karl Slatoff said at the Credit Suisse 21st Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference (via GI.Biz). “I just can’t predict whether that’s five years, 10 years, or 20 years. It’s probably less than 20 and maybe more than five, but I think it ultimately gets there. That’s the zeitgeist. Things are moving in that direction.“Why I think it’s a little quicker than people imagined is honestly, Sony and Microsoft have done a really nice job with their services. You’ve got more people on Xbox Live, more people on PSN, and it helps. The friction is going away at a quicker rate because these platforms have been really well developed, and the consumers love it.”
Slatoff says that while most of their business comes from retail right now, that’s more than likely going to change soon.
“The truth is physical retail is still the majority of our business, and very important partners of ours,” he said. “And we want to do everything we can to support that environment. And we do. They’re very strong marketing and distribution partners for us. But again, it’s out of our control. Whether we want it or not, it looks like it’s going to happen eventually.”
It’s going to happen, and it’s going to be a bit sasadhen it does. There’s something magical about being able to physically hold something that makes it seem more real. The shift will also cripple local markets like ours, which largely rely on third-party distributors for our games and the local marketing around them.
Last Updated: November 30, 2017
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 30, 2017 at 11:57
Kiss your data goodbye. With games already hitting 100GB I don’t want to know what they’ll be in 5 years. Would be nice if they made an effort to make their downloads a bit more modular. I don’t need 4K textures or German audio.
Krabby Paddy
November 30, 2017 at 12:05
Yip and just imagine how screwed we plebs with slower internet will be when they start with 8k or 10k? I’m already screwed by the 4k.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 30, 2017 at 12:08
Exactly. Who know if/when my area will get fibre. So I’m stuck with Nvidia ADSL – it’s supposed to be 4mb, but I usually get 3.5mb.
Krabby Paddy
November 30, 2017 at 12:32
We can only hope they will feel sorry for us poor people and start having a 3rd world download option.
Admiral Chief Silver Dragon
November 30, 2017 at 12:44
Telkom finally stopped their crap with my 10mb, I ‘mostly’ get 10mb now, but at the minimum 8.
Used to be max 6 and average 4
Admiral Chief Silver Dragon
November 30, 2017 at 12:43
ACHTUNG! HIGH DEF!
Lord Chaos
November 30, 2017 at 13:10
Or just get a good ISP,
I LOVE my 10Mbps true uncapped/unshaped
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 30, 2017 at 13:31
Yes. Because changing my ISP will magically change the copper wire in my house.
Lord Chaos
November 30, 2017 at 13:34
I don’t have fiber, yet, I’m with a LoS wireless company
Guz
November 30, 2017 at 12:24
100 Gig game, download for about 2 weeks then you can play after 15 gig day one patch, not to mention worrying about getting throttled for overuse.
I’m not even downloading torrents, 100% legit use, man I need fiber but the cost *cries in corner
Krabby Paddy
November 30, 2017 at 12:29
I feel your pain. When Doom came out with a 32Gb patch. I just deleted it.
RinceThis
November 30, 2017 at 12:50
It will happen, totally agree
RinceThis
November 30, 2017 at 12:52
I remember the days when you bought a game… and there were NO later patches. Man, those were the days.
Admiral Chief Silver Dragon
November 30, 2017 at 13:00
BIG box, with extra loot inside, and EXPANSION PACKS that were cheaper than DLC with MORE content
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 30, 2017 at 13:00
Where the graphics were all made up and only the game play mattered.
Admiral Chief Silver Dragon
November 30, 2017 at 13:00
Smooth edges? BAH!
RinceThis
November 30, 2017 at 13:03
The feels!
Lord Chaos
November 30, 2017 at 13:08
You were eaten by a Grue
Original Heretic
November 30, 2017 at 13:11
I’m back into that right now!
My son’s birthday today, so I FINALLY got give him his SNES.
Hearing a 3 year old (yay, he’s finally 3!!) continually go “wow!” just looking at the box was so awesome.
But then I was delayed in getting ready for work, because all he wanted was my help in playing Mario.
YUP!! He’s now been introduced to Mario!
Original Heretic
November 30, 2017 at 13:12
Yeah, this is the way to go.
I pretty commented as much under the Injustice 2 article!
Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd
November 30, 2017 at 13:57
Also buying more and more digital lately than physical.