It was bound to happen sooner or later; NPD has released market research for the first six months of 2010. Their findings have shown that digital downloads have sold more than physical copies of games from retail stores and online shops.
Of course, their findings are based on market research conducted in America, but seeing as the USA is the largest gaming market in the world it’s fair to say that their findings hold a bit of weight. Between January 2010 and June 2010, 11.2 million units have been sold through digital distribution. How many physical copies have been sold?
A mere 8.2 million. It’s obvious that game distribution is going digital. Of course, physical copies aren’t going anywhere just yet, especially when one takes into consideration that physical still generates more money despite digital overtaking in sales. This is largely thanks to inflated prices through retail stores however.
What’s also interesting to note is that, according to reports on 1Up.com, Steam and Blizzard were not approached by NPD at all during this research. Even Brad Wardell (CEO of Impulse, the online game distribution platform) has not put much stock in NPD’s figures saying they “don’t tend to have much reflection on realityâ€. With big companies in the gaming industry raising their eyebrows in response to NPD’s findings, one cannot help but question the validity of the stats. And then there’s Geoff’s post from earlier this year that said almost the complete opposite of what NPD has found. Is anyone else confused?
These are definitely going to be interesting figures to keep an eye on over the coming months and years. I for one will be a little sad when games are only available through digital distribution, but I thought the same thing when MP3s started overtaking CDs.
Source: 1Up
Last Updated: September 21, 2010
Mr Peace
September 21, 2010 at 13:43
Disgusting! Anyone who buys digital should be tarred and feathered. They’re a disgrace to gamers aroudn the world.
ewie
September 21, 2010 at 14:54
I take it they are talking only PC games, and big releases like starcraft etc. Because if only 11.2 Million units have been sold digitaly then the gaming market is in a big dip.
Miklós Szecsei
September 21, 2010 at 20:06
Yes, I’m sure this is PC only. It’d be interesting to see the figures across platforms taking PSN, XBL and WiiWare downloads into account.
brian577
October 1, 2010 at 05:23
Luddites like you should be tarred and feathered 😆
James the Zombieeater
October 1, 2010 at 10:33
I think one of the reasons why some of us are so absolutely against digital sales is the fact that you have nothing substantial in your hands. I think the concept is just too alien for anyone above 25. I still prefer to buy actual CDs rather than DRMed mp3s from online retailers, because if I wanted mp3s for my ipod, I would just rip a CD. I suppose it’s more convenient to buy the mp3s, but the “item” feels almost surreal, almost as if you’ve just purchased air. Games and movies are the same, I’d rather feel the box in my hand, and physically handle the DVD or blu-ray disk.