Gaming booms outside the US

The future of gaming is being written on a deadline. Sony has set a firm target, announcing plans to cease manufacturing physical PlayStation game discs by 2028. This move is predicated on the idea that the majority of consumers have happily embraced the convenience of digital downloads.

While the shift toward digital ownership is undeniable in many markets, the picture for physical media ownership is far more complex. It turns out that the enthusiasm for owning a game physically doesn’t disappear; it simply changes its geography.

Take the recent success of a title like Resident Evil Requiem, which has racked up 8 million copies sold. This game’s performance highlights a fascinating global divide regarding how players prefer to interact with their games.

In the United States, the trend leans heavily digital, accounting for only about 22% of sales in physical disc form. However, when we look across the globe, the preference for physical copies remains surprisingly robust.

In regions like France, physical sales accounted for a substantial 55% of the total. Japan followed closely with 51%, and Australia and the United Kingdom also showed significant adherence to physical media, with respective percentages of 43% and 40% for the Resident Evil Requiem sales.

This stark difference tells a compelling story: the perceived value of owning a physical copy is highly dependent on the local market. While North American consumers may be prioritizing convenience, other regions demonstrate a powerful cultural connection to the tactile experience of owning a game.

This dynamic is further evidenced by the wider industry trend. Even major publishers, such as Capcom, confirm this shift, noting that most of their sales now occur through digital channels, with 95% of their sales being digital.

Despite the industry push toward digital-first gaming, the resilience of physical sales proves that a strong segment of the consumer base still prefers the tangible experience. As the 2028 deadline approaches, the real question isn’t whether games will be digital, but how the global appetite for physical ownership will evolve in the face of technological change.