A leading industry analyst predicts Sony may abandon physical game releases by the PlayStation 7 launch. While the PlayStation 5 offers both disc and digital versions, market trends suggest a potential shift towards a fully digital future for subsequent consoles.
The decline of physical game releases is already evident. Major titles like Alan Wake 2 and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 skipped disc editions, mirroring the PC market's all-digital landscape. Xbox's moves, including the disc-less Xbox Series S and the upcoming all-digital Xbox Series X, further reinforce this trend, prompting speculation about PlayStation's future strategy.
Although PlayStation continues to release physical copies of its first-party games, digital sales consistently outpace physical sales. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella suggests PlayStation might maintain physical releases for one more generation, implying the PlayStation 7 could be entirely digital, similar to the PS5 Digital Edition. He also forecasts Nintendo's continued use of physical media for two more generations, while predicting an all-digital future for Xbox.
Analyst Forecasts End of Physical PlayStation Games Within a Generation
Piscatella's insights carry weight, given his role as executive director at the NPD Group, a key tracker of US console, game, and accessory sales. Xbox's digital-first approach is well-documented, and while PlayStation still sees significant physical sales, the digital share continues to grow.
Digital game sales are significantly more profitable for publishers due to reduced production, packaging, shipping, and retail costs. Despite its apparent commitment to physical media, Sony actively encourages digital purchases through promotions like Days of Play and loyalty programs such as PlayStation Stars. The eventual disappearance of disc drives from consoles is a distinct possibility, although the PlayStation 7's status as a purely digital console remains uncertain.
