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[German Shocks]

There are currently more peoples downloading digital games than ever before. (90%)

Sony don't need you fans of physical media anymore for profitability. In fact, it's more profitable for Sony to operate in avenues where everyone is buying their first digital product with insatiable appetites than to try and cater to whatever YOU like.

It's effectively over and writing letters to your local Senator won't change this fact.

And that boys and girls is the world in 2026.
Face it.

 

[Hero_Select]

ok.

 

[Varteras]

 

[Guilty_AI]

hm

 

[PauloRoberto]

I'd say 65%~75% of the tantruns here are man-childs looking for likes...and they WILL buy a PS6 (not on launch).

And i have all reasons to be pissed, i just bought a PS5 Pro and disc drive :-D

 

[bitbydeath]

I'd like to argue for physical games but admittedly haven't purchased one since Knack. (Part of the problem)

 

[HRK69]

Digital all the way baby

 

[Tobimacoss]

I'd like to argue for physical games but admittedly haven't purchased one since Knack. (Part of the problem)

Can you imagine, if instead of buying Bungie, there could've been a new AAA Knack title every year for 20 years.

Sony definitely don't care for Knack fans.

 

[crazyriddler]

By starting your argument with a division between "digital" and "physical" players, you're showing that you're not the brightest person around.

Regardless of the size of the digital market, the physical market is huge, especially for AAA games, and besides, most people own both digital and physical games.

Therefore, agreeing with something that restricts users' options and only benefits Sony just because you're not a fan of physical games is just plain stupid.

 

[Fabieter]

 

[Stuart360]

Honestly a few months after physical stops, there will be thread after thread on here with titles like 'I was so wrong about digital, its way better', etc.

I was the same when i went PC only towards the end of the 360/PS3 gen. I made quite a few posts on old Gaf about have to be digital only, but very quickly i realised the benefits, and simply realised its way better, easier, and cheaper.

 

[rkofan87]

and I got tossed out of the other thread for adding nothing dear God

 

[Saber]

What about the vast difference between the physical version buyers to digital-only ones?

 

[TKOFromTokyo]

I agree. I also don't need them.

 

[Loomy]

Me searching the internet for Sony news to get in on the thread game.

 

[Soodanim]

By starting your argument with a division between "digital" and "physical" players, you're showing that you're not the brightest person around.

Regardless of the size of the digital market, the physical market is huge, especially for AAA games, and besides, most people own both digital and physical games.

Therefore, agreeing with something that restricts users' options and only benefits Sony just because you're not a fan of physical games is just plain stupid.

I'm pretty sure he's just being bluntly realistic.

 

[CrustyBritches]

What's the ratio of PS5's sold, Disc Edition vs Digital Edition? I know prior to most recent price hike, the $450 Disc Edition sold out in days, while the cheaper $400 Digital Edition was available for an additional 3-4 weeks.

 

[Danjin44]

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

You know what? I think I WILL take my ball and go home.

 

[RCU005]

Make your bets, is the PS6 going to sell Wii U levels, or PS2 levels?

 

[Puscifer]

There are currently more peoples downloading digital games than ever before. (90%)

Sony don't need you fans of physical media anymore for profitability. In fact, it's more profitable for Sony to operate in avenues where everyone is buying their first digital product with insatiable appetites than to try and cater to whatever YOU like.

It's effectively over and writing letters to your local Senator won't change this fact.

And that boys and girls is the world in 2026.
Face it.

Look I'm not going to dissuade you but the insomniac leak really showed us there's a bullshit war on physical and that it was a borderline split between physical and digital sales except for stuff like sports and call of duty.

Sure, we have people buying DmC 5 for 8 bucks 6 years after the fact that gets Sony and Capcom money but if the numbers are true and rounding down that means suddenly out of 100 million PS5 owners that another 40 million of them suddenly went all digital? I'm not buying it. Show me another real report and I'll say shut up but all Sony did was ride the wave of GTA 6 as an opportunity to kill ownership.

That game was their Trojan horse and it shouldn't be a surprise that arrogant Sony who invented online passes did this.

Fuck off Sony. I was gonna at least keep my PS5 for GTA 6 but I'm out.

 

[RCU005]

What's the ratio of PS5's sold, Disc Edition vs Digital Edition? I know prior to most recent price hike, the $450 Disc Edition sold out in days, while the cheaper $400 Digital Edition was available for an additional 3-4 weeks.

I believe the Ps5 Disc Edition has sold way more (past 60%), but the issue is how many people that have a Disc Edition, actually preferred to buy Digital games anyway?

 

[Fabieter]

Honestly a few months after physical stops, there will be thread after thread on here with titles like 'I was so wrong about digital, its way better', etc.

I was the same when i went PC only towards the end of the 360/PS3 gen. I made quite a few posts on old Gaf about have to be digital only, but very quickly i realised the benefits, and simply realised its way better, easier, and cheaper.

Oh boy! The only way you are right is if sony allows full key store support for psn games were i can get games cheaper.

The pc comparison is stupid otherwise.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

If they didn't need us, Concord would have made it more than 2 weeks.

 

[MMaRsu]

85% includes digital only games such as indies, and also dlc.

You dont even know what youre talking about.

 

[Banjo64]

We've seen time and time again that it is the 1% that influences the 99% in this business so let's wait and see buddy.

Sony right now are positioning themselves as the worst case scenario.

You want console gaming, Switch 2 is affordable, viable and supports the benefits of traditional ownership.

You want digital only ownership, PC is right there, and pre-builds are relatively affordable and feature no online paywalls.

And then, Sony's first party standards have absolutely tanked in the last 8 years.

Let's see where we go from here.

 

[Bojji]

Honestly a few months after physical stops, there will be thread after thread on here with titles like 'I was so wrong about digital, its way better', etc.

I was the same when i went PC only towards the end of the 360/PS3 gen. I made quite a few posts on old Gaf about have to be digital only, but very quickly i realised the benefits, and simply realised its way better, easier, and cheaper.

It won't be cheaper lol

Sony is gonna increase the prices because... why not? Who is gonna stop them? Consumers have no other option anyway.

Digital DD2 vs. NEW physical copy:

 

[German Shocks]

85% includes digital only games such as indies, and also dlc.

You dont even know what youre talking about.

 

[Stuart360]

Oh boy! The only way you are right is if sony allows full key store support for psn games were i can get games cheaper.

The pc comparison is stupid otherwise.

Well Xbox already allows it. You can get tons of Xbox games on key sites already.
Sony just needs to get with the times.

 

[Fabieter]

85% includes digital only games such as indies, and also dlc.

You dont even know what youre talking about.

Even if the 85% would be actually usable(it isnt) why are consumers bringing this shit up?

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

I'm happy for them not needing me, but will you be happy needing them? If you weren't born after 2015 then they don't want your old ass as a customer. They just want that new gen youth.

 

[rkofan87]

Digital all the way baby

same bro

 

[MisterXDTV]

What's the ratio of PS5's sold, Disc Edition vs Digital Edition? I know prior to most recent price hike, the $450 Disc Edition sold out in days, while the cheaper $400 Digital Edition was available for an additional 3-4 weeks.

It means nothing because many people have the disc drive built into the console but never use it anyway.

What matters is software sales

I already posted the split

78 to 22 for the fiscal year just ended: April 1, 2025 - March 31, 2026

 

[MMaRsu]

It is you who is wrong, and everybody in this topic has already told you so.

 

[Fabieter]

Well Xbox already allows it. You can get tons of Xbox games on key sites already.
Sony just needs to get with the times.

They want full control. They only want you to have access to ps games through their anti consumer store.

It wont happen.

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

It won't be cheaper lol

Sony is gonna increase the prices because... why not? Who is gonna stop them? Consumers have no other option anyway.

Digital DD2 vs. NEW physical copy:

Don't forget they now have dynamic pricing for digital.

I can't wait for all the digital only people to cry during the PS6 gen because they aren't getting discounts anymore.

"Don't give them a discount. They buy digital games. Give ALL the discounts to the people who had a high physical attach rate."

 

[German Shocks]

It is you who is wrong, and everybody in this topic has already told you so.

 

[justiceiro]

So tired of people telling me that I make no difference. If you make no difference, that's on you. I know I do. I'm not a corporate bootlicker that will gladly accept corporations pushing away my benefits just to have more control. I will make myself heard and will get what I want one way or another. Fuck everyone else.

 

[DeepEnigma]

They showed me they didn't need me by their first party HR slop output (and GaaS focus) alone this gen.

I went from spending $500-$1000+ a year on their platforms since the PS1, to being very, very selective with my purchasing principals.

Now it's 1 to 2 games a year, if that.

 

[0neAnd0nly]

There are currently more peoples downloading digital games than ever before. (90%)

Sony don't need you fans of physical media anymore for profitability. In fact, it's more profitable for Sony to operate in avenues where everyone is buying their first digital product with insatiable appetites than to try and cater to whatever YOU like.

It's effectively over and writing letters to your local Senator won't change this fact.

And that boys and girls is the world in 2026.
Face it.

The number isn't actually 10%, Sony crafted those numbers to look that way, but the deep dive suggest it is less than such (do your own googling to see the breakdown).

Did Sony pick up the paid PR team that XBOX fired? This is the most corporate bootlicker / anti-consumer post one could make. Has that true Sony cockiness from PS3 era written all over it (and I was one of the early ps3 adopters, so I can say that).

 

[CrustyBritches]

I believe the Ps5 Disc Edition has sold way more (past 60%), but the issue is how many people that have a Disc Edition, actually preferred to buy Digital games anyway?

Maybe they like the option to support their past PS4/PS5 purchases, want the ability to get the occasional disc game, have a blu-ray collection, etc. Going digital-only on a $1k+ console isn't going to increase the user base. I will guarantee that.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

You know what's the irony? The console experience should be a premium one. Just like with music a very small % of people still buy vinyls, but those people are 10 times more valuable that your average costumer.

So... Sony needs to figure out a new "physical medium" for "culture, identity and deffentiator" factors

 

[Stuart360]

They want full control. They only want you to have access to ps games through their anti consumer store.

It wont happen.

See for me that would be way worse than droping physical. And you Sony fanboys should be real pissed if they dont allow outside keys being used. Everyone else does.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

They showed me they didn't need me by their first party HR slop output (and GaaS focus) alone this gen.

I went from spending $500-$1000+ a year on their platforms since the PS1, to being very, very selective with my purchasing principals.

To be fair to all gaming, I've changed but that has come with age. I spend more on sales than I did before. Very few games day 1 although the last few years have been better overall.

When PS1 was new and hot I was nearing my college years. I still have lots of equity but I'm not 18 anymore either. Still love the tech and the business of the industry though and some games till touch me.

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

They showed me they didn't need me by their first party HR slop output (and GaaS focus) alone this gen.

I went from spending $500-$1000+ a year on their platforms since the PS1, to being very, very selective with my purchasing principals.

Now it's 1 to 2 games a year if that.

During PS4 I bought 1 - 2 full priced physical games a month on average. Now I buy maybe two games a year, and that includes digital games on sale.

I think the last PS5 game I bought was astrobot.

Correction, I bought metro exodus gold edition three months ago for $5.

 

[Fabieter]

See for me that would be way worse than droping digital. And you Sony fanboys should be real pissed if they dont allow outside keys being used. Everyone else does.

I agree but sony showed today they dont cwre about anything.

 

[0neAnd0nly]

They showed me they didn't need me by their first party HR slop output (and GaaS focus) alone this gen.

I went from spending $500-$1000+ a year on their platforms since the PS1, to being very, very selective with my purchasing principals.

Now it's 1 to 2 games a year if that.

Yep. The fall from grace (at least for me personally) started at the end of ps4, and has continued to infect my ps5 experience. I own the ps5, but I have seldom enjoyed much of anything they have done, or decisions they have made. The next generation I can't forsee myself buying Playstation again which sucks. But their goodwill dried up with me, starting with the garbage output after the legendary ps2 - most of the ps4 run they had. Sucks.

I feel really pushed out of the console space entirely, which also sucks. Nintendo is the only one I have any real goodwill towards anymore, and it isn't a lot. PC building will be priced out of most peoples budget, so I guess I am just over it.

 

[DeepEnigma]

To be fair to all gaming, I've changed but that has come with age. I spend more on sales than I did before. Very few games day 1 although the last few years have been better overall.

When PS1 was new and hot I was nearing my college years. I still have lots of equity but I'm not 18 anymore either. Still love the tech and the business of the industry though and some games till touch me.

Oh absolutely. Same boat as you down to the age demographic as well. But now I won't even look at them for third party games that are also on the PC, and nothing first party has my interest, at all.

If GTA6 was day and date on the PC, that's where I'd be with it.

 

[Topher]

I don't need them either. Sony has been trying to tell me that all gen long, but I was just being stubborn. I get it now. I'll just move over to PC and Nintendo from now on. Not a worry in the world.

 

[Aion002]

Some said similar things earlier this gen about xbox.. Things like:


Xbox doesn't need the hardcore gamers, the average consumer will see the series s cheaper than the ps5 and sony will be doomed.

Xbox doesn't need exclusives, gamepass is the best deal in gaming.