Eimran
Member
While platforms like Steam originate from the early 2000's, digital game sales did not know a significant boost until the seventh generation when Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo joined the digital era by creating digital stores. Initiallly the downloadable software consisted mostly of game add-ons or post-game released DLC. But since storage capacity kept increasing (especially since PS4 and XBOX one ) providing full games digtally became more casual.
Since internal storage capacity on consoles/PC and internet speed keeps increasing while costs are getting lower it is only logical that people are turning more digital.
Here is a timeline-analysis of the last decade based on physical vs digital sale comparison. While physical sales dominated digital sales in a 4 to 1 ratio, in less than 10 years almost 85% of the game sales appear to be all digital. I expect that the current lockdown-situation will boost it even more.
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/190225/digital-and-physical-game-sales-in-the-us-since-2009/
Microsoft even released an all digital consoles where no disc could be inserted or whatsoever. I expect that Microsoft will continue this trend and that Sony and Nintendo perhaps may follow.
However for me, the moment gaming goes all digital is the moment I stop modern gaming and go retro.
For me both digital and physical have their pro's and cons. Feel free to add.
Physical games:
Pro's:
- you own the games you buy.
- Can sell/lend the game once you finished them
- Can be bought cheaper from someone else
- A nice library if you are a collector
- No problems with licensing
Cons:
- Physical media can break or detoriate
- Can be lost/stolen
- Takes up space in house
- Some physical games have a download code to get the game online (so actually digital game with extra steps)
Digital games:
Pro's:
-No loss of disc or damage
-doesn't take space in your home
- library is available anywhere
- Don't have to get up to change discs
Cons:
- You technically don't own the game. You are only licensed to use it.
- Storage cost. Game sizes increase significantly in relation to average hard drive capacity. Hard drives are still limited (for now)
- Cannot be sold to friend or other
- Price is fixed. Unless discounted in store, you cannot buy it cheaper from someone who finished it.
- Digital licensing. Games with soundtracks (ex GTA) or licensed brands (cars in race games) run on annual contracts. If a developer decides to discontinue the contract the licensed product will be removed from the game. E.g music in gta remakes.
- Dependant on internet speed.
- Banned or hacked= library lost.
- Developer decides to take library online= library lost. E.g Nintendo took the wii-shop offline, causing the people who bought games digitally not being able to download the games they bought.
So while I see the advantages of digital gaming, for me the cons outmatch the pro's of an all digital future. Making games only buyable from the developer at fixed prices takes gives too much power to the big companies by taking it away from the costumer.
What are your toughts fellow gaffers. Keep in mind that the section above is merely my own opinion so keep it civil.
Since internal storage capacity on consoles/PC and internet speed keeps increasing while costs are getting lower it is only logical that people are turning more digital.
Here is a timeline-analysis of the last decade based on physical vs digital sale comparison. While physical sales dominated digital sales in a 4 to 1 ratio, in less than 10 years almost 85% of the game sales appear to be all digital. I expect that the current lockdown-situation will boost it even more.
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/190225/digital-and-physical-game-sales-in-the-us-since-2009/
Microsoft even released an all digital consoles where no disc could be inserted or whatsoever. I expect that Microsoft will continue this trend and that Sony and Nintendo perhaps may follow.
However for me, the moment gaming goes all digital is the moment I stop modern gaming and go retro.
For me both digital and physical have their pro's and cons. Feel free to add.
Physical games:
Pro's:
- you own the games you buy.
- Can sell/lend the game once you finished them
- Can be bought cheaper from someone else
- A nice library if you are a collector
- No problems with licensing
Cons:
- Physical media can break or detoriate
- Can be lost/stolen
- Takes up space in house
- Some physical games have a download code to get the game online (so actually digital game with extra steps)
Digital games:
Pro's:
-No loss of disc or damage
-doesn't take space in your home
- library is available anywhere
- Don't have to get up to change discs
Cons:
- You technically don't own the game. You are only licensed to use it.
- Storage cost. Game sizes increase significantly in relation to average hard drive capacity. Hard drives are still limited (for now)
- Cannot be sold to friend or other
- Price is fixed. Unless discounted in store, you cannot buy it cheaper from someone who finished it.
- Digital licensing. Games with soundtracks (ex GTA) or licensed brands (cars in race games) run on annual contracts. If a developer decides to discontinue the contract the licensed product will be removed from the game. E.g music in gta remakes.
- Dependant on internet speed.
- Banned or hacked= library lost.
- Developer decides to take library online= library lost. E.g Nintendo took the wii-shop offline, causing the people who bought games digitally not being able to download the games they bought.
So while I see the advantages of digital gaming, for me the cons outmatch the pro's of an all digital future. Making games only buyable from the developer at fixed prices takes gives too much power to the big companies by taking it away from the costumer.
What are your toughts fellow gaffers. Keep in mind that the section above is merely my own opinion so keep it civil.
