Gaming appears to be heading towards an all-digital future, but surprisingly, players are still choosing consoles with disc drives over those without. Recent data on the console market reveals that digital-only PlayStation 5s are currently the least popular hardware choice this generation.
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Market research firm Circana recently shared sales breakdowns between regular PS5s and those without disc drives, as well as the Xbox Series X and S. According to Circana executive director Mat Piscatella, Xbox Series X consoles accounted for a significant portion of total Xbox Series units sold in September, while Digital PS5 consoles made up only 40% of total PlayStation 5 hardware sales during the same period.
Sony reported 61.7 million total PS5 units sold as of August, with the majority being disc-capable models. On the other hand, data firm Aldora Intelligence estimates around 28.3 million Xbox Series X and S consoles have been sold, with the PS5 outselling them roughly two to one. Surprisingly, digital consoles are still more prevalent than the disc-less PS5.
Several reasons could explain this trend, including pricing differences between consoles and the desire for physical game copies. While most players prefer digital downloads, many still own physical games from previous generations or enjoy using their consoles for Blu-ray playback. Additionally, certain games, like Sony’s God of War Ragnarök, sell more copies physically than digitally.
Despite the convenience of digital downloads, players seem to value the option of physical games, leading to a higher preference for consoles with disc drives. As the industry moves towards an all-digital future, the market still sees significant sales of physical games, indicating a continued demand for disc-drive options.
There are concerns that all-digital consoles may become the norm in the future. While some predict Microsoft may embrace this change sooner, Sony could wait for another generation. For now, physical games remain a significant part of the market, appealing to dedicated fans and influencing console manufacturers to retain disc-drive options.
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FAQs
Why are players still opting for consoles with disc drives?
Players may prefer consoles with disc drives for various reasons, including owning physical game copies from previous generations and the option to use the console for Blu-ray playback.
Will all-digital consoles become the standard in the future?
There is speculation that all-digital consoles may eventually become the norm, with some analysts predicting Microsoft may adopt this change sooner than Sony.
Credit: kotaku.com
