Nice to see some people actually walk the walk and not just talk the talk when it comes to physical discs

The sales numbers for audio CDs are stabilising, especially because of K-Pop. Young people learn the benefits of a tangible product in a cloudy world, which is not the ability to share or resell, but emotional connection.

I hope that Sony learns this again. Microsoft sees an unexpected opportunity to differentiate Xbox in the next generation!

Coming from a man who finds discs more attractive than people, it should be noted that discs usually sell best at a game’s launch. Sales that come later down the road tend to trend towards digital.

HOWEVER. Is that not a bit of a warning sign to Sony? That a large section of the audience who likes buying games as soon as possible tends to buy physical? The type of people you need to get on your side in order to try and sell your £1000+ console?

I guess it's safe to say physical games is still very healthy in EU. And i bet plenty of buyers are coming from Gen-Z who also one if not the major reasons for CD music, DVD, VHS, and cassete tapes revival.

"People have a need to collect."

No, they don't. They have a desire to collect.

@themightyant Physical media has never been so strong, in the market presence of things. Games, CD'S, Bluray's and even Vinyl are still massive in popularity as I buy a fair few of these formats each year. Sony are just making figures up just so they can control where money goes ie games second hand market doesn't make them any profit. But yeah physical media dying? You're having a laugh Sony, it's never been more alive today than ever. Long live the disc, I say!

My son went physical he is a university student so he could play and then sell for cash, I think he spent £20 on the game once he sold it.
I went digital as have been for at least ten years.

That's huge! I know people keep saying that Sony won't change their minds but I'm inclined to disagree. I just cannot see how they would be happy (potentially) leaving 50% of launch copies sold on the table.

I have yet to buy the game myself but when I do so it will be physical.

But according to Sony physical disc sales are insignificant. Maybe we dont get to see ALL the relevant sales data? Maybe if they produced more discs they could sell more discs? Maybe there are other reasons for the all digital push?

Who cares? They're going in a year and a bit so this makes no difference really in the big picture.

Pretty much all of those 51% in Europe will also have paid less than buying from Sony digitally, good on them.

Perhaps to make sure games have a proper initial period to make revenue, like films do in the theater, games should release digital first, and then later on go to disc. Just like films. At least this way, the losses the studios make to the second hand market might be offset a bit, and might incentivize Sony to keep physical.

Although if what @ShadowRJ says is true, then that would complicate it. It really is a tough business model for developers, that they dont have a guaranteed revenue making period though, without immediately having to compete with second hand sales

Sony do what Nintendo do, sell the game cheaper on the digital store front than the physical cost.
You make so much more money digital and don’t have case and discs cost and the seller percentage.

You just dam ducking greedy like most businesses.

2.1m for a £300m aaa blockbuster game ain’t going to cut it. It will be running on pc by this time next week as well.

@NorrinRadd Absolutely spot on. Sony don't realise people like myself and others love to own stuff as it's nice to have them on a shelf to show something for your money and all. Digital will never have that something for your money ownership stance on things. Do I have a vast collection of media from games to Blu ray's on my shelf, you bet I do guys. I love having something to show for my cash. I do buy digital games if it's something I know that will never go to disc, but in general physical every time for me. Physical media will always be wanted by those that cherish having a collection.

@Jey887 They dont leave 50% of the launch copies on the table, because an amount of these people wouldve bought the game digitally if there hadnt been a physical copy. And we dont know how big this number is.

It does show though that a lot of people still buy physical if given the chance.

@DaveHero75
Maybe they do realise people like to own stuff. Maybe they just dont want people to own stuff!

Well done, Europe! 👏😄 PS Staff like Sammy will be triggered, but who cares, lol. 😜

Read the room, Sony. Gamers still want physical media. 💾💿🧐

but but the narrative sony are spinning is its a small minority. they are deliberately manipulating stats to justify their money making decisions

@trev666 You talk as if they have to justify their decisions though. They're a company, they can do whatever the ***** they want within the law and consumers either continue to buy their products and services, or not.

This idea that Sony are under some kind of legal or moral obligation to justify, to use your own words, 'their money making decisions' is as absurd as your sentence implies.

@themightyant
They need Mario odyssey numbers 30 plus million sales, also on a lesser investment cost.
Sony as a company are getting arrogant and need a chop down.

Their studios is another story, I can appreciate their games and artistic development that’s goes into the games.

Bought physical copies of Wolverine and Silent Hill. Absolutely 0% chance I buy those games digitally at launch

There's a huge misconception that Sony is killing physical games because they don't sell enough. It's literally the opposite. Physical games aren't dying fast enough for Sony's liking so they're dropping the axe on em.

I’m still buying physical as much as I can and will continue until the last day.

Theoretically, this isn't in and of itself a good sign. It could also mean that the game wasn't only really bought by the hard-core fans who still want disks. By itself it's not enough of a data point, however, 2+ million is decent enough that 35% physical is solid numbers, and I expect if every million+ copies sold game did similarly then physical would very much be here to stay.

Linear games tend to sell physical a lot more, why? One and done, resell for money back. Another reason why Sony wants to stop discs.

Do away with the choice of Physical disks Sony, by my simple maths that makes profits halved explain that at your next shareholders meeting.

51% of sales are physical....that's 6 discs sold. Nice

@themightyant
I was joking about Mario odyssey 30 million.
It meant more from it would be great if it did sell that much.
Due to Sony would then give more permissions to make single player campaign games and invest more on maybe some game diversity risk taking.

Physical media in gaming is still very much viable, despite the narrative that Sony is trying to put out there.

@themightyant
I mean imagine is GOY and wolverine sold 30 million each, the profit made would be staggering and hopefully encourage more investment in big AAA Sony studio games.

The current situation is different due to a lot lower sales, which in turn probably makes Sony think are these big AAA games worth the risk.

So, where are the physical deniers saying no one buys physical discs anymore?

Maybe time to notice you're being manipulated by a corpo that wants monopoly?

This will be no surprise to Sony, they know there is still some demand for physical games. After all, there couldnt have been that number of physical purchased without Sony doing their forecasting and deciding to print and make those discs available.
But they have made their decision to end physical regardless.