A leading industry analyst predicts Sony may abandon physical game releases by the time the PlayStation 7 arrives. While Sony currently offers both digital and disc-based PlayStation 5 models, market trends suggest a potential shift towards a fully digital future for subsequent consoles.
The decline of physical game releases is already evident. High-profile titles like Alan Wake 2 and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 launched without disc editions. The PC market is entirely digital, and Xbox appears to be following suit, having released the disc-less Xbox Series S and recently announcing a digital-only Xbox Series X. This raises questions about PlayStation's long-term commitment to physical media.
Despite PlayStation's continued first-party physical releases, digital game sales are significantly outpacing physical sales year over year. Renowned Circana analyst Mat Piscatella recently tweeted that PlayStation might maintain physical games for one more generation, hinting that the PlayStation 7 could be a digital-only console similar to the PS5 Digital Edition. Piscatella also forecasts Nintendo retaining physical releases for two more generations, while advising Xbox users to expect a fully digital future.
Analyst Forecasts a Generational Shift to Digital for PlayStation
Piscatella, executive director at the NPD Group (a leading market research firm tracking console, game, and accessory sales in the US), lends weight to his predictions. Xbox's internal strategy has long favored digital distribution. Although physical games still represent a substantial portion of PlayStation's sales, the balance is increasingly tilting towards digital.
Digital game sales are significantly more profitable for publishers due to reduced production, packaging, shipping, and retail costs. Therefore, even though Sony seemingly supports physical media, it 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. Whether the PlayStation 7 will mark the beginning of a fully digital era or simply be a transitional step remains uncertain.
