Physical Games Are Becoming a History on PlayStation

The gaming world has been undergoing a rapid transformation in recent years. The era of physical media, from cassettes to CDs to Blu-ray discs, is now being completely replaced by digital media. Recent figures, particularly from PlayStation, clearly show that the majority of gamers are turning to digital stores. This signals alarm bells ringing for the future of physical games.

Digital Sales Peak at PlayStation, Physical Games Decline

According to Sony’s latest financial report, the share of physical game sales on PlayStation has fallen to just 3 percent. This figure was around 6 percent in 2020, at the time of the PS5’s launch. Physical sales remained around 5 percent in the early years, falling to 4 percent in 2024 and 3 percent in 2025. This represents the lowest revenue share of physical games in PlayStation’s history.

The rapid rise of digital game sales has changed gamers’ habits, thanks to both ease of access and instant play. Instead of waiting for a box or buying a disc from a store, gamers can now expand their game libraries with a few clicks. This convenience has led to digital sales dominating almost all revenue.

The decline in physical game sales doesn’t mean a complete end. There’s still a segment of the gaming community that clings to discs, enjoys collecting, and has limited internet access. However, when you look at the overall revenue picture, this segment is shrinking. Indeed, PlayStation, which generated $31.5 billion in revenue in 2025, earned only $945 million of that from physical games.

Sony hasn’t yet released any details about its next-generation console. However, leaked reports suggest that the PS6 will not abandon disc support. This suggests the company hasn’t completely abandoned physical media. However, considering the predominance of digital, it seems quite clear that the future will now be shaped by virtual stores.

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