Physical PS5 and PS4 games sales were only 3% of PlayStation revenue last year

Although the PS6 is rumoured to still be supporting physical games, sales figures from Sony reiterate how niche the market is getting.

While certain online spaces continue to champion the importance and value of physical video games over digital ones, the harsh reality is that they have become increasingly less popular amongst the mainstream.

This has been clear for years and with some physical games now being sold at higher prices compared to the digital versions, it’s no wonder physical copies are becoming a more niche offering for hardcore collectors.

In case you need further evidence of this, a new corporate report by Sony has shared some damning figures, revealing that only 3% of all gaming related sales in its 2024 fiscal year were physical releases.

Sony doesn’t go to great lengths to highlight this in their report and for what it’s worth, 3% is still a lot of money at this scale. In the most recent fiscal year, PlayStation games and services made about $31.5 billion and 3% of that is $95 million (about £70 million).

However, digital software accounts for 20% of that, which comes to $6.3 billion (about £4.6 billion). As such, it’s obvious where the money is and where Sony’s priorities will lie for the eventual PlayStation 6.

Nevertheless, it’s believed Sony won’t suddenly abandoned the physical market with its next console. Last week, Insider Gaming claimed the PlayStation 6 will be compatible with a detachable disc drive, which you’ll be able to purchase separately or have bundled with the console.

Insider Gaming’s sources said this is to help reduce manufacturing and shipping costs during ‘uncertain times’, obviously referencing the increased tariffs placed by US president Donald Trump on countries where Sony has manufacturing plants for its hardware.

This is entirely believable, since Sony released a disc drive attachment for the PlayStation 5 a few years after launch, which has apparently met Sony’s internal sales targets, according to Insider Gaming.

The key difference though, is that the PlayStation 5 has a version with the disc drive built in. If Insider Gaming’s report is accurate, that means the PlayStation 6’s default state is as a digital-only device, with physical games requiring a separate accessory.

No doubt the digital-only PlayStation 6 will be the cheaper option and with console prices consistently growing more expensive, the physical edition may be what finally pushes more people into going digital.

If physical game sales keep dwindling like this, and make less and less money each year, this could even lead to Sony finally giving up on releasing its games physically at all, and instead partner with dedicated third parties, like Limited Run Games, to handle limited physical releases.

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