Why are digital games as expensive as physical?

In the interest of fairness, it's important to acknowledge that digital games have associated costs that physical games do not. The most obvious one is that digital games need infrastructure to maintain them. The game has to be stored in a data center and served to users all over the world using top-tier bandwidth.

Is it better to buy physical or digital games?

Much of it comes down to personal preference. If you like having shelves lined with your games that you can browse and reminisce, you'll want to go for physical. If you prefer the convenience and speed offered through digital purchases, and don't want game boxes lying around, then you'll want to go digital.

Why are eShop games more expensive?

But the Nintendo eShop tends to show the price of the game after taxes, while the store will show the price before taxes on the shelf. So this might be why the number you see is higher, and it might actually be the same as the price you're seeing in the store once you actually pay.

Is PS5 digital games cheaper?

The ultimate deciding factor will be how you like to buy and play your games. Second-hand physical copies are often much cheaper than digital downloads, meaning the PS5 Disc Edition could actually save you some dollars in the long run. But only if you plan to plump up your PS5 library with a lot of titles.

Why do people still buy physical games?

17% said they buy physical so they can play the game in different locations or lend to a friend/family member, while 13% said they want the ability to give the game to someone else. 12% said they like the ability to sell the game when they are finished.

The problem with digital games and why you need to stop buying them

Why are games being sold for $70?

Upping price tags to $70, van Dreunen said, is “largely, I'd say, a move by platforms and publishers to capture more market value.” In other words, companies can charge $70 now because they know people will pay it.

Will physical copies of games go away?

Physical games aren't going to go completely extinct any time soon. As long as there's a market of game collectors who value a tangible product, there will be physical discs and cartridges to satisfy that market, akin to vinyl records in the music business (sales of which have actually been growing of late).

What is downside of PS5 digital?

The PS5 Digital Edition lacks the disk drive that the PS5 has meaning you cannot play DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs or games on it. For me the “Physical” Edition is better as it allows me to play all my games on it.

What's better PS5 digital or disc?

Is the PS5 more powerful than the PS5 digital edition? The PS5 digital edition offers the exact same performance as the standard PS5, just without a disc drive. Other than the disc drive, both models use the same internal hardware.

Why is digital version more expensive?

A shop has to drop prices to shift stock to make room for new stuff. Digital doesn't have "shelf space". But digital does have hard drive space. Eventually stores will have to drop prices to entice people to buy things they have no space for.

Why are physical games cheaper?

In digital stores, publishers always set the price. In physical sales, the retailer sets the price. Retailers are more likely to lower their cut to move the copies because they paid for them in advance. Selling them cheaper is better than not selling them at all.

Why is Nintendo overpriced?

Nintendo Has a Great Legacy

The same reason Nintendo games are expensive is the same reason Apple products are. It is an extremely well-known and trusted brand with decades of history behind it. People trust Nintendo, therefore, they are willing to pay more for Nintendo products.

Are physical games cheaper than digital?

Both discs and digital games cost about the same, and they provide a gaming experience and interface that is often identical. Yet while physical discs still represent most sales, more and more gamers (and gaming console manufacturers) are moving toward downloadable cloud-based offerings.

Do you truly own digital games?

You own a license to the software on the media but you don't actually own the software itself. So there is no difference between buying a digital and physical copy as far as ownership or rights are concerned.

What percentage of games are bought digitally?

To be exact, the Entertainment Retail Association (ERA) claims that 89.5% of video game purchases were digital downloads, while the remainder 10.5% were physical. While 90% is a huge chunk of video game purchases, that number isn't quite as drastic as it may appear. A reason why that might be the case is mobile gaming.

Are digital games forever?

Don't want to pack hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of games in your checked bags? With a library of games stored on your hard drive, you'll never face that dilemma. In the same way, digital games can never be lost by accident; they remain on a player's account, essentially permanently.

How many games can PS5 hold?

Many of the best PS5 games require between 40-60 GB of storage. Even if you mix in some PS4 games and smaller indies, you can realistically store 10-15 games on the drive at a time.

Is disc PS5 worth it?

If you're into collecting physical movies or have a huge physical PS4 game collection, you definitely need the disc version of the PS5. The digital version of the PS5 is 100% digital, meaning it won't be compatible at all with games that come on a disc.

Is Digital PS5 worth it?

In terms of power, the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition are on-par. There are little to no differences in the console's power, which is worth considering. Buying the Digital Edition offers the same console, slightly cheaper due to the lack of a disc drive, which will play into when you make your final decision.

Is a PS5 Pro coming?

When can we expect it? We have seen some reports that suggests a PS5 Pro may hit shelves around late 2023 or 2024. That's a long time to wait, but before that we may see a PS5 with a detachable disc drive.

Do digital PS5 games take up more space?

Whether you have a PlayStation 5 Digital or Disc edition, the storage you receive with the console is the exact same—825gb of SSD. But, there's also no difference in space between the installation of a physical game and a digital game on the PlayStation 5.

Is PS5 going all digital?

PS5™ Digital Edition is an all-digital version of the PS5™ console with no disc drive. Sign into your account for PlayStation™Network and go to PlayStation™Store to buy and download games. Select PS4 games may be eligible for upgrade to digital PS5 versions.

Are games losing popularity?

Despite the decline in number of people playing video games, the industry continues to see growth in the number of hours spent gaming. There was a dramatic increase in time spent playing games from 2019 to 2020, with average hours played per week jumping from 12.7 to 14.8, respectively.

What game sold most physical copies?

1. Tetris – 520 million. Arguably the most timeless video game ever created, Tetris sits comfortably atop the list of all-time bestsellers with 520 million copies sold, according to The Tetris Company.

Do people still buy hard copy video games?

The ERA estimates 89.5% of games sold in 2022 were digital downloads. Only 10.5% of copies sold were physical discs or cartridges.