Surveys show that physical versions still account for about 30% of players’ paid console game libraries and only account for 11% of all game content.

Abstract:

A survey supported by Newzoo and G2A found that among the console games that surveyed players paid for, physical versions accounted for 30.4%; if free games and subscription games are also included in all play content, the proportion of physical games dropped to 11%. The survey interviewed 6,166 "core gamers", who are 18 to 55 years old, play computer or current-generation console games at least once a month, and have purchased or played at least one AA or AAA game through a paid subscription in the past year.

The survey was conducted in August this year in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. Among the games played by respondents, 43% were purchased separately, 19% were from subscription services, and 38% were free games. Therefore, the proportion of physical versions in the paid console game library cannot be directly equated to the overall market sales or sales.

The main reasons why players choose physical games include: being able to play when there is no stable network, liking to have tangible physical items, and saving device storage space; reselling, exchanging or lending to others is also at the top of the list. Other reasons include collecting special editions and packaging, displaying game collections, worrying about digital games being removed or modified, buying used low-price games, and reducing large download and installation times. In the survey, the proportion of physical games among pure PC players was 6%.

This result is not inconsistent with Sony's announcement that it will stop producing discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. Sony said that players' overall preference for digital content has significantly exceeded physical discs; data from Alinea Analytics also shows that the physical version of new PlayStation games in 2026 will account for less than 20% of revenue. Newzoo's survey counts the game library that players already own, which includes old games accumulated over the years; Sony and sales data talk more about the sales of new games.