Digital Games Now More Popular Than Discs, Suggests Major Poll

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Digital Gaming Might Completely Take Over Soon!

Story Highlight
  • A poll suggests that most people choose digital games over physical releases.
  • Some voters suggest that they last purchased a physical disc many years ago.
  • Analysts expect the industry to transition toward a digital-only future in the coming years.

The age-old debate over physical and digital media is here to stay. While fans of the former advocate for preservation and collections, others argue in favor of the convenience of a digital future.

However, slowly but surely, digital media has become more important in the gaming industry. According to a new poll, most people prefer to purchase their games digitally today.

Why it matters: Many enthusiasts have been upset that the industry neglects physical media today. They believe that digital gaming has too many downsides.

Digital Games vs. Physical Games Poll
Digital Games vs. Physical Games Poll via VGT

A poll hosted by VGT Gaming News on Twitter sought to determine whether gamers prefer physical or digital media. Among nearly 700 votes, digital games came out on top by a narrow margin.

Over 47% of voters stated that they don’t care for physical media, while 42.4% find physical media more appealing. This poll highlights an important trend in the gaming industry.

While physical media has not been completely abandoned in favor of digital gaming, most consumers currently prefer the latter. Digital distribution has grown drastically over the years, and analysts have even predicted that it may become the only option in the future.

Games like Hellblade 2 and Alan Wake 2 serve as examples of this transition. PlayStation is also set to release the PS5 Pro soon, a console that will launch without a disc drive, though PlayStation sells a separate disc drive add-on.

Xbox Physical Games
Xbox Already Has A Dedicated Digital-Only Console This Generation

In the comments, many users described how the shift has impacted their gaming experiences. One user stated that they hadn’t bought a single disc in six years, with Zelda: Breath of the Wild being the last one.

It should also be noted that platforms like Steam are important to this shift. Steam has revolutionized PC gaming in many ways, pushing consumers toward digital libraries.

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