Many game publishers, including Sony, believe that global demand for physical games is declining rapidly. As a result, Sony has announced it will cease production of physical discs for its first-party titles starting in 2028, a move expected to be followed by other publishers.
However, sales data for Resident Evil Requiem shows that physical disc versions continue to perform exceptionally well in various countries. Recent comparisons between physical and digital sales for Assassin's Creed Shadows and Astro Bot further support this trend.
Similar to Resident Evil Requiem, around 50% of sales for Assassin's Creed Shadows and Astro Bot across multiple countries and regions came from physical copies.
According to a report by The Game Business, France recorded the highest physical sales for these titles, with Astro Bot reaching a 68% physical share, Resident Evil Requiem at 55%, and Assassin's Creed Shadows at 58%.
Meanwhile, all the aforementioned games recorded their lowest physical sales in the United States, as many American players prefer digital versions. Beyond France, gamers in the UK and Japan also place significant value on physical discs, though the sales ratio varies depending on the game's genre and theme.
Physical editions are generally in higher demand for large single-player games, while online titles like Helldivers 2 tend to see higher digital sales. However, Black MYTH - Steam Edition: Wukong has seen relatively low physical sales.
