That the games digitally have now far exceeded the amount of games released in physical format no one is surprised, but an in-depth analysis of ArsTechnica complete with a graphic helps to understand how games on disc or cartridge are practically becoming rarities, given the continuous decrease of quantity and direct comparison with digital titles.
In this case, we are talking about the total quantity of games released in one or the other format in the USA, not about sales, but we are interested in seeing the relationship between one format and another and the constant decrease of physical games in exit.
According to NPD data, in 2021 there were 2182 games in digital and only 226 in physical format, in constant decline compared to previous years.
In 2020 there were 233 physical games, in 2019 there were 307 and 321 in 2018, so the decline from year to year is evident, in the face of a fluctuating but still growing trend for digital games, which have gone from 1324 to 2182 from 2020 to 2021.
The trend in question is largely due to indie games and minor productions that focus directly on digital, but also large publishers follow the trend, as another specific chart demonstrates.
As for the major publishers, the difference between physical and digital games is obviously minor but still present, demonstrating how these also contribute to the progressive decline of games on optical media or cartridges. We had already seen at the end of last year how digital had outclassed the physical, in this case we took a closer look at the situation in the USA.
#Physical #games #consoles #increasingly #rare #dominated #digital