Sony announced that it will gradually stop producing PlayStation physical discs in the future, triggering an enthusiastic response from players. However, another Japanese game manufacturer, Capcom, responded quite calmly. In the latest investor Q&A, Capcom bluntly stated that currently about 90% of the company’s game sales come from digital versions, so even if the physical market continues to shrink, the impact on the company will be very limited.
Everyone originally bought the digital version
Capcom stated that as players’ consumption habits change, most of the company’s works have already been sold through digital platforms. Therefore, the company does not currently expect to be significantly affected by PlayStation’s gradual withdrawal from the physical disc market in the future. Officials also pointed out that the statistics even include the Game-Key Card of Nintendo Switch 2, so the proportion of digital sales continues to increase.
“The Castle of Evil” and “Pragmata” still have physical versions
While Capcom is bullish on the digital market, it hasn’t completely given up on physical players yet. New games including “Resident Evil Requiem” and “Pragmata” are still available in physical versions, but it is generally believed that as the overall market continues to digitize, there may be fewer and fewer physical versions in the future.
Debate between two factions of players
After the news was exposed, many players believed that the digital version was convenient, space-saving, and in line with market trends. However, players on the other side were worried that once the physical version gradually disappeared, they would lose the right to collect, second-hand transactions, and truly own the game in the future. As Sony, Nintendo and other platforms gradually move towards digitalization, Capcom’s statement once again highlights that the game industry is accelerating towards a “disembodied” future.