PlayStation discs aren't dead after all? New figures spark heated debate

While Sony is already preparing to phase out physical PlayStation games, many gamers still seem to prefer putting their games on a shelf rather than buying them digitally. At least, that's what the latest sales figures for Marvel's Wolverine suggest. As gaming publication PC Guide reports, citing a report by The Game Business, recent sales data from market research firm Ampere Analysis indicates that physical PlayStation games remain in demand. However, the data is apparently only available through paid market research services and therefore cannot be accessed publicly.

According to the figures, the PS5-exclusive Wolverine game (currently around $62 on Amazon) sold 2.16 million copies in September. Worldwide, physical copies accounted for 35% of sales. In Europe, however, the picture looks different: Here, 51% of sales came from the disc version. Demand was particularly strong in France, where more than two-thirds of buyers opted for a physical copy. In the UK, by contrast, the ratio was almost reversed.

Other games also show that physical media is far from obsolete. Silent Hill: Townfall had a worldwide disc share of around 45%, followed by The Blood of Dawnwalker at 36% and Onimusha: Way of the Sword at 30%. It's worth noting that the underlying figures from Ampere Analysis are market estimates rather than officially confirmed sales numbers from the publishers.

Sales figures spark heated debate on Reddit

On Reddit, the sales figures have sparked a heated controversy. Many users see them as further evidence that Sony's move away from physical games goes against the wishes of a significant portion of its customers. They bring up the familiar arguments, including the disappearance of the secondhand market, the inability to resell or lend games and Sony's increasing control over distribution and pricing.

Others argue that the figures aren't particularly meaningful. Some users point out that the high share of disc sales in Europe could simply come down to price. One German player, for example, reports that Marvel's Wolverine was already available at retail for €45 (around $50), while the PlayStation Store was still charging €79.99 or $69.99 in the US. This raises the question of how many buyers actually prefer discs and how many simply chose the cheaper option.

The reliability of the data itself is also being questioned. Several Redditors criticize the fact that the figures are based solely on estimates from Ampere Analysis. Others point out that, according to the same data, 84% of sales for the ten best-selling PS5 games in September were digital. This was reported by Play3 (in German), among others. The 51% disc share for Marvel's Wolverine could therefore be an exception rather than evidence of continued strong demand for physical games.

Above all, the discussion highlights one thing: The future of physical games can't be determined by a handful of sales figures alone. What will likely matter most is how many players are actually willing to follow Sony into an all-digital future – and judging by the discussion, not very many seem eager to do so.