Sony’s latest financial earnings report continues to paint a concerning picture for the future of physical media, with digital sales of PlayStation game software increasing year over year.
This comes despite a growing community of fans pushing back against the shift towards digital gaming, with PlayStation set to ditch the disc altogether by 2028.
PlayStation Continues To Trend Towards Digital Future
The latest information comes directly from Sony, which published its financial results for the second quarter of 2026 on Thursday, November 5. Plenty of information was revealed in the report, including underwhelming Marvel’s Wolverine sales figures and an update on the development of the PlayStation 6.
However, another notable statistic is the “Full game software digital download ratio,” which accounts for game sales across both the PS4 and PS5. During Q2, this figure reached 78%, marking a 6% increase compared to the same quarter last year.
Looking at the quarterly figures, though, the situation becomes a little more nuanced. Digital sales reached a peak of 85% during Q4 last year, before gradually declining to 82% in Q1 and now 78% in Q2.
Depending on how you interpret the data, you could argue that the growing backlash against digital media is having some impact, with physical sales potentially beginning to regain some ground. However, when comparing the figures to the same period last year, digital purchases are undoubtedly becoming more prevalent.
Of course, Sony is well aware of this ongoing trend, and it’s a significant factor behind the company’s reported decision to move away from physical discs. Still, these figures demonstrate that a considerable portion of the PlayStation user base continues to favour, or at least opt for, physical media.
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Charlie is one of Insider Gaming's Guides Writers who's been in the gaming industry for a little over a year. Unfortunately for him, he enjoys every video game genre out…
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