Digital game sales may not erase buyer preferences, sponsored study suggests
A sponsored article from G2A examines how the games industry's shift toward digital distribution affects consumer choice. It notes that physical discs are becoming less common, with major releases like GTA VI using retail boxes that contain download codes instead of discs. In a survey of over 2,000 marketplace users, 38% preferred digital downloads for major AAA titles, 27% preferred physical discs, and the rest had no preference or did not plan to buy.
A sponsored G2A study polled over 2,000 marketplace users about preferred formats for big AAA releases. Digital downloads were chosen by 38%, physical discs by 27%, while 35% either had no preference or did not intend to purchase. The article points to GTA VI’s retail box containing a download code, not a disc, as an example of major releases shifting away from physical media.
It also notes that most disc-based games now appear on PS5, while Microsoft has moved toward consoles without disc drives and online-focused releases. PC gaming, long predominantly digital, shows choice can shift to storefronts, marketplaces, subscriptions, and payment methods rather than disappear.
The shift could affect players who value borrowing, resale, or collecting physical games, as well as retailers and secondhand sellers. If purchases become tied to accounts and storefronts, consumers may gain convenience but face different questions about access, pricing, and payment options. Marketplaces and platform holders may compete on flexibility, while some buyers could feel less ownership over titles they cannot lend or resell. The survey suggests preferences may remain mixed rather than uniform.