When Will Discs Be A Thing of the Past?

[hellsing006]

Once the next console cycle hits meaning the PS5, there is no doubt in my mind that we'll be seeing a completely digital gaming experience. Devs are slowly pushing us that way right now so that we get used to the idea by making physical discs seem like an inconvience. It wouldn't surprise me if they were completely gone in 10-15 years.

 

[DPatel304]

In the past couple of years, I've never found a digital download to be cheaper then the physical copy of the game. It most likely will never be, since doing a digital download through a sole proprietor like Playstation Network or Xbox LIVE, the proceeds go directly to them and their usage of the rights. Steam is a massive third party type of deal so they are allowed to sell them at constant different rates, but not the same way on Consoles.

As I stated earlier, the entire reason we're still using discs is solely because of the SIZE of the content and the lack of high-speed coverage. It's common sense when you think about it. Things like Microsoft Office, and other programs that are under a few gigs have almost completely gotten rid of disc usage because even on low end DSL it can still be downloaded fairly quick. However, someone who doesn't have 30 to 50+ MB/s download speed, it'll take far to long for the average consumer to want to wait around for a digital download.

I swear I heard retailers getting upset when Sony released a few digital games for cheaper than their disc counterparts. I think Warhawk was one of them. It's been so long I can't remember. Digital games should be cheaper, since you don't have to give retailers a cut, and there are less (no?) distribution costs. Unfortunately, retailers have a lot of power over Sony/MS. Retailers are the ones who sell the consoles and they barely make any profit off of each console sold. The main reason they sell consoles is to attract customers into the store and get them to buy accessories and games, which is where Sony/MS and the retailers all make a lot more money. If Sony/MS start undercutting retail prices by offering cheaper versions of games to download, this will piss off retailers and will discourage them from stocking their consoles.

I also believe that's why the PSP Go was so damn expensive when it came out. That was a digital only handheld, meaning retailers wouldn't get any game sales from it, but the markup on that was so high that retailers were okay selling just the console.

 

[aperture7]

I've never found a digital download to be cheaper then the physical copy of the game.

No, it hasn't happened yet. But only because the physical copies are still popular. The price isn't going to drop if people will still by digital at the same price as a physical, even if it costs less to produce because of the lack of container.

Whether or not the price will actually drop when digital copies become more popular, I don't know. I hope so. But as of right now companies are still making the same amount of money for something they don't have to package which means more profit.