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Rockstar Games' decision to do away with discs for GTA 6 continues to provoke debate in the industry. More and more studio representatives believe this could accelerate a complete move away from physical game releases. The head of Polish CI Games has also spoken on the matter, presenting specific calculations of profits from sales. The data show why publishers are increasingly opting for digital distribution. For players, this means further changes in the console market.
Developers earn significantly more from digital copies
CI Games CEO Marek Tyminski believes that the decision by Rockstar Games and Sony could significantly accelerate the move away from physical releases. He says that by 2027 the number of new games released on discs could fall sharply. This is mainly down to finances. Tyminski calculates that on a game priced at $69.99 the studio receives only around $26 per physical copy sold. The rest is taken by retailer and distributor margins and the costs of producing discs and packaging. With digital sales, developers can receive roughly $49 per copy. The gap becomes even bigger with further promotions and price cuts. The head of CI Games admits that their upcoming game Lords of the Fallen 2 will still be released on discs, but from a business perspective it is increasingly hard to justify maintaining that sales model. Especially when physical releases already account for less than 20% of total sales. In his view the decision to move to digital distribution is becoming obvious for many companies.
The future of physical releases is in doubt
In recent days Sony confirmed that from 2028 it will end production of new game discs for PlayStation. Combined with Rockstar Games' decision regarding GTA 6, this could set a new direction for the entire industry. There have been suggestions that physical releases should be limited to pricier collector's editions. Marek Tyminski, however, believes that such a model will not solve the problem either, as it would further reduce interest in discs. At the same time, players are increasingly vocally opposing the complete digitisation of the market. Petitions and many critical responses to decisions by the biggest console makers are appearing online. So far, there is no sign that Sony or other publishers plan to change course. Everything suggests that digital distribution will play an increasingly important role in the coming years. For many players, this could mean the definitive end to the era of physical releases.
According to the CEO of CI Games, the lack of discs in GTA 6 and Sony's decision could accelerate the demise of physical releases as early as 2027. The main reason is significantly higher profits from digital sales, which increasingly influence publishers' decisions.
source: wccftech
