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The future of consoles may look completely different from what we've seen so far. There are growing signs that both Sony and Microsoft plan to completely abandon physical media in the next generation of their consoles. The latest reports emerged after Sony's decision to end production of discs for PlayStation. According to leaks, the new Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, is expected to follow the same direction. For many players, this could mean the definitive end of the era of boxed game releases.
Sony and Microsoft are reportedly planning to rely exclusively on digital distribution
According to the latest reports, PlayStation 6 will launch only in a version without a disc drive. Sony has not confirmed this outright, but the company announced it is ending production of physical discs with the next console generation in mind. At the same time, reports say Microsoft is preparing a similar strategy for the console currently known as Project Helix. It appears the two biggest console makers want to move entirely to digital sales. The decision is not accidental and stems from market changes observed over several years. Sales of digital games have been steadily rising, while interest in boxed releases continues to decline. More and more gamers buy titles directly from the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store. Console manufacturers also see advantages in cutting the costs of producing and distributing physical media. According to unofficial information, dropping the drive could also help lower production costs for the new devices, which are expected to be significantly more expensive than the current generation. So far neither company has revealed official specifications for their future consoles.
The end of discs will divide gamers around the world
Although most users already buy games digitally, a complete move away from discs is sparking a lot of debate. Many gamers still collect physical releases and value the ability to resell finished titles. For some users, an important argument is being able to install a game without having to download huge files from the internet. Supporters of digital distribution point to the convenience, instant access to purchased games, and no issues with damaged discs. Increasingly, there are also releases sold in boxes that contain only a download code, which shows the direction the industry is heading. If PlayStation 6 and the new Xbox do indeed do away with disc drives, it will be one of the biggest changes in the history of the console market. For now, however, all information about future devices is based on leaks and industry analyses. We will only know Sony's and Microsoft's final decisions during the official presentations of the new consoles.
Latest leaks suggest that both the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix may debut without disc drives. If confirmed, the next generation of consoles will be another step toward fully digital distribution of games.
source: wccftech
