The path to digitalisation: sales of physical copies of games in the US decreased by half compared to 2021

Physical copies of games. Source: Shutterstock

The gaming industry is rapidly moving towards a fully digital future. According to analyst Mat Piscatella, sales of physical copies of video games in the US have fallen by more than half in the last three years alone.

Here's What We Know

The graph of spending on physical video games shows a dramatic drop. If in 2008 this figure was at its peak, now it has fallen by 85%. A particularly sharp decline has occurred since 2021.

Despite the pessimistic figures, the overall video game market remains stable. Growth is driven by digital sales, subscriptions, and microtransactions.

The only hope for saving physical copies is Nintendo and the expected release of the Nintendo Switch 2, where people will buy games on cartridges.

Falling sales of physical copies. Illustration: Circana

Source: @matpiscatella.bsky.social