Sony reported that 85% of PS5 and PS4 games were purchased digitally in its most recent quarter ending March 31, pushing the full-year average to a record 78%. The figures highlight the steady shift away from physical media even as millions of boxed copies continue to sell.
An astonishing 85% of all PS5 and PS4 software sales occurred through digital channels during Sony’s latest fiscal quarter, which ran through the three-month span ending March 31.
Across the full financial year, the digital portion averaged 78%, marking a 2% rise from the prior year and the highest level the company has ever recorded. A decade earlier, digital sales accounted for just 19% of the total. The largest single jump took place in 2020, when pandemic conditions drove the figure up to 65%. The upward trend has continued without interruption since then.
These numbers surfaced amid a recent DRM scare on the PS Store that raised concerns over digital game ownership. Sony introduced a new check-in feature aimed at preventing exploitation of a refund scam. The company clarified that nothing has materially changed for users, who can still play their purchased games as usual, and that digital titles remain fully playable offline. According to Sony, “A one-time online check is required to confirm the game's license.”
Physical copies, which represented 20% of PS5 and PS4 software sales in the most recent completed financial year, nevertheless amounted to roughly 70 million boxed games—an amount that remains substantial by any measure.
Given the scale of this market segment, combined with PlayStation’s worldwide user base that includes regions lacking reliable high-speed internet access, the PS6 is expected to continue supporting physical media. Even so, a disc drive is unlikely to ship as a standard inclusion, particularly as increasing expenses for RAM and additional hardware components push the company to cut costs wherever feasible.
Physical gaming is not expected to disappear. Instead, it is projected to grow more prestigious over time, similar to the status vinyl records now enjoy. Publishers might revisit earlier practices by enriching physical releases with art books and other collectibles, thereby offering enthusiasts willing to spend more the chance to obtain a premium, high-quality boxed product.
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