While PC gamers have had this luxury for quite some time, digital distribution only truly became a viable option for console gamers with the launches of Xbox 360 (2005), PS3 and Wii (both 2006). In-console digital stores are certainly standard now, but they only became featured on all console offerings less than 15 years ago. It wasn't just the lockdown that amplified digital purchases the physical-to-digital shift has been developing since even before this current console generation. The digital purchasing trend gained steam long before the pandemic. With plenty of time suddenly on their hands, some sought relief in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and others got lost in Call of Duty: Warzone - both games conveniently launching in March. When the country largely shut down in March, gaming became a major escape for casual and hardcore gamers. It's no secret, especially in post-lockdown America, why digital has become the standard for console gaming so quickly. So what, then, does a digital-only world mean for the industry in general? Console Gamers as Digital Consumers In an economy rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic, and with digital distribution becoming the norm for console gaming over the course of this current generation, it's tough to imagine many consumers will be opting to spend more money for the novelty of a disc drive. Both the Xbox Series S and Playstation 5 Digital Edition are cheaper, disc drive-less counterparts to the standard editions of those consoles. With the next generation of console gaming among us, we are entering the first gaming generation where many console owners will have no other option but to purchase games digitally.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |