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Sony recently faced significant backlash after announcing plans to cease physical disc production for new games beginning in 2028. Despite the industry's shift toward digital distribution, recent sales data suggests that consumer demand for physical media remains substantial.
According to Ampere Analysis data cited by The Game Business, Marvel’s Wolverine achieved 2.16 million total sales on PlayStation 5. Of that total, 35% were boxed copies. In the European market, physical sales were even higher, accounting for 51% of the game's total volume.
Other titles also demonstrated strong physical performance. Silent Hill: Townfall saw 45.4% of its sales as boxed copies, while The Blood of the Dawnwalker and Onimusha: Way of the Sword reached 36% and 31% respectively. These figures indicate that global physical sales remain significant despite a digital-heavy trend in America.
Player frustration stems from concerns regarding game ownership. Critics argue that digital purchases only grant a license rather than true ownership, leaving users vulnerable if storefronts remove access to content. Sony's recent removal of purchased movies from its store has intensified these concerns among the player base.
