Physical Edition Sales Still Strong in France for Resident Evil 9, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Astro Bot, Challenging Digital-Only Push

Summary

Sony's recent announcement to stop producing physical discs for first-party games by 2028 has sparked debate about the future of physical media. However, new sales data reveals that physical games remain incredibly popular in certain markets. According to a report by The Game Business, the physical edition sales shares for Resident Evil 9: Requiem, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Astro Bot in France are as high as 55%, 58%, and 68%, respectively. This indicates that the demand for physical games is not uniformly declining globally, but rather shows significant regional variation. European countries like France, Germany, and the UK still have a substantial physical audience, while North America and parts of Asia have embraced digital more avidly. For players, collecting physical discs and engaging in second-hand trade remain cherished practices, especially in these markets. For the industry, this data serves as a reminder that a blanket shift to digital could alienate a significant portion of consumers and damage retail channels. While Sony's decision applies mainly to its first-party titles, third-party publishers may reconsider their own strategies in light of these findings. The coexistence of physical and digital formats is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, but retailers may need to adjust to smaller production runs and more precise inventory management. This…