Analyst Predicts PlayStation 7 Will Be Major Departure from Previous Consoles in One Major Way

A leading industry analyst predicts Sony might abandon physical PlayStation game releases by the PlayStation 7 launch. While the PlayStation 5 offers both digital and disc-based versions, market trends suggest a potential shift towards a fully digital future for Sony's consoles.

The decline of physical game releases is already evident. Major titles like Alan Wake 2 and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 skipped disc editions, mirroring the PC market's all-digital landscape. Xbox's move towards a digital-only future, with the Xbox Series S and a forthcoming all-digital Xbox Series X, further fuels speculation about PlayStation's strategy.

Although PlayStation continues physical releases for its first-party games, digital sales are significantly outpacing physical sales year over year. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella suggests PlayStation might maintain physical releases for one more generation, hinting at a potential all-digital PlayStation 7, similar to the PS5 Digital Edition. Piscatella also forecasts continued physical releases for Nintendo for two more generations, while predicting an all-digital future for Xbox.

Analyst Forecasts a Digital-Only Future for PlayStation (Eventually)

Piscatella's insights carry weight, given his role as executive director at the NPD Group, a key tracker of US console, game, and accessory sales. Xbox's internal focus on digital is well-documented, and while PlayStation still sees strong physical sales, the digital share is steadily increasing.

Digital game sales are significantly more profitable for publishers due to reduced production, packaging, shipping, and retail costs. Despite Sony's apparent commitment to physical media, its promotional efforts, such as Days of Play and PlayStation Stars, encourage digital purchases. The eventual disappearance of disc drives in consoles is a real possibility. Whether the PlayStation 7 marks the beginning of a digital-only era remains uncertain, but the possibility is increasingly likely.