UK supermarket chain Tesco will stop selling physical video games. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Tesco will only sell digital points cards in its 2800 stores.
Traditional physical video game sales have experienced a steady decline, while digital sales have been on an impressive upward trajectory. The latest GSD data shows that 82% of sales of the four big releases in June (Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, Diablo, and F1) were digital sales.
Gamers tend to choose digital copies mostly due to pre-loading and pre-order bonuses. They can now download and install a game before its official release, enabling them to start playing immediately on launch day without any delay associated with shipping or going to a store. Most games offer pre-order bonuses, usually in-game cosmetics and currency.
Some gamers still enjoy the tactile experience of owning a physical game, complete with a box, artwork, and potentially additional physical goodies. It is just not as feasible as before for retailers and supermarkets.
Just a few months ago, Remedy Entertainment announced its intention to pursue a digital-only release for the highly anticipated Alan Wake sequel. THQ Nordic made a statement and tried to sway Remedy Entertainment towards a physical copy release too.
