There's been a lot of talk in regards to UK sales figures over the past couple of years about how PlayStation often sells a lot more physical copies of games than Xbox, but what about digital? Well, the new LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is an interesting example, as Xbox has proved the "dominant platform" for digital sales.
As shared by GamesIndustry.biz, 41% of digital copies of the game were sold on Xbox during the week ending April 10th, compared to 34% on PlayStation, 18% on PC, and 7% on Nintendo Switch. Altogether, 61% of all purchases of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga were digital, with 39% being physical editions.
"It is comfortably the second biggest game launch of the year overall in the UK. And the fastest-selling LEGO game in history."
Even so, Sony sold the most UK copies of The Skywalker Saga during its launch week, as the physical sales boost brought the combined total to 39% on PlayStation, 34% on Xbox, 16% on Nintendo Switch, and 11% on PC.
It's clear how much of a digital platform Xbox has become for many, then, and the fact that Microsoft was offering 6000 Rewards Points for buying LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga via the Xbox Store was potentially a big factor as well.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments section below
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 15
It's a good sign for competition within the industry. I think the Series S was a smart move. More options from companies that are going to work harder for our business.
This is mainly due to xbox having two digital only consoles in the series S and the xbox one S
I'm more surprised how low the switch sales were, the switch has sold more consoles than the xbox one, Series S/X and the ps5 combined but only had 11% of the games sales, a game which style you would think suits the Nintendo side better
There is still a LOT of reservation about buying 'digital' in the 'console' marketplace in general. Fears about being able to access/play these games 'years' into the future without a 'physical' disc seem to be the 'biggest' issue.
Of course, MS has been very 'pro-active' in preservation, in 'digital' perks (like being able to play on multiple platforms with a single purchase - can't play Xbox Forza discs on PC, but can play on PC if you bought Digitally), digital services and even digital only consoles - the XB1S All Digital was the first major Console without a physical media player. Even their 'Quick Play' feature is designed more with 'digital' games - its no 'quick play' when you still have to swap discs.
Since Xbox really opened up their 'digital' store front with Xbox Arcade (digital only games), they have worked to alleviate some of the concerns and provide additional 'benefits' as the community becomes more and more accepting of buying games, especially 'day 1 AAA games', digitally - the 'benefits' of Digital have to outweigh the Physical to justify paying more in general.
Maybe its more down to Sony's perceived attitude to BC, to 'old' games in general and the number of games that can no longer be played due to Sony turning off servers etc. That maybe a big reason Sony gamers in general are more 'reluctant' to buy Digital.
This will make some people unhappy! Lol but good for Xbox - they have built up trust with an awesome digital ecosystem (between reward points and backwards compatibility). Their physical is lacking but these days digital suits me personally as I have no space!
@UltimateOtaku91 the one s has a disc drive, agreed about the nintendo bit though.
I would be hesitant too if I were to go digital only on Playstation, don't trust them that much and for Nintendo I will always go physical if possible, never get a real good discount, and physical stuff for Nintendo holds the most value over the years. But with Microsoft I don't have any trust issues, bought digital games from them like 15 years ago, still can download those games, and then when I start them up, the xbox network will ask me If I want to start where I left off, cause the awesome free cloudsave system they have... so I get why people go digital only, I am 80/20 I think, still buy physical on the cheap and special editions.
@Cherip-the-Ripper strange im sure I know someone who has the one s and its digital only, unless there's two versions
@CrazyJF @Cherip-the-Ripper
Knew I wasn't going mad lol
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Xbox-All-Digital-Console-Disc-free-Gaming/dp/B07QS55LZY
@UltimateOtaku91 Yeah, most xbox one S' had disc drives. If I remember correctly, the All Digital S launched quite late, so I don't expect it to account for many of the Xbone S market.
Altogether, 61% of all purchases of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga were digital, with 39% being physical editions.
I’m all digital on my consoles now, and looking at those percentages above, the tide is changing to digital.
Well.... I bought a switch copy cos it is cheaper and resellable physical. Happy with Series S but in this case I was glad of the physical option. Loving the game, and the only benefit of Xbox would be shinier graphics but just as fun on switch 😊
I doubt these numbers very much, but maybe it's because PS sold a ton more physical copies perhaps..
@AFCC The only reason to doubt the numbers and then bring Sony into the conversation would be that you're a Playstation fan who wondered into a Xbox site just to stir the pot.
@AFCC well if Xbox sells more digital but Sony sell more overall, then it pertains to logical reason that Sony must have sold more physical than Xbox.
I bought physical copy on PS5. £10 cheaper than it is on Xbox and PS store.
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