Capcom says digital sales cushion it from physical decline
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Capcom has said it is not concerned about PlayStation and Nintendo moving away from physical game releases, noting that the vast majority of its own sales already happen digitally. The comment reflects a broader shift in the games industry, where digital distribution has become dominant for many publishers, reducing reliance on retail and physical media even as some platform holders scale back physical support.
According to Capcom, around 90% of its unit sales now come from digital purchases rather than physical copies, meaning any further contraction of the physical games market would have limited impact on its business. This positions Capcom as relatively insulated compared with publishers or retailers more dependent on boxed releases, as the wider industry continues its long-term move towards digital-first game sales.
- Capcom says 90% of its unit sales are already digital
- Publisher unfazed by shrinking physical games market
- Reflects broader industry shift away from physical media
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Capcom, the Japanese studio behind games such as Resident Evil, Monster Hunter and Street Fighter, has commented on the wider shift away from physical game discs and cartridges. Both Sony (PlayStation) and Nintendo have been reducing their support for physical releases, prompting questions about how this affects publishers and retailers that have traditionally relied on boxed games sold in shops.
Digital distribution means buying and downloading games directly, rather than purchasing a physical copy in a shop. Over the past decade this has become the dominant way many people buy games, cutting out the costs and logistics of manufacturing and shipping discs, though it has also raised concerns for retailers and for players who prefer owning physical copies.
This matters because publishers vary widely in how exposed they are to a decline in physical sales, depending on how much of their business already comes from digital purchases. Capcom's position offers a useful data point on how one major publisher is adapting to, and is affected by, this broader industry trend.
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Originally published by GamesRadar+ as “Capcom isn’t worried about PlayStation and Nintendo shrinking the physical games market: “90% of our unit sales are digital””.