Ditching the physical: 16% of consumers play digital only

Publisher Electronic Arts isn’t planning to abandon its online store/platform, Origin, any time soon. That’s because more gamers than ever are purchasing their games digitally.

Around 36 percent of U.S. consumers play downloaded games, according to an NPD Group survey of 6,000 U.S. residents 13 and older. They’re purchasing and playing games through established distribution networks like Steam, but they’re increasingly using the downloadable services like Xbox Games Store, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo’s eShop on consoles, handhelds, as well as mobile. Around 16 percent of respondents confirmed that they have dropped physical packaged games altogether.