Nintendo says 38.5% physical sales as industry goes digital

As major console manufacturers signal a shift away from physical media, new financial data reveals a stark divide in the industry's reliance on disc and cartridge sales. Nintendo has reported that 38.5% of its game sales in the quarter ending June 30, 2026, were physical, while rival publisher Capcom states approximately 90% of its unit sales are now digital.

The contrast follows Sony's controversial announcement that it will cease production of physical PlayStation discs after 2027, a move that has sparked significant consumer backlash and petitions. Industry groups, including the Entertainment Retailers Association, have criticized the decision, calling it a removal of consumer choice that could harm game preservation and the secondhand market. Despite the outcry, Sony's latest figures show digital sales accounted for 82% of all PlayStation 4 and 5 game sales in its most recent financial quarter.

Nintendo's latest results, covering the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year, show a strong and growing digital segment, with digital sales reaching 132.7 billion yen, a 90% year-over-year increase. The proportion of digital sales rose to 61.5%. However, the company noted this figure...