Highlights
- Walmart could be phasing out physical Xbox game sales due to declining sales, with other platforms potentially following suit in the future.
- Best Buy may also stop selling physical games in stores as digital game sales overtake boxed copies. Physical media is becoming less profitable.
- Limited Run Games CEO expects this trend to continue into 2024, with Microsoft potentially dropping physical game distribution altogether. Nintendo may continue selling physical games for a few more console generations.
According to a recent claim, Walmart could be phasing out physical Xbox game sales soon. These rumors come after a report made at the start of this year about how physical game sales are down. This report has potentially started to affect how major publishers and retailers are distributing their games when 2024 rolls around.
One of the biggest gaming retailers in the world is Best Buy, which sells a variety of electronics, including video games. Earlier this week, there were claims about how Best Buy could stop selling physical games in stores due to digital game sales overtaking boxed copies. The retailer claims that with this rise in digital purchases, physical media is becoming less profitable. A new claim following this report indicates that Walmart will likely be taking the same steps, with Xbox being the first to go.
This claim was made by John Fairhurst, the CEO of Limited Run Games on Twitter, whose company specializes in creating physical game releases or re-releases for digital or older games. He explains that he recently heard rumors on how physical Xbox game sales are being phased out first, with other platforms being cut in the future. Fairhurst expects this trend to continue into 2024, with other retailers potentially following suit in the future.
Fairhurst also took the time to answer questions from concerned gamers about the consequences this has taken, explaining retailers are having a harder time making in-store game sales, expecting this department to be reduced in scope over time. One user on Twitter for example explains that their Walmart was barely ordering any Xbox games, with these orders stopping soon, which Fairhurst corroborates on how that lines up with what he heard. He also predicts that Microsoft might be the one to first drop out of distributing physical game discs altogether, as some retailers have already stopped selling physical Xbox games.
Earlier this month, a Ubisoft representative explained how there will always be a market for those who love physical game releases. For example, physical gaming media in Japan still sells particularly well, especially with Nintendo games. Fairhurst expects Nintendo will continue selling for the physical format for another few console generations, noting that most of the sales from Limited Run Games are on Nintendo platforms. He also expects specialized gaming retailers like mom-and-pop shops to make a resurgence in order to fill the niche for gamers who prefer physical releases.
Source: Insider Gaming