The Future of Gaming Seems to Be Digital Video Games
A report from an investment bank and asset management firm predicted that video game sales could only be digital by 2022. The analysts behind the report say that an all-digital revenue for publishers Take-Two Interactive, EA and Activision would dramatically increase their margins.
“It is a certainty that videogames will be approximately 100% digital in the coming years,” the report from the firm, Piper Jaffray, read. “While exact timing is hard to pinpoint, we think 2022 is a realistic expectation.”
Coincidentally, back in May, a study about digital gaming predicted that the digital games market would be worth about $160 billion by that same year.
“The market is set to be boosted by the increasing prevalence of loot boxes; purchasable in-game packs which contain a random selection of items, thus monetizing users in-game,” read a press release for the study. “The practice has already proved immensely popular globally, especially in the Chinese games sector.”
The study’s author went into more detail in the press release: “Loot boxes play upon the gamers’ desire to have the most prestigious and sought-after in-game items, whether these be weapons or cosmetic goods. By monetizing the random generation of items, developers are effectively encouraging a form of in-game gambling, extending both the lifecycle and engagement of games titles to their audience.”
Additionally, recent comments from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot and Xbox boss Phil Spencer point to future gaming business practices that’ll focus more on digital gaming or “streaming”.
It is looking increasingly likely that the days of physical game purchases are numbered.
What do you think about this possible future for gaming? Are you fine with digital purchases or do you prefer physical purchases? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!