I don't bother buying retail PC games anymore, I can get pretty much every single PC game in existence on Steam or some variation thereof. Even old games that are impossible to find can be had on Steam. I have way too many PC game boxes anyway, especially the old ones that were the size of cereal boxes.

Not surprised. I do have to wonder how much of that sales volume is tied directly to Steam's wonderful sales. Even I rarely buy packaged PC games anymore, unless its a really special game, like Civilization V. That I want a disc of.

I only buy digital if their is a special. Anything else I buy a physical copy of, if i can get a hold of one. Darksiders in a couple days fuck yes.

I'm suprised this hasn't happened yet.

Well atleast Sony was kinda pointed the right way with pspgo but they didn't support it and didn't make it as price friendly as anyone would like. I too think we'll see a much bigger push on digital releases but nothing completely taking over until there's a better medium of sources.

Curious if apple was included in the findings and how much it contributed to sales. Valve certainly has.

You also have to remember that PC gamers can't return their games at many places. So as you can't trade an old game for a new one, the decision to get the digital copy is much more attractive with all the plus points that the good online distribution networks have.

Also more and more shops don't even have a decent range of physical PC games.

Dear Sony and Microsoft,

Steam-summer-Sale

Love,
CuzinNiko

Was Captain Obvious taking a breather today? I'm pretty sure this has been the case for a while. It's funny how NPD is just realizing it.

Steam and its deep discount sales make me happy. I generally buy new games that I know are for me day 1 purchases with physical media but for games that are wait and see what the reviews say or I just don't have the money for, its steam sales are the way to go.

I'm really not surprised. Most stores I've been to have at best a tiny section of PC games, usually just overstock they're trying to get rid of with a few new GFW titles.

If Steam was handled like PSN or XBox Live's games on demand, I would still be buying retail.

Luckily, Steam shows them how to do a digital store.

"UltorOscariot: Not surprised. I do have to wonder how much of that sales volume is tied directly to Steam's wonderful sales. Even I rarely buy packaged PC games anymore, unless its a really special game, like Civilization V. That I want a disc of."

Why get a disc? It's just going on Steam anyway... I guess it might cut down your installation time by a second, but it doesn't really matter.

The last few times I bought a physical came -just because- I found out they needed Steam anyway and didnt have real instruction manuals. Since then, I've essentially left physical distribution behind...

I wonder if they're counting games that didn't see box releases.

@Cuzin
Don't forget steam weekend, mid-week, and winter sales. God the winter sale is just crazy, (or at least it was last year).I mean out of my 50 steam games 35 of them are from sales, 15 of those under $10.

So it begins... the era of companies controlling my games being of a majority.

Oh well, at least I won't have to upgrade my PC. When I buy a game, it's -mine-, I don't pay for a 'rental' that can be denied to me anytime.

@Nintendan I know right!? I spent only $40 on like 27 games during this years summer sale.

It's very rare for me to buy a physical PC game nowadays. Generally that's reserved for games that are either unavailable on Steam or when I'm picking up a collector's edition.

I can't even find retail PC games anymore. I guess the fact that I refuse to buy games at gamestop doesnt help. I also hate Best Buy and Future shop and the wal-mart near me got rid of there PC games section.

@killias2
Probably nostalgia mostly.

It's nice to have something to put a shelf next to my big box of Klingon Academy or some other some other title. I'd rather own a cartridge of a SNES game than own it on Virtual console. I guess I miss the days of huge boxes, 200 page instruction manuals, cloth maps, sound tracks, and all the other great stuff we used to get for 49.99 usually. Damn the penny pinching publishers and pirate bastards that brought that era to an end.

Hmm now that I think about it, every pc game I have in mind for a future purchase is going to come off of steam...


It's the sales.

I really wish MS and Sony would learn from them.

This makes perfect sense for this year. Steam was practically giving away every game during July.

Have you been in a game store lately to buy a PC game? Me neither....

Considering the last time I looked, there was one small center store stand with new PC games and a small bargin bin, this is not surprising news.

"It's nice to have something to put a shelf next to my big box of Klingon Academy or some other some other title. I'd rather own a cartridge of a SNES game than own it on Virtual console. I guess I miss the days of huge boxes, 200 page instruction manuals, cloth maps, sound tracks, and all the other great stuff we used to get for 49.99 usually. Damn the penny pinching publishers and pirate bastards that brought that era to an end."

I agree to some extent, and I have an extensive physical collection. However, nearly every out-of-my-way physical purchase has ended laughably. Maybe one out of 5 or 6 has a real manual. Most have some sort of ultraslim installation guide, or, even less, like L4D's peace of paper with your code on it. Also, L4D iss not alone in doing that....

I would've been hardcore with you two-three years ago. It's just not 2007 anymore. Physical editions, except for overpriced collector's editions, just aren't worth it anymore. Collector's editions aren't worth the money, but they would be worth actually going out of my way to get physically..

@sothalic

Um, no actually even physical games are just licences.

Leon has a point....you don't OWN a PC game anyway. You are buying the right to run the code on your system.

I agree with Jim - PC is the only platform that currently has DD marketplaces that do it right. I wouldn't mind buying PSP games digitally but not at their current pricing.

Steam converted me to PC Gaming again.

I remember 10 years ago, my local GAME store had a whole wall across the store full of pc games. Now it's about the size of a top 10 chart list.
Miss the old days but Steam is a good substitute and is the only reason I'm still a pc gamer.

In my opinion, it just makes sense for the PC market. You don't have to dig in your closet for hours just to find those 3 cds to play an old game when you have it on steam.