In the UK last year, around 90% of all video games were sold digitally only.
According to the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA), in 2022, 89.5% of games were downloaded rather than purchased in stores.
Only 10.5% preferred buying a game physically, the BBC reports. Around 30% of games sold come from mobile app purchases.
At £4.7 billion, the video games industry in the UK outperformed film, television and music last year.
ERA chief Kim Bayley called games “an often misunderstood leader” in the entertainment industry.
“While the 2.3% growth was slower than video or music, the scale is huge – and it continues to set the pace for the entire entertainment sector in terms of innovation and excitement,” Bayley added.
Unlike in the past when it was easier to come up with figures for physical unit sales of games, music and films, they are now based on estimates and market research firms. Because digital stores don’t have to publish numbers, as Bayley noted.
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