UK supermarket giant to cease physical sales of games

GameStop’s Departure from Ireland Prompts Tesco to Rethink Physical Game Sales

In an era where digital game downloads have gained immense popularity, the preference for physical copies continues to dwindle. According to recent data, digital downloads accounted for 70% of game sales in 2022, with this upward trend expected to persist. Consequently, retailers like Tesco, one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, are reconsidering the stocking of physical game copies.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Tesco has made the decision to discontinue the sale of physical game copies in all 2,800 of its outlets. The move is a response to the growing consumer shift towards digital entertainment.

Although Tesco will continue to sell digital store points, physical copies will no longer be available once the existing stock is depleted.

The Rise of Digital Gaming

This decision follows GameStop’s recent exit from Ireland, where all 35 stores, including eight in Dublin, were closed. GameStop made the announcement on Instagram in May. It appears that physical game copies are increasingly losing their prominence in today’s gaming landscape. Another report reveals that 87% of sales for games such as Diablo 4, Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy XVI, and F1 23 in the UK were through digital downloads.

While physical games may continue to exist for some time, their scarcity is evident from news stories featuring their releases. For instance, earlier this year, The Witcher 3 launched physical copies for the current generation, and the popular indie game Stray also had a physical edition. However, these instances are becoming more and more uncommon. Digital gaming has solidified its position as the preferred choice for the majority.