Physical Game Sales Slow as Only Seven Titles Pass 100K in 2026

New U.S. retail data and increasing issues for major game retailers point to physical gaming losing ground, but fans are still wondering if blockbuster releases can stem the tide.

The war between physical and digital games has been waging for years, but 2026 is showing us one thing: digital is winning. But many players aren't ready to see boxed games go the way of the dodo, especially with recent changes in the industry sparking a renewed interest in owning games on disc rather than relying solely on digital storefronts.

Newly released U.S. retail data demonstrates precisely how limited the physical industry has become, insiders say. For the week ending July 11, only two PlayStation games sold more than 10,000 physical copies in the US. Most telling of all, only seven games in the entire year have passed the 100,000 physical units sold mark.

Those stats are exclusively for the U.S. market, but they still carry a lot of weight since it remains one of PlayStation's biggest regions. The numbers also confirm what many analysts have been saying for years: physical games now make up barely a fraction of overall game sales, with digital purchases dominating the industry.

Some of the biggest 2026 releases are believed to be among the titles reaching the 100,000-copy milestone. Likely candidates for massive games are Crimson Desert, 007 First Light, Resident Evil 9, MLB The Show, LEGO Batman, WWE 2K26 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Still, 100,000 physical copies is a far cry from the millions of total units these blockbusters are rumored to have sold across both digital and retail.

This brings up an interesting question: how much of a game’s sales are physical now?

We don’t know the exact breakdown, but there is a popular belief that the balance has moved significantly toward digital. Is it like 70 per cent digital, 30 per cent physical? Or has the gap gotten much bigger? There are no official numbers, so fans can only speculate. But physical games may not go down without a struggle.

Sources say recent industry moves regarding physical media have caused a noticeable shift in community mood. More players are now starting to appreciate boxed games, collector’s editions, and even simple disc unboxings that were earlier ignored. Physical releases are becoming more rare, yet seem to be acquiring fresh value to collectors and lifelong followers.

Another potential test could be upcoming releases from first-party developers. Marvel's Wolverine, a big launch, may offer clues as to whether recent support for physical media can lead to better retail sales. Would a high-profile exclusive change anything, or is internet buying just too ingrained?

It’s not only that they can’t move games. Changing consumer habits put ever more pressure on physical retailers. Sources say that GAME, the long-running UK and Ireland video game store, has gone into administration again after a similar financial difficulty in 2011. The company is reported to owe about £15.8 million and its future is uncertain as administrators look for means of recouping money for creditors.

It’s part of a larger trend affecting old-school game stores.

Retail locations have found it more difficult to justify carrying large inventories of physical games as more gamers have shifted to digital downloads. Even big chains have slowly turned their attention to collectibles, accessories and other items, rather than the video games themselves.

Clearly the gaming business is approaching a new phase where digital convenience still beats physical ownership for most users. But avid collectors are committed to keeping discs, steelbooks and box sets alive for as long as possible. The major question now is an easy one: when the next blockbuster arrives, will gamers vote with a download or with a disk?