PC downloads cross the tipping point in the UK

Digital downloads now represent more than half of all PC games sold in the UK and the US.

Sony DADC, which powers the download services of over 25 retailers and publishers like Metaboli and EA, says this figure will only rise.

The firm’s Matthew Hatton, who looks after sales for digital distribution and games content services, said: In North America and the UK, we’ve seen a tipping point.

The majority of sales in those regions are now digital. 51 per cent of all PC game sales were digital eight months ago in the US. Now it’s going to be up to a split of nearly 60/40 in the US alone.”

Sony DADC’s director of engineering Murray Rigluth added: Certainly for the services that Sony DADC provides for digital retailers and publishers, we see [that growth] very much in the PC space at the moment.”

Rigluth also said retailers should get involved: We’re on a path that’s never going to reverse. In six to 12 months there will be huge scramble and rush for digital services. This will fragment the market but in five to six years the numbers will reduce and you’ll get more key players.”