The Rise of Digital Content
In today’s world, the changes in shopping trends are pretty evident. Thanks to the rapid development of e-commerce, clients have almost instant access to shops all over the world without leaving their rooms. Because of that, more and more customers decide to buy video games digitally.
A Digital Revolution
There’s no denying that the world nowadays is heading towards digitalization. From payment methods to documents, having everything digitized is not just a convenience: in many regards, it’s a must.
When it comes to gaming, purchasing digital counterparts to physical products is something that has been around for a while, but only recently have we noticed a great increase in the number of customers who prefer to buy digital products instead of physical video games.
This trend is relatively new, and we owe it to the 2020-2022 Lockdowns, during which customers would buy and purchase digital content since physical stores were closed. Despite the pandemic being gone, the preference to buy digital products remains. Many people who’d be reluctant to buy digital games realized that this habit comes with many benefits.
The trend is present across various sectors, with video games being no exception. During one of Capcom's recent annual shareholders’ meetings, the industry giants revealed that approximately 80% of their games are sold digitally. The dominance of digital sales over traditional physical distribution is a clear sign of what customers want nowadays.
From books to movies, music, and games, we're witnessing a growing preference for digital formats. What's driving this trend? Let's explore four main reasons: cost-efficiency, environmental friendliness, convenience, and diversity of available products.
It’s Cheaper
One of the most compelling reasons to buy digital content is its price. Digital content often costs significantly less than its physical counterpart. This is mainly because there are no manufacturing, storage, or distribution costs involved with digital products. The savings made in these areas are usually passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices.
Content creators such as streamers, YouTubers, TikTokers, and others rely on providing their audience with fresh content regularly. This might be quite budget-straining, especially when it comes to new, pricey releases. Purchasing their games on e-commerce platforms like GAMIVO lets them not only save a couple of bucks but also participate in special programs curated for content creators.
Of course, DVDs have their charm and collectible value, but not everyone is a fan of stashing huge libraries of plastic boxes. For those who don’t display them or keep them as mementos, digital media is an attractive option- not only in terms of saving money.
It’s Eco-Friendly
Buying digital content is a more sustainable choice as it reduces the demand for physical goods, which in turn decreases the strain on our planet's resources. Manufacturing physical items involves the use of raw materials and energy, and it also generates waste and emissions: We all know we already use way too much plastic. By contrast, digital content requires only the energy to power the servers where it's stored and the devices on which it's used.
For example, buying an e-book instead of a physical book saves paper and eliminates the emissions associated with shipping. Have you noticed that laptops or even ready-built PCs usually don’t come with CD ROMs? Consoles like the PlayStation 5 come in versions without CD ROM drives; handheld devices like the Steam Deck rely on digital downloads only. It strongly suggests that complete digitization is inevitable. Even when developers choose to release physical copies, they often comprise nothing more than paper slips with codes instead of actual CDs.
It’s Faster
In our fast-paced world, convenience is key. Digital content can usually be downloaded or streamed instantly. There's no need to wait for shipping or travel to a store. Whether you want to read the latest bestseller, watch a newly-released movie, or play a hot new video game, you can do so instantly with digital content that, contrary to physical stores, can be limited.
Moreover, digital content offers the convenience of portability and accessibility at one's fingertips. A complete collection of e-books, music, movies, and games can be effortlessly stored on a single device or accessed through the cloud, providing unparalleled on-the-go entertainment options. Provided you’ve got enough space to download this content, of course.
It’s Diverse
The diversity of digital marketplaces and stores plays a significant role in driving this trend. Take GAMIVO, for instance, which operates without the constraints of physical storage, allowing an extensive range of products to be offered. With over 120,000 digital products available, including video games, gift cards, subscriptions, music, software, and more, customers are spoiled for choice. The sheer magnitude of GAMIVO's product library ensures that there is something for everyone at prices more affordable than in physical stores.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, buying digital content offers numerous benefits - it's cheaper, more eco-friendly, faster, and gives customers access to a much wider range of products. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect the trend towards digital content to accelerate, offering us even more convenience and value. Perhaps CDs will disappear at some point? It is quite unlikely they will achieve the status of vinyl records, after all. They might turn into what floppy discs are now- a quirky remnant of the distant past.
Nuno Pessoa
As a filmmaker with extensive experience across multiple areas of content creation, my work has been featured internationally, and I’ve had the honor of serving as both a speaker and jury member at numerous prestigious events. However, in recent years, I’ve grown increasingly disillusioned with the direction of the art world, prompting a shift in my focus toward disciplines I believe will be pivotal for the future: cybersecurity, self-education, web design, and investment in emerging assets. These interests have culminated in the launch of RushRadar, a platform dedicated to exploring these vital topics and empowering others to navigate the evolving digital landscape.