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Digital Distibution: The future is here
Why we prefer to download our games and how it's single handedly shaping the future of the PC platform
Written by Andy Griffiths, 08 December 2009
Digital distribution has already surpassed boxed media, at least for the PC platform. Walk down any high-street in Britain and you're lucky to find maybe one or two retailers that still stock PC games. There's a few reasons for this - firstly a lot of retailers don't want the hassle of serial numbers and returns, secondly sales don't tend to perform as well as the console varieties during the first weeks and finally, as well as most importantly, there's no option to trade them in.
Now it would be understandable to think this would be indicative of a platform in a downward spiral but, solely due to digital distribution, this couldn't be further from the truth.
Services like Direct 2 Drive, Steam, GOG.com, Metaboli and GamersGate offer a huge variety of titles, with most new releases are available on the street date. Prices are usually the RRP and even though it would be nice for them to charge substantially less, at least there's the option to pick up a game on day one without having to queue.
Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon, with Microsoft recently confirming that they too will be offering downloadable games in the future via the Games for Windows Live platform.
Plenty other companies are also set to join the download revolution with HMV and other high-street retailers looking to stake their claim. There's no way these giant companies would want to accommodate a platform which is apparently on the way out.
The PC market is already experiencing the so-called digital revolution. When Chart Track - the industry recognised reporter of games sales - includes online only content deliverers in their weekly reports next year, we expect many positive results. Hopefully we'll get some figures to finally put a stop to all the PC hypochondria floating around.
As bandwidth speeds increase and online distributors grow in stature there's no reason why the traditional model utilising bricks and mortar stores will continue. As more retailers abandon our platform, the more online-only distributors will spring up to take their place.
We'll miss fancy boxes and the feel of popping a fresh disc into our drawer, but we'd happily swap that for cheaper prices, more cash going to developers and the option to never go to a midnight launch ever again.
The downloaders shall inherit the Earth.
