Nintendo has indicated it will continue supporting physical game cartridges, as new figures reveal that nearly 40% of its software sales are still physical. This comes amid Sony's plans to stop producing physical PlayStation discs after 2027, which has sparked protests and petitions from fans.
Digital sales surge but physical remains significant
In its latest financial results, Nintendo reported digital sales of ¥132.7 billion (£623.4 million) for the first quarter of the 2027 fiscal year (April 1 to June 30, 2026), a 90% increase year-on-year. Digital sales now account for 61.5% of total software sales, up 2.2% from the same period last year, meaning physical sales make up 38.5%.
However, the digital figure includes DLC, Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions, and digital versions of packaged software, but excludes digital copies of Mario Kart World bundled with the Switch 2 console. This suggests the actual physical share could be even higher.
Nintendo's audience leans physical
Nintendo's audience, which includes more casual players and families, is more inclined to buy physical games compared to PlayStation and Xbox users. The proportion of digital sales has fluctuated over the past year, from 51.2% in Q2 to 67.2% in Q4 of the 2026 fiscal year, but the company appears unlikely to abandon physical media soon.
In the financial report, Nintendo stated: 'Digital sales increased year-on-year due to factors including an increase in sales of downloadable versions of packaged software and the depreciation of the yen.'
Comparison with Sony
Sony, in contrast, reported that 82% of its PlayStation 4 and 5 game sales were digital in its last financial quarter. While this is a higher percentage, 18% of 66.1 million game sales still represents a substantial number of physical copies.
The future of Nintendo's physical game sales remains uncertain, as the company pushes alternatives like Game-Key cards for the Switch 2, and some titles are cheaper digitally than physically.
