Sony Talks Digital Distribution And The Shift Away from Physical Retail
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SCE President Andrew House talks digital distribution and the shift away from physical retail occurring this generation.
At Sony’s Investor Relations Day 2015 presentation, House spoke about the improved network features of the PS4 over the PS3 and believes that it’s one of the drivers for the shift. He also pointed out that having earlier and more accessible access of digital releases are contributing elements now that download versions arrive on the same day with retail copies and can often be pre-loaded.
House also talked about the impact on profit, noting that regions will be affected differently based on technology and user preference.
“Anecdotally the new console generation has certainly marked a shift to digital distribution in my opinion. Pre-loading, more competitive pricing and day and date access are the big factors for me, plus the requirement of retail releases to install and often download day one patches negates the speed factor of retail purchases.”
In recent times, both Sony and Microsoft have embraced flash sales and discounting of online products.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is driving the shift towards digital distribution, according to Sony's President?
What is driving the shift towards digital distribution, according to Sony's President?
Andrew House believes improved network features on the PS4 are a key driver. He also cited earlier, more accessible digital releases, including day-and-date availability and pre-loading, as contributing factors to this shift.
Q.How does the move to digital distribution affect profit, according to the article?
How does the move to digital distribution affect profit, according to the article?
The article states that Andrew House noted digital distribution will impact profit. However, he also mentioned that regions would be affected differently, depending on their technology and user preferences.
Q.What advantages do digital purchases offer over physical retail copies, according to Andrew House?
What advantages do digital purchases offer over physical retail copies, according to Andrew House?
House highlighted pre-loading, more competitive pricing, and day-and-date access as major benefits. He also suggested that the need for installations and day one patches for retail releases negates their speed advantage.
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