Capcom's first-quarter report for the 2026 fiscal year reveals that digital sales accounted for an overwhelming 93.3% of the company's total revenue during the period, a figure that has generated unease among players concerned about the future of physical game discs.
This substantial digital share includes sales of both new releases and older titles, leaving physical media sales at a mere 6.7%. This trend comes at a time when physical disc production for PlayStation games is slated to cease in January 2028, intensifying discussions about the industry's digital trajectory.
Within the digital sales figures, PC platforms represented 60.4% of revenue, while consoles accounted for 32.9%. While the dominance of PC digital sales is not surprising given the long-standing absence of disc drives in most computers, the overall digital figures have prompted fan debate. Concerns have been raised regarding whether the reported numbers include digital-only downloadable content or how sales are segmented by individual game titles. The exact contribution of older game sales, such as those from a recent Resident Evil Steam sale, versus newer releases remains unclear, though Capcom indicated that the Resident Evil series was a primary driver of these high digital sales.
The Resident Evil franchise continues to experience a surge in popularity, recently becoming the third highest-selling franchise in Japan, trailing only Pokemon and Mario. Furthermore, Resident Evil 2 has now surpassed Resident Evil 5 as the best-selling entry in the series, ending RE5's 15-year reign.
Despite the stark digital sales figures, Capcom has stated it has no plans to discontinue the production of physical game discs. The company affirmed in a shareholder Q&A that it will continue to produce physical media, acknowledging that a significant portion of players still demand them.