Forecast: Retail to be overtaken by digital distribution in three years

This sounds grim. Speakers at the upcoming London Games Conference are forecasting that in three years’ time, retail would have been outstripped by digital distribution. Not only that, but 40% of the companies in the games industry will be caught unprepared for this shift in consumer choice.

This sounds grim. Speakers at the upcoming London Games Conference are forecasting that in three years’ time, retail would have been outstripped by digital distribution. Not only that, but 40% of the companies in the games industry will be caught unprepared for this shift in consumer choice.

The way to go?

Other forecasts include Nick Parker’s, of Parker Consulting, positing that both Sony and Microsoft will be launching their next-gens come 2013 and 2014, respectively. Here is where the outstripping begins. Starting from 2010, as MS and Sony prepare for the launch of their next-gens, traditional box products will be on the decline, and digitally distributed software will be on the climb to make up for that resulting vacuum.

Said Parker, “For the first time ever, the games industry has a way of alleviating the pain that traditionally befalls it during generational decline, through online gaming in its many guises – it’s a genuinely exciting time for the industry and the London Games Conference is perfectly timed to discuss these opportunities.”

Oh, guess he’s not as worried about losing retail, then. The London Games Conference will be happening on October 27th at the BAFTA headquarters in London.

• John Carmack: Sony likely to kick off next console generation
• Pachter: Only hard drive is keeping MS from releasing new digital releases, retailers won’t mind new mode of distribution
• Analyst: GameStop not yet threatened by digital distribution
  

Via EDGE