The market accelerates the leap to digital: almost 7 out of 10 Xbox Series sold in 2025 do not have a reader, a review

The new sales data in the U.S. confirm a clear change in purchasing habits.

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The video game market in the United States continues to provide revealing data on how player habits are changing, especially when it comes to physical format and hardware. According to figures shared by the retail tracking service Circana, 2025 has marked a turning point in the adoption of disc-less consoles.

In the case of Xbox, the data is particularly striking: 66% of Xbox Series consoles sold in 2025 did not include a physical disc drive, confirming that the shift to digital is no longer a future trend, but a consolidated reality in one of the world’s major markets.

Xbox Series and PlayStation Confirm Digital Format Dominance in 2025

The report also reflects that PlayStation is following a similar line, although with slightly more resistance to change. 49% of PS5 consoles sold during 2025 were disc-less models, a very high figure compared to the first years of the generation. Additionally, 13% of PS5 purchases corresponded to the Pro model, indicating a growing interest in premium hardware versions.

Another notable figure is the performance of PlayStation Portal, which already reaches a 7% adoption rate compared to the total number of PS5 consoles sold historically, a relevant percentage for a remote gaming-focused accessory device.

Together, these numbers reinforce a clear idea: the physical format is losing weight at a rapid pace, while the digital ecosystem (online stores, subscriptions, and cloud gaming) is gaining more and more prominence. In the case of Xbox, this transition fits perfectly with its current strategy, centered on Game Pass, PC gaming, and flexibility between devices.