Nintendo President expects it will take 20 years before digital distributation replaces retail
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has spoken out about the downloadable future of videogames. According to him, he believes that it will take the market around 20 years before digital distribution of videogames replaces the physical in-store market.
To quote Iwata:
“On a rough analysis basis, the connection ratio of Wii is around 35%, in the Japanese market. And that of DS is probably, 20% or so. It had increased with the measures like Nintendo Zone with McDonald’s to lower the hurdle for connection, but has not reached the 30% mark. …Most radical people even dare to say that retailers will be replaced by digital distribution in no time. But personally, I think it will still require a significant amount of time. In other words, it will require many years and months for the majority of video game purchase to become digital. In short, in 20 years or so I might say it will have probably changed. But in 5 years or so, I do not totally agree with opinions that no one will purchase titles at retailers by then. Habits of life do not change such radically and quickly. Especially for the expanded audience of various people, to whom we are and will be trying to appeal, I believe their habits will change more slowly.”
As a lot of people have been discussing in regards to this issue, 20 years is more likely for a Nintendo system, but Microsoft and Sony will probably be at full digital distribution by the next-generation of consoles. Especially with Sony’s PSP Go already being fully digital, and Xbox 360 offering digital downloads for full Xbox 360 games with their Games on Demand service.
Via Go Nintendo
