Buying Games as Downloads Is More Popular Than Ever in Germany

Key insights

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Market Overview

Digital downloads accounted for 60% of all PC and console game sales in Germany in 2023.

This figure matches the record high observed during the 2020 pandemic.

Key Fact. 60% of all PC and console games sold in Germany in 2023 were purchased as digital downloads.

Older Players

Older demographics are shifting toward digital, with the 50- to 59-year-old group increasing their download share to 59%…

Despite this shift, physical media remains the preferred choice for players over 60, who purchased 53% of their games in physical format.

59%

Download share for 50- to 59-year-olds in Germany in 2023.

Physical purchases by players over 60: 53%
in physical purchases for players over 60: 12 percentage point decline

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Summary

The German video game market reached a significant milestone in 2023, with digital downloads accounting for 60 percent of all PC and console game sales. This figure matches the record high established in 2020 during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, signaling that digital distribution has become a permanent, dominant fixture in the industry. The findings are based on comprehensive market data compiled by Consumer Panel Services GfK and data.ai, utilizing an ongoing survey of 25,000 representative German consumers alongside retail panel analysis.

Market behavior remains highly segmented by platform and age. PC gaming is almost entirely digital, with 98 percent of titles purchased as downloads. In contrast, console gaming retains a strong preference for physical media, which still accounts for 60 percent of sales, though this represents a 3-percentage-point decline from the previous year. The shift toward digital formats is most pronounced among younger demographics, particularly those aged 20 to 29, where 71 percent of purchases are digital. While older players have historically favored physical copies, adoption of digital storefronts is growing across all age groups, including a notable shift among those aged 50 to 59.

Industry analysts attribute the sustained popularity of digital downloads to the convenience of the format and the increasing prevalence of digital-only releases for major blockbuster and indie titles. However, the continued resilience of physical console media is driven by consumer demand for collectible editions, fan merchandise, and the desire for permanent, tangible ownership of game libraries. These trends highlight a maturing market where digital convenience increasingly defines the standard for PC gaming, while physical media maintains a specialized, enduring role within the console ecosystem.