“Death Stranding 2” Physical Sales Plunge, But Digital Dominance Shifts the Game
The recently released “Death Stranding 2” saw a significant drop in physical sales compared to its predecessor. However, the decline doesn’t tell the full story due to the changing landscape of the video game market. Digital distribution has become increasingly prevalent, influencing how consumers purchase and experience games today.
Dramatic Sales Shift
In the UK, “Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” experienced a 66% decrease in physical copy sales during its launch week compared to the original game. This data was confirmed by the industry analyst, journalist, and commentator, Christopher Dring.
Death Stranding 2 was No.1 in the UK physical charts last week. Its launch sales were -66% lower than Death Stranding 1… but different eras. It’s a far more digital market today. It’s 33% lower than Astro Bot’s launch, but that was also a physical heavy release, too.— Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) June 29, 2025
The game also sold 33% fewer physical copies than last year’s “Astro Bot”. “Death Stranding 2’s” Deluxe Edition, which offered early access, was only available digitally.
“Death Stranding 2 was No.1 in the UK physical charts last week. Its launch sales were -66% lower than Death Stranding 1… but different eras. It’s a far more digital market today. It’s 33% lower than Astro Bot’s launch, but that was also a physical heavy release, too.”
—Christopher Dring, Journalist
According to recent reports, physical game sales now constitute only 4% of the overall video game spending in the UK (Statista, 2025).
Digital Dominance
The shift towards digital distribution is undeniable. Retailers are increasingly less likely to stock physical games. The digital version of the game appears to be a best seller.
Currently, in the UK, “Death Stranding 2” is second in the PS Store best-sellers list, trailing only “EA Sports FC 25”. This shows how popular digital purchases have become, even for major releases.
While physical sales figures offer insight, digital sales data is essential for providing a thorough understanding of the game’s performance. The future of game sales is leaning towards digital copies.
