More copies of Resident Evil: Requiem were sold on PlayStation discs than on Xbox in total, reportedly, as Sony's march to a discless future continues

Physical media is not dead yet, at least not on PlayStation. According to reported sales figures, Resident Evil: Requiem sold more copies on PlayStation discs than it did on Xbox in total, across both physical and digital. The numbers come as Sony continues its slow march toward a discless future, and they suggest that big single-player blockbusters still move in notable quantities on disc.

The statistics also point to a striking regional difference. In Japan, the appetite for physical copies is higher still. That tells us something about how different markets approach buying games, and it complicates the narrative that discs are on their way out.

Note that these figures are reported rather than officially confirmed by the publisher or platform holders, so they should be treated with some caution. Even so, the picture they paint is a fascinating one for anyone following the industry.

What the Reported Sales Figures Actually Show

The headline claim is simple: PlayStation disc sales of Resident Evil: Requiem exceeded the entire Xbox total. That means every Xbox copy, whether bought in a shop or downloaded from the store, still trailed the number of boxed PlayStation copies.

That is a remarkable comparison. It does not say that PlayStation digital sales were small, only that the disc portion alone was enough to beat the rival platform's overall performance.

Such a result highlights the size of the PlayStation audience for Capcom's horror franchise. It also shows how much weight the physical format still carries for a game of this scale.

Why Single-Player Blockbusters Still Favor Discs

Single-player blockbuster games have a particular kind of audience. Many players buy them as complete, premium experiences, and they often want to own, collect, or resell them afterward.

Discs also offer practical advantages. They can be lent to friends, traded in, or picked up at a discount from retailers. For a story-driven game that players may finish once, those benefits matter.

Gift-giving plays a role as well. A boxed copy of a major release remains an easy present, which keeps retail relevant even in an increasingly digital market.

Sony's Slow March Toward a Discless Future

Sony has been steadily nudging players toward digital. Console designs with detachable disc drives, a strong push for digital storefront sales, and subscription services all point in the same direction.

Yet the reported Resident Evil: Requiem numbers show that the transition is far from complete. A large number of players are still choosing to buy discs when a major release arrives.

This creates an interesting tension. The company may be planning for a discless future, but customer behavior suggests that the present is still very much physical for key titles.

Japan's Strong Desire for Physical Copies

Japan stands out in the data. The desire for physical games there is higher than in many other regions, and that gap shows up clearly in the statistics around this release.

Several factors may explain it, including a long-established retail culture, collector-minded fans, and attractive physical editions. Shops remain central to how games are discovered and purchased.

For publishers like Capcom, a home market that favors discs means physical production and distribution will remain important for the foreseeable future.

How Xbox Compares in the Wider Picture

Xbox has long leaned into digital, with Game Pass and a download-first approach shaping how its audience plays. That strategy makes physical sales a smaller slice of the pie on that platform.

This helps explain why the PlayStation disc total can exceed the whole Xbox figure. Different platforms foster different buying habits, and the gap here may reflect that as much as raw audience size.

It also means direct comparisons need context. Digital-heavy ecosystems and subscription services can obscure how many people actually play a game versus how many buy it outright.

What This Means for Capcom and Publishers

For Capcom, strong disc sales are a good sign. Resident Evil remains a flagship Series, and Requiem appears to be performing well with an audience that values owning the game.

Publishers will take note. If physical copies continue to sell in meaningful numbers, there is a clear commercial reason to maintain disc production and retail partnerships.

Cutting physical editions too early could mean leaving money on the table, particularly in regions such as Japan where the format is cherished.

The Future of Physical Games After Requiem

The long-term trend likely still favors digital. Download speeds improve, storage grows, and companies benefit from the higher margins of direct sales.

But the reported performance of Resident Evil: Requiem suggests the disc will not vanish quickly. Big, narrative-driven releases may be among the last to let go of physical formats.

For now, players who love shelves of games can take comfort. Sony may be marching toward a discless future, but that march looks slower than many expected, and Resident Evil: Requiem is proof that the disc still has life left.

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