Ben-DutkaLike it or not, the digital age is upon us, and some developers are already abandoning physical media.
System 3 has announced their new racing game, Ferrari: The Race Experience , but perhaps more importantly is their decision to only make it available through the PlayStation Network; it represents a "dramatic shift from physical game distribution to a more streamlined business model that represents zero wastage and ultimately better guaranteed revenue returns." System 3 claims they're ready for the changeover right now, and they will "utilize digital downloading as the best way forward for all future premium game releases." Said company CEO Mark Cale:
"Having recognised the potential in digital downloads some 18 months ago we have kept our powder dry, preferring to gauge market and consumer reaction while quietly planning a downloadable release strategy to steal a march on our rivals. Obviously we are not moving away fully from boxed product as we are committed to maximising our games across all formats and Wii games, for example, are still only released as physical product. But we have been extremely proactive in working on a full digital onslaught for a long time and they don’t come much bigger than the first one – Ferrari The Race Experience."
The Ferrari series is often regarded as one of the more realistic racing experiences available, and it marks the developer's "first AAA game released as download only content for the PS3 format." This will be followed by 6 more titles for the PS3, PSP, Apple iPad and iPhone in the next 3 months. As download speeds get faster – and let's not forget that they have – the world will continue to change.
Related Game(s): Ferrari: The Race Experience
