Resident Evil Requiem Sales Show Physical Games Still Matter

Resident Evil Requiem is offering a useful snapshot of the changing balance between physical and digital games. Data from Ampere Analysis indicates that boxed copies represented only a minority of the game's US sales, but remained a major part of the market in France, Japan, Australia, and the UK through the end of June 2026.

What happened with Resident Evil Requiem sales

According to figures shared on social media by Christopher Dring, co-founder of The Game Business, 22% of Resident Evil Requiem sales in the United States were physical. The proportion was much higher in several other markets: 55% in France, 51% in Japan, 43% in Australia, and 40% in the United Kingdom. Digital purchases still led in Australia and the UK, but physical copies remained substantial rather than marginal.

The figures cover sales recorded up to the end of June 2026, almost six months after launch. Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth mainline entry in Capcom's survival horror series and the first to release simultaneously on PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox consoles. Capcom has also confirmed that story DLC is in development, although previous reports suggested it could arrive after Resident Evil Veronica, which is expected in 2027.

Why the physical-versus-digital split matters

Digital distribution generally avoids the manufacturing, licensing, and shipping costs associated with discs and game cards, making it an attractive route for publishers. Even so, Resident Evil Requiem's regional results show that the transition is not happening at the same speed everywhere.

France and Japan stand out because physical copies accounted for more than half of the reported sales in both markets. That does not mean digital storefronts are losing their broader importance. Square Enix reported that 90% of its worldwide game sales between April 1 and June 30, 2026, were digital, equal to an estimated 6.65 million digital units compared with around 730,000 physical units. Instead, the comparison suggests that publisher-wide trends can hide meaningful differences between countries and individual releases.

What to watch next

The next sales updates for Resident Evil Requiem should show whether its physical strength lasts beyond the launch window. The game may also provide a useful reference point as publishers assess future retail production and platform strategies.

PlayStation's reported plan to become exclusively digital starting in 2028 adds another layer to the discussion. If that shift proceeds, markets where physical sales remain strong could face a sharper change than the United States. For now, the data points to a mixed landscape: digital is the dominant long-term direction, but physical games remain commercially important in selected regions.

Key takeaways

• Physical copies made up 22% of Resident Evil Requiem sales in the US.
• France and Japan recorded the highest reported physical shares, at 55% and 51%.
• Australia and the UK remained primarily digital markets, but physical sales reached 43% and 40%.
• Regional purchasing habits may matter more than a single global digital-versus-physical percentage.
• Capcom's upcoming story DLC and future sales reports could extend the game's relevance to this debate.

Resident Evil Requiem physical sales by market

Expert View

Resident Evil Requiem does not reverse the industry's digital shift, but it complicates the idea that physical games are disappearing at the same pace everywhere. Capcom's results show why regional sales data matters: a strategy built around digital distribution may fit one market while leaving meaningful retail demand underserved in another. As platform holders reduce their reliance on discs, this kind of regional resilience could become increasingly important for publishers, retailers, and players who still value physical ownership.