Steam, the online digital PC game distributor, now has 25 million customers. By combining a digital delivery system and their own unique DRM system, gamers can play downloaded games without the need to buy DVDs or insert disc during playback, plus access online multiplayer services and value added features such as achievements.
Of the 25 million users, 10 million have full profiles, meaning they are more than just one time customers. Sales are also up 205% compared to a year ago, despite falling PC sales and the economic down turn.
So while being able to browse through hundreds and thousands of movies to download through a digital distributor still seems far away, digital distribution is already here for gamers. This may be bad news for retailers though, since for every cent that goes towards Steam is one cent that no longer goes through the regular retail channels.
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Of the 25 million users, 10 million have full profiles, meaning they are more than just one time customers. Sales are also up 205% compared to a year ago, despite falling PC sales and the economic down turn.
So while being able to browse through hundreds and thousands of movies to download through a digital distributor still seems far away, digital distribution is already here for gamers. This may be bad news for retailers though, since for every cent that goes towards Steam is one cent that no longer goes through the regular retail channels.
More: