Circana data reveals that 66% of Xbox Series X|S consoles sold in the United States in 2025 were models without disc drives, the market research firms Mat Piscatella reported when sharing a set of sales "fun facts." The figures were highlighted in coverage by Pure Xbox.

Sonys PlayStation 5 posted a markedly different split in the same period, with sales roughly split between disc-equipped and digital-only systems at just about 50/50.

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Industry observers point to Microsofts recent console price increases and the company's emphasis on all-digital hardware as factors making digital-only models a more attractive proposition for many buyers. The prominence of subscription-based services and digital-first strategies is also relevant to the shifting mix between physical and digital hardware sales.

The trend has practical implications for retailers, the second-hand market and collectors, as a higher share of digital-only consoles reduces demand for physical discs and associated trade-in opportunities. It also affects software distribution dynamics and the importance of digital storefronts in console ecosystems.

Circana, the firm formerly known as NPD, supplied the data via Mat Piscatella. The original report was summarised by Pure Xbox: purexbox.com.