Capcom: PC Digital Distro More Important Than Retail

Capcom says digital distribution has become more crucial for PC games than traditional retail -- "Absolutely," says strategic planning VP Christian Svensson. "No question in my mind." "Digital distribution on PC ties directly into our strategy," Svensson tells PC gaming blog Rock Paper Shotgun. He says that Capcom is already a leader in revenue in the console downloadable space on Xbox Live, WiiWare ad PlayStation Network. "We’re ready on the console side, and we were the first Japanese publisher to do anything on Steam," he notes. Capcom is a member of the PC Gaming Alliance, which is working on solutions to these and other issues challenging PC games. So far, it is the only Japanese member company. One of its reasons for joining up, says Svensson, comes out of the ongoing compatibility issues with PC gaming -- which leads to high return rates on the retail side, usually double that of console games, he says. "Why? Because it’s not a great consumer experience because there’s variation in minimum spec, and it requires a lot of consumer knowledge to figure out exactly what is in their box, and what that will run." Svensson hopes that the PCGA and its constituents can collaborate on ironing out those long-standing issues. "The more successful we are on a platform, the bigger the risks we can take, and the better content we can produce there."