ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Digital distribution of video games

Have you ever gone to a store to buy a game and seen a box with a picture of the game on it? Well, imagine if instead of going to the store, you could buy the game by clicking a button on your computer or game console. That's what digital distribution is!

When a company releases a new game, they can choose to sell it both in stores and online. Digital distribution just means that they are selling the game online. When you buy a game digitally, you don't get a physical box or disc like you would at a store. Instead, you can download the game directly to your device.

There are a few different ways to do this.

First, you might be able to buy the game directly from the company that made it. If you already have an account on their website, you can sign in and buy the game there. Then, you can download it to your computer or game console.

Another way to buy games digitally is through online stores like Steam, Epic Games Store or GOG. These are like big virtual malls where you can shop for lots of different games. When you find the game you want, you can buy it through the website and then download it to your computer.

Digital distribution is very convenient because you can buy games from anywhere and at any time of the day. You don't have to worry about going to a store or waiting for the mail to arrive. Plus, since there's no physical product to manufacture or ship, digital games can often be cheaper than physical ones.

However, there are a few downsides to digital distribution as well. If your internet connection is slow, it can take a long time to download a big game. Also, if you buy a game digitally, you can't sell it or lend it to a friend like you could with a physical copy.

Overall, digital distribution of video games is just a fancy way of saying that you can buy games online and download them to your device. It's a really convenient way to get games, but it has some pros and cons just like any other way of buying things.
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