YouGov

Gaming's Future Mirrors Streaming: Ownership vs Access

The gaming industry is shifting from ownership toward access, driven by rising console prices, subscription services, free-to-play models, and cloud gaming. LDShop analysis and cited data show U.S. physical game sales fell from 292 million units in 2009 to 37 million in the year ending June 2026, while physical-game spending still reached $1.6 billion. Sony plans to stop producing physical PlayStation discs in January 2028, and console prices have risen (standard PS5 to $649.99; PS5 Pro $899.99; average PS5 paid $672 in May, up 33% YoY). Microsoft has also raised Xbox prices. A July 2026 YouGov survey cited by LDShop finds many gamers still prefer discs for permanent ownership. The article argues this trend is creating two consumer segments—those who pay for access and those who pay a premium to own—which has implications for how games are sold, preserved, and monetized.

Joyn Narrows Gap with RTL+ in German Streaming

YouGov BrandIndex long-term data show that German streaming services Joyn and RTL+ have increased their relevance among German viewers between 2021 and 2025. Joyn closed much of the gap with RTL+ on the YouGov 'Consideration' metric, rising from 10.9% (2021) to 18.7% (2025), while RTL+ moved from 12.2% to 19.1%. Joyn also significantly improved its price‑for‑value perception (Value‑Net‑Score), whereas RTL+ saw a decline. The shift is especially pronounced among Generation Z, where Joyn reaches 24.8% consideration versus RTL+ at 26.0%.

YouGov Quality Champions 2026: German Brand Quality Winners

YouGov and the SZ Institute of the Süddeutsche Zeitung published their fourth annual ranking of which brands Germans rate highest for quality. The 2026 ranking shows notable changes from the previous year, including a quality champion from the cosmetics sector that had not been in the top 10 in 2025. The article was published by Horizont on August 21, 2026 and authored by Svenja Fennel.