The last generation of consoles have a big "jump" on the integration of Internet use and functionality of their own consoles.
Internet usage in the last generation of consoles goes far beyond the ability to play online. Today we can access various content, movies, music, games and demonstrations. Paid or free, the content available digitally and distributed here to stay. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have been focusing even up to the digital distribution of games that are not in shops video games.
This sales method allows a different product management, avoiding the so-called "middle-men", and vendors who do get the games to stores. However there are other costs such as costs of IT infrastructure, development of digital distribution platforms, etc ...
But does this through distribution / sales will replace the game sales in specialty stores and hypermarkets? Probably not, at least the next 10-15 years. The Internet access is not yet commoditized to a level that will completely replace traditional distribution.
In most cases, the end customer refuses to pay the same price for a game version of "downloadable" than pay a shop in physical media. Besides the price of the game adds to the price of a monthly Internet access, not to mention the psychological factor, or pay for something that is not very "tangible." In 90% of cases, with two versions of the same game (downloadable and normal) by the end user chooses normal version in physical format.
But there are other factors for which it is unlikely that the distribution becomes fully digital. The fact that there are many collectors of games, usually good buyers, the profiles have games in your collection boxes within the traditional artwork, etc., than to have the console's hard drive full. The size of hard disks and / or absence of a storage medium on consoles also become factors in hindering.
Other factors are lack of customer information that often unaware of the online service and age of those using the console. Marketing and product display also become partly incompatible with a digital distribution service. It is easier and more profitable to have the product for sale in various retail outlets than just a digital distribution service.
Maybe two more generations of consoles completely change this picture, but at the moment, they have a display in the boxes waiting for you 
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