Bethesda has explained the decision to bring Fallout 3 downloadable content to retail, effectively stating that DLC is not reaching enough gamers and users still want something they can hold.

Bethesda's sales director, Paul Oughton, told MCV that, “Outside the UK, online connectivity rates are not as high, so in these territories the boxed product is a primary route to market.

"Even in the UK a large element of consumers still want a tactile product in a box. Fallout managed to break out from purely a hardcore of gamers and it’s this broader market that is less likely to download.”

The news might bring a little warmth to retailers staring down the barrel of increasing digital distribution.

Last week Bethesda announced that, as well as bringing Fallout 3 DLC to the PS3, it will release compilations of the content at retail.