Digital downloads are now a big thing in the States it seems, as Microsoft recently revealed that the Xbox Live Marketplace has seen over $240 million in revenue, with $180 million of that coming in last year.

Gamasutra additionally reports that games with paid downloadable content make an average $21 million more at retail if the content hits within a 30-day sweet spot. It also causes customers to hold on to titles longer.

It’s easy to see why many publishers are going for digital downloads these days, seeing as how popular Xbox Live Marketplace and Steam, among other digital stores, are currently. Maybe it’s the sign of things to come?