Are physical PS5 games cheaper than digital?

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) comes in two models – one with a disc drive that can play physical games, and a Digital Edition without a disc drive that can only play digital games downloaded from the PlayStation Store. There has been much debate over which version is the better value. Here is an in-depth look at whether physical PS5 games are cheaper than digital ones.

Key Takeaways

• Physical games are often cheaper than digital, especially shortly after launch and when buying used.
• You can resell, lend, or trade physical games, retaining some value. Digital games cannot be resold.
• Physical games allow you to shop sales from various retailers. Digital sales are limited to the PlayStation Store.
• Both versions take up the same amount of SSD storage space when installed.
• The disc edition lets you play 4K Blu-ray movies. The digital edition cannot play discs.

Are brand new physical games cheaper?

When games first launch, physical and digital editions typically cost the same MSRP price set by the publisher, usually $59.99 or $69.99 for major titles. However, physical copies can be found on sale more frequently:

• Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target often discount new physical games by 10-20% to drive sales, putting them $5-15 below the PlayStation Store price.
• Used physical copies arrive within weeks, letting buyers purchase games in like-new condition for $10-20 off retail.

So while digital has no upfront disc production costs, physical retailers compete on pricing more aggressively. Publishers also cannot dictate lower digital prices to retailers the way they can control their own PlayStation Store. So if pricing is the main concern, physical new and used games tend to be cheaper.

Do physical games retain resale value?

Physical discs retain value after purchase by allowing resale, lending, and trade-ins. Digital games are locked to your account forever and cannot be resold.

Used physical games at GameStop often resell for $25-40 within the first year. After playing, you can sell the physical copy to recoup some of the cost. You can also lend to friends or trade-in towards new games. This gives physical purchases added value.

Meanwhile, digital games cannot be resold or lent out. While convenient for switching between consoles, a $60 digital game retains little to no value after buying. If you would not play the game again, physical games allow you to recover some of the cost.

Can you find cheaper deals on physical games?

Shopping across retailers gives physical game buyers access to more sales, deals, and lower prices:

• PlayStation Store discounts are limited to sales offered by Sony. Physical copies take advantage of sales at all major retailers.
• Physical copies see steeper price drops over time and ‘Greatest Hits’ re-releases. Older digital games tend to stay at higher prices.
• Popular physical games are discounted heavily during Black Friday, holiday sales, and retailer clearance sales.

Digital prices face less market competition, so physical games end up discounted more heavily after the first few months from wider retailer participation.

Do physical discs save SSD storage space?

When it comes to storage space, physical and digital games use the exact same amount of SSD space once installed on PS5. Both versions require installing all game files to the console‘s internal SSD for optimal play performance.

The disc drive is only used to verify license ownership. So physical games do not offer any storage space savings – disk space used is identical either way. The 825 GB of usable storage will fill up just as quickly whether your games are physical or digital.

What are the advantages of the disc edition?

The PS5 with disc drive gives buyers the most options:

• Play new physical games at retail discounts, then sell/trade them after completing
• Take advantage of used game deals to purchase cheaper copies
• Build a disc collection over time and play PS4 games
• Watch 4K Blu-ray discs – the Digital Edition lacks a disc drive entirely

The choice, compatibility with physical media, and ability to shop sales make the standard PS5 the most flexible console version. The lower upfront cost of the Digital Edition does not make up for the lack of disc drive and retail competition long-term.

Is the PS5 Digital Edition still worth considering?

The PS5 Digital Edition appeals most to buyers who:

• Prefer the simplicity and convenience of digital games
• Do not care about reselling or lending games after playing
• Already have a large digital PS4 game library they want to carry over
• Primarily purchase discounted digital games during PlayStation Store sales

If you fall into those categories, the $100 savings upfront makes the Digital Edition a viable choice. Just know you are locked into buying everything from the PlayStation Store at the prices Sony dictates.

The Bottom Line

While the digital convenience and lower upfront cost has its advantages, physical PS5 games end up cheaper overall thanks to used discounts and better retailer pricing competition. The disc drive also makes the standard PS5 the more future-proof and versatile console for most gamers. But the Digital Edition can save money for gamers who stick to digital game sales.