Does PlayStation Store Sell Physical Games?
In one word – no! The PlayStation Store is an online digital marketplace exclusively focused on game downloads, subscriptions, DLCs and more. No physical discs, cartridges or hardware available here!
For all your physical gaming needs, check out Sony‘s newly launched direct-to-consumer store instead. But more on that later!
Digging Into PlayStation Store Details
Ever since the PlayStation 3 era, Sony has offered a dedicated Shop channel delivering digital games and content to 100+ million PSN users globally.
Relaunched last year as the PlayStation Store, this digital marketplace lets you instantly access purchased games, expansions, themes, avatars – you name it! No waiting, no discs to insert. Just download and play to your heart‘s content.
As per the latest sales data, a whopping 83% of PS5 and PS4 game sales now happen via digital downloads rather than physical copies. And experts project up to 90% market share for digital formats by 2025!
Clearly, convenience and value drive this shift towards online game purchases. But PlayStation still recognizes the collector appeal of physical media. Enter their newest retail venture…
Physical PlayStation Store – A Reality Now!
While the OG PlayStation Store remains digital-only, Sony recently entered the physical goods market with an online PS Store for US shoppers.
Launching earlier this year, the aptly named "PlayStation Direct" store lets gamers buy:
- PS5 and PS4 Consoles
- DualSense Controllers
- Official Accessories
- Select Physical Game Discs
Talk about best of both worlds! Now American players can purchase hardware, peripherals and disc-based games alongside the digital PlayStation Store‘s existing catalogue.
Physical Games – Still Relevant on PS5?
Backward compatibility means most PS4 game discs can be played on the PS5. This retains their value and relevance even post-upgrade.
In fact, up to 20% of PS5 gamers still buy physical disc editions for various reasons like:
- Building a display-worthy collection
- Retaining resale/trade-in value
- Sharing with family and friends
- Not going all-in on digital
For these folks, the option to buy physical copies directly from PlayStation Direct is a boon. No middlemen!
Which PS5 Edition Should You Choose?
We‘ve compared the PS5 Digital and Disc Edition consoles before. But let‘s recap key differences:
| Edition | Disc Drive? | Price | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital | No | $399 | ✅ $100 cheaper ✅ Sleeker design | ❌ No physical media ❌ Lose disc flexibility |
| Disc | Yes | $499 | ✅ Play disc games ✅ 4K Blu-ray playback | ❌ Higher upfront cost |
Over 40% of PS5 sales have been for the $399 Digital Edition so far. Lower cost outweighs the lack of a disc drive for many mainstream gamers going all-digital.
On the flip side, cinephiles and collectors still see big appeal in the $499 Disc Edition for physical gaming and 4K movie playback.
Choose based on budget, gaming preferences, and intended use case!
Score PlayStation Store Deals Like a Pro
You‘ve decided to go all-digital with your PS5. Smart move taking advantage of convenience and some AMAZING PlayStation Store deals!
Here are pro tips to spend even less on digital games and addons:
- Wait for frequent Publisher Sales to grab titles at up to 60% off standard pricing
- Sign up for a PlayStation Plus subscription and save up to 36% more on games
- Buy discounted PlayStation Store gift cards for up to 20% extra value
- Use deal aggregators like PS Deals to track historical low prices
- Follow gaming sites for instant sale alerts and exclusive promo codes
With the right tactics, patient gamers can easily save $100s every year buying digital!
Transferring Physical Games to Digital
Wondering if you can convert eligible physical PS4 games to digital when upgrading to the PS5? Absolutely!
Here‘s how seamless the process is:
- Insert PS4 game disc into your PS5 console
- Check the game‘s hub page for a special upgrade offer
- Accept discounted pricing to buy the digital PS5 version
Viola! You pay only the difference while retaining your existing save files and trophies.
There are some limitations though:
- Only applies to select PS4 titles
- One-time transfer offer per disc
- Digital upgrade cost varies per game
Still an awesome way for disc owners to gradually transition to an all-digital library!
And there you have it – the comprehensive low-down on PlayStation Store‘s digital-only focus plus tips to master your game spending! Feel free to hit me up with any other PS queries. Happy gaming!
