How do I convert a physical PS4 game to digital?
As a passionate gamer and content creator focused on the gaming industry, I often get asked how to convert a physical disc-based PS4 game library to digital. This is an increasingly common question as players seek the convenience and flexibility of a digital library. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about making the switch.
Should I Go Digital?
Before exploring the conversion tactics, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of physical discs vs digital games. Here’s a comparison:
| Physical Discs | Digital Games |
|---|---|
| – Can resell/trade-in games | – More convenience, no need for discs |
| – Potentially cheaper prices | – Faster installs and ease of switching games |
| – Display games on a shelf | – Can game share with friends |
| – Risk of scratching/losing discs | – PSN frequent sales on digital titles |
According to recent surveys, over 80% of PS4/PS5 gamers are purchasing at least half their games digitally. This shift is driven by convenience and flexibility. However, 46% still purchase some physical games to save money or collect rare titles.
So depending on your gaming habits, you may prefer an all-digital library or a mix of physical and digital. If your goal is to fully convert to digital, the following sections detail your best options.
Upgrade Physical PS4 Games to PS5 Digital
For those with both a PS4 disc game and a PS5 console, you can upgrade supported PS4 titles to digital PS5 versions at a discounted price.
Simply insert the PS4 disc, open the game hub on your PS5, and check for upgrade offers. If available, you can immediately purchase and download the PS5 digital version while keeping your PS4 disc as well. Over 100 popular last-gen titles support this upgrade path including hits like God of War (2018), Spiderman, and Horizon: Forbidden West.
According to PlayStation, you’ll save up to $10 vs purchasing the PS5 version on its own. So this is likely the most cost-effective way to build your digital catalog while keeping your physical copies too.
Trade Discs to GameStop for PSN Credit
Trading old games at retailers like GameStop is a quick, convenient way to effectively convert discs to digital purchasing power.
While trade credit rates vary, popular PS4 titles generally fall between $5-$25 credit. For example, God of War (2018) currently offers $17 cash or $22 store credit at GameStop.
You can immediately use that credit to purchase PSN gift cards or top up your PlayStation wallet to redeem digital games from the PSN store. This route means losing your physical copies but is a seamless path to digital based on your existing collection.
Wait for Digital Sales to Outprice Discs
Periodically the PlayStation Store offers flash sales with digital game prices dipping below physical used disc prices. For example, Death Stranding recently sold digitally for $20 while used PS4 discs average $25-30.
By selling the disc while digital prices are low and immediately purchasing the digital copy, you can efficiently convert to digital and pocket some extra cash too.
I track PSN sales closely, so follow me here or social channels to get notified on ideal opportunities to swap physical discs for digital licenses this way. It just takes some patience and timing!
Game Share with a Friend
For those comfortable game sharing via Offline Mode, here’s a clever tactic to go mostly digital while keeping your physical discs offline as a backup.
The steps would be:
- Find a trusted friend who owns a PS4/PS5
- Log into your PSN account on their console and set as your Primary PS4
- Download your owned digital games onto their device
- Log out and use your account on your PS4 in Offline Mode
- You can now play your digital games on your console
- Store physical discs at your friend’s house for backup
By game sharing this way, you get the benefits of digital gaming without even needing the discs. Your friend also gains access to play your digital library on their device via your account.
The major risk is losing account access in the unlikely case your friend’s console is banned or compromised. So only attempt with a trusted confidant you feel comfortable with.
Is Physical Media Dead in the Future?
As digital becomes more ubiquitous in the gaming industry, will physical games fade into obsolescence? Based on analyst forecasts, physical game sales will likely persist for at least the next 5-7 years.
While the Playstation 6 (assuming it launches in 2028-2030) may experiment with a disc-less edition at launch, experts expect physical media support in some capacity to continue meeting consumer demand.
However, it’s reasonable to predict 50-75% of game sales will shift digital across console and PC within the next two hardware generations. So for collectors hoping to amass large physical libraries, the 2030s may be the last era of viable physical media.
The Verdict: How to Approach Converting Physical to Digital
Given the industry trajectory favoring digital and options available to convert disc-based libraries, here is my recommended approach:
For PS4 games you actively play, upgrade to PS5 digital when upgrade offers appear for $10 or less. This future-proofs your library while keeping PS4 discs as backup.
For inactive PS4 games just taking up shelf space, sell discs anytime you find a digital sale with a lower price. Pocket the savings, declutter your collection, and move closer to all-digital.
Only keep select, rare PS4 collector’s editions physically that you foresee substantial resale value for.
Curate a lean physical library of your favorite console generation(s) to proudly display. For example, cherish iconic PS1-3 releases physically while staying mostly digital this generation. You get the best of both worlds.
As a closing tip, I also suggest waiting to see if a PS5 “Slim” downsizes in late 2023/2024 before upgrading. This could indicate if discs remain in Sony’s long-term plans.
I hope this thorough guide gives you clarity on the options and considerations around converting physical console games to digital! Let me know if any other questions come up on your journey to a streamlined, next-gen library.
