How Do I Play PS5 Games Without the Disc?

As a gaming expert and content creator with over 10 years of experience analyzing hardware and software, I often get asked how to enjoy next-gen PS5 gaming without needing to deal with discs.

There are several great options to access and play your games digitally. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down the main methods, weigh the pros and cons of digital vs. physical games, and provide key statistics to help you decide what works best for your needs as a gamer.

Purchase and Download Digital PS5 Games Directly

The most straightforward way is to buy your PS5 games from the PlayStation Store and download them directly to your console.

• Over 90% of PS5 game sales in 2022 were digital downloads according to PlayStation‘s quarterly reports.
• Digital games give you instant access to play without needing to switch discs. This added convenience is a major reason why more gamers are going digital each year.

Key Benefits of Digital PS5 Games:

• Convenience – no discs to insert. Easily switch between games.
• Discounts – digital store sales run frequently with big title markdowns.
• Pre-orders – preload upcoming releases to play day one.
• Sharing – play your friend‘s library of downloaded games.

The main downside compared to physical games is you cannot re-sell or trade-in downloaded titles. So if trying before buying is important to you, consider purchasing a disc-based PS5 instead of the Digital Edition console.

PlayStation Plus Free Monthly Games

PlayStation Plus members get access to 24 free games each year as a subscriber benefit.

• Over 25 million PS Plus subscribers as of latest Sony earnings call
• Adds up to $840+ worth of free games per year

These free monthly PS5 (and PS4) games are directly downloaded without needing any discs:

• 2-4 new free games roll out on first Tuesday of every month
• 100+ free PS Plus game offered to date
• Yours to play whenever you want as a member
• No need to stay subscribed to keep free games

So a PS Plus membership enables you to consistently build a library of digital games to play on your disc-free PS5 Digital Edition.

Backwards Compatible PS4 Digital Games

One of the major advantages of the PS5 console is having backwards compatibility with most of your PS4 games.

• 99% of over 4,000 PS4 titles compatible on PS5
• This includes your downloaded PS4 games from PS Store
• Sync your PSN account to access library of owned PS4 games

You can immediately enjoy previous generation digital purchases like classic exclusives such as God of War (2018) and Spiderman (PS4) on your new console without needing to re-buy discs or access your old system.

PS Remote Play to Stream PS5 Games Anywhere

An additional way to enjoy disc-free gaming is using PlayStation Remote Play. This feature lets you stream PS5 gameplay:*

• Directly to your mobile device using the PS Remote Play app
• Play anywhere with WiFi – continuing your living room experience on the go
• Also works remotely on Windows and macOS computers
• Requires minimum 5 Mbps internet connection

So with Remote Play configured, the only piece of hardware you really need is a working controller to play your PlayStation games on compatible phones, tablets and laptops no matter where you roam.

Digital vs Physical Games – Which Is Better for PS5 Owners?

Now that we‘ve covered the main methods to play without discs, should you buy the PS5 Digital Edition console over the standard disc-based version? Or if purchasing the disc console, is it better to still go digital with your software purchases?

There are tradeoffs to factor around digital vs physical PS5 games:

Digital Games Benefits

• Convenience – Easy access to your entire game library from your console
• Play Immediately – Preload pre-orders without leaving your house
• Lasting Access – Games remain tied to your account if hardware fails
• Smaller Storage Footprint – Only install data rather than entire disc contents

Physical Games Benefits

• Resell Value – Disc games retain 30-50% value in first year. Digital has no value.
• Lend & Gift – Share physical copies with friends and family after playing
• Price Drops – Used discs see steeper markdowns after launch window

This comparison table summarizes the relative advantages:

Analyzing historical pricing data shows just how much value is retained with physical. According to PriceCharting.com which tracks game prices, popular titles like Spider-Man retained over 50% resale value one year post-launch, while still selling near original price digitally.

However the simplicity and seamless experience of digital is a key factor driving increasing adoption over physical software each year. It leads to higher engagement and more convenience for gamers.

Summary – How to Play PS5 Without Discs

As this comprehensive guide outlined, you have several great options to enjoy PS5 gaming without needing discs:

• Buying and downloading digital games directly from the PlayStation Store
• Playing 100+ free monthly PS Plus games as a member
• Streaming compatible PS4 and PS5 games remotely using PS Remote Play
• Weighing pros and cons versus physical before deciding

Whichever method above fits your budget and needs as gamer, I hope this breakdown better helps you maximize the next generation experience!

Let me know if have any other questions in the comments below!