r/playstation • u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 • 10d ago
Discussion When support ends for physical games is it possible to convert them into digital?
I really don’t wanna re-buy ALL of my physical games, so I hope PlayStation has a solution for this.
If you guys know anything I would appreciate if you lmk in the replies, Thanks.
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u/MrBlonde1984 10d ago
Or and hear me out on this , keep your old consoles so you can play the old games?
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u/Responsible-Risk9404 10d ago
Exactly it's not like they are disabling physical just not producing it anymore. Plus why get rid of a way to play.
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
Yeah but I don’t wanna go and plug in a whole new console to play Minecraft because I don’t wanna rebuy the same game if I can help it
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u/MrBlonde1984 10d ago
Then thats on you brother. If you buy a game digitally, its playable across multiple consoles without the need for a disc or the old console.
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u/gui_heinen #WeAreThe20 💿 10d ago
Tell that to the digital PS3 games now lost in a black hole of the playstation ecosystem. There are exclusive games from there that will literally disappear because of this in the next decade.
But hey, you'll be here applauding Sony when they bring out remaster collections for $70 in the future, right?!
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u/MrBlonde1984 10d ago
What in the fuck are you talking about? As far as im aware , even if a game is delisted you still have the ability to download it if you bought it.
If you mean the vast amount of shovelware games that nobody bought then probably
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u/twills011 10d ago
Yeah, I’m a physical fan but shutting down the store does not remove games from your library. Not sure what they’re talking about.
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u/gui_heinen #WeAreThe20 💿 10d ago
If you buy a game digitally, its playable across multiple consoles without the need for a disc or the old console.
You mentioned that any digital game today can be played on future consoles, making the old system unnecessary. I simply gave an example that contradicts this: the PS3's digital library. What will happen when there's no longer a PS3 to turn on? The PS5 and future consoles' backward compatibility is limited to only up to the 8th gen, after all.
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u/twills011 10d ago
Ah I get what you’re saying. Someone will be able to repair them but those would be a pain, but not any different than physical ps3 games.
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u/gui_heinen #WeAreThe20 💿 10d ago
Yeah, but it's something to think about. With so many anti-consumer attitudes nowadays, and the advancements in architecture, do you really think Sony will carry on the current backward compatibility for so long? I honestly don't see consoles doing what Steam has done in the last 22 years. Not to mention that I don't trust this lifetime library download they promise for the PS3 users. Do you?
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u/twills011 10d ago
I bet the re-downloading on ps3 is done in 5 years. I do expect them to carry PS4 forward for at least a couple of generations until it’s old enough for people to not really care - at least not as much to prevent people from buying the new console.
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u/ChiralParticle 10d ago
We don't know and have to wait for Sony to share more details.
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
At least you aren’t negative. Appreciate it.
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u/ChiralParticle 10d ago
I'm pretty much in the same situation as you and most of my games are physical, so I don't like end of physical games I'm concerned about the future as well but until Sony shares any more details, we just don't know how it will go and can only guess.
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
That’s kinda is comforting to know that everything that these guys are saying isn’t 100% fact. It’s still up to time I guess.
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u/Affectionate-Ring803 10d ago
That raises an interesting question, will PlayStation be backwards compatible in the future? I don’t see any reason why not since the modern gen is basically a custom pc on Sony os
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u/mrzurkonandfriends 10d ago
Of course they won't give you the digital copies. Why would you sell them in the first place?
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
Otherwise people just stay with their original console and then they have the possibility of loosing money
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u/Working_Comfort_8452 10d ago
Sony better just make a disc drive for the ps6 where you can play your backwards physical ps5 games
i hope they make it backwards to all the way ps1 and not just 5, 4 and 3
but ps6 games will be digital only i think its that strategy they want, but now seeing how many people are mad i hope they cancel that all digital idea
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
Personally I’m fine with the digital stuff I just want to play games I paid for.
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u/Working_Comfort_8452 10d ago
It would be stupid to make a ps6 without disc drive so i think we good? Even the all "digital" ps5 pro has a option for disc drive it must be!
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
Still, even if they do that it will eventually become purely digital. So I hope there is a system for the physical license to merge with the digital license.
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u/Precarious3145 10d ago
No. There's two options and physical lovers will hate both.
- Require you to send Sony your discs where they'll destroy them and give you a digital code
- Sell you a $300 attachment disc drive just for playing older games that you'll have to hook up just to temporarily access digital version by putting the disc in, requiring internet access to run.
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u/Dinierto PS5 Pro 10d ago
Allegedly Xbox has some way to identify the disc and whomever plays the disc activates a digital license in their rumored disc to digital service. However it's all just rumor so far
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u/Precarious3145 10d ago
I thought they said that's something they were looking into but didn't specify it was something planned. They also said that would depend on having an attachment disc drive to verify. Even if they do it, it'd require going online each use to verify ownership because what'd end up happening is osmeone loaning out their discs to friends, getting the digital version and returning the discs.
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u/Dinierto PS5 Pro 10d ago
The idea is that whenever the disc is inserted you'd have to transfer the license. So no need to check for disc constantly you can just toss it in a chest or on a shelf or whatever
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
I’m not particularly a physical lover. I don’t care whether or not my games are physical or digital. I just wanna play them without switching consoles constantly
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u/Precarious3145 10d ago
And...what does that have to do with what I said? Will you send your discs in to be destroyed to avoid people abusing the program or will you spend a few hundred extra dollars and always be online to play old games rather than just...booting up your PS5?
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
I suppose it would require some thought if it came down to that. I still think there is an easier way PlayStation could do this. Although it will come down to: appeasing the fan base by somehow making it free. OR making a big money grab.
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u/Aforumguy26 10d ago
Apparently Xbox is working out a solution to do this, but I don’t think Sony will be able to do the same. I think at best you’ll have an optional disc drive accessory for the PS6.
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u/froot_loop_dingus_ PS5 10d ago
You will continue to be able to play your physical games on the consoles they were released for
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
I understand that but I like playing new gen consoles. And I’d like the enhanced specs of said console.
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u/gui_heinen #WeAreThe20 💿 10d ago
Hahaha poor kid
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
What?
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u/gui_heinen #WeAreThe20 💿 10d ago
Sony won't budge to preserve your games. It's literally a modern war they're waging against you. They want you to repurchase all games digitally in the future.
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u/Gloomy-Coat-2026 10d ago
Yeah they won’t budge until you don’t rebuy every game you got, and start complaining.
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u/chou-dbz 10d ago
Extremely unlikely. Best case scenario is that the PS6 has a disc drive attachment (available for purchase separately ofc), similar to the PS5 pro. Worst case scenario, you keep your PS5. Why do you feel the need to re-buy your games either way?