PS5: Physical or Digital edition? Unofficial polling

So, when the Playstation 5 at last revealed its design, many of you may have been pondering the choice they are now offering you: do you get the PS5 edition with a disc drive, or the digital version without the disc drive? You can get the currently revealed details regarding the console and its lineup here.

So, physical, or digital? Our sister websites, Gamer Santai and Wanuxi, have created polls asking their Malaysian audience regarding their choice of edition for the next-generation console:

Across both sites, the large majority has chosen the option with the disc drive, so basically the physical edition over the digital edition. We can make the argument the digital version would be cheaper with the removal of the drive, and thus making it the more economical choice for gamers who still want to own the next generation console. There’d be less issue of space too, with the most you’d need is lots of storage space and an internet connection.

And yet, if we put that aside for now, looking at these poll results would say that people will prefer a disc drive anyway. Why would that be? Well, we can think of at least one very simple reason: resale value. Digital distribution of games is pretty easy after all; just pay up at your favourite storefront and install it to your library or redeem a code. However, that game will be bound to your account, and you can’t give it away if you don’t want it. That won’t be an issue with physical discs. So long it’s not scratched, you can just drop off your unwanted game and get cash back from trading in or selling it off to someone else.

Tying into that, what about those collector’s editions? You get all these cool merch, but if you’ve gotten the digital edition of the PS5, you might not be able to play the game if it comes with a game disc instead of a code. They’re pretty unlikely to add both a code and disc, since that could be taken as two copies of the game. A digital copy of a game has always gotten the advantage of being able immediately once it’s unlocked – give or take the download time – so how fast would you be able to get the code if you’ve bought physical collector’s edition merch, but for a digital copy of the game? Imagine having to wait for your shipment to come in, then needing to download your game while disc players are all starting at once…

You know, remember limited edition consoles as well? The digital edition is supposed to be giving players a choice, but will there be two versions of a limited edition PS5? That might be something to consider.

Still, there are still reasons for you to get a digital edition of the PS5. Sales for game titles, like that of the Playstation’s very own Days of Play, can skew more towards digital sales, benefiting the bargain hunter. Heck, even PS Plus free titles are all digital. There won’t be any change there! For no wasted movement, you don’t need to swap discs around whenever you want to play your library either.

In any case, as mentioned, our sister sites polled Malaysian audiences, who prefer a disc drive over a digital edition. What do you personally think? We’re definitely leaning more towards the physical edition, for the feel of items, resale, and what not. We’d like to know more on how the digital distribution will work, for sure, before we can make more definitive conclusions.

Whatever it is, there sure will be games coming for the PS5. Just check out some of the titles that will be heading to the console:

• Horizon Forbidden West
• DEATHLOOP
• Godfall
• and many more!