The PS5 firmware update finally changes how game discs work

The latest PS5 firmware update is here, and you can check out the full patch notes via the link. While the title features Discord integration and other improvements at the forefront, one small change has flown a bit under the radar, but it’s worth highlighting.

It’s a difficult thing to articulate, but essentially, Sony has changed the way it handles installed games, essentially making digital and physical games more integrated. There are two sides to this, as explained in the official patch notes:

• If your PS5 has a download version of a game that you haven’t purchased (ie other users of your PS5 have), and if you have a disc version, you can now play the installed download version by inserting the disc. . (without installing the disc version).
• Similarly, if you installed a game using a disc, and you purchased the download version of the game, you can now play the installed disc version of the game without inserting the disc.

So, say a user on your PS5 has purchased a digital game, and you haven’t. If you then add the disc version of the same game, you can play it on your profile without another installation.

On the flip side, if you have a game installed on your PS5 via a disc, and later purchase a download version of the same game, you can then play it without inserting the disc into your console. This also works for games claimed through a PS Plus subscription.

It’s a small change but one that makes things more convenient. Along with the latter point, this means you can play your disc games without needing to use a disc. What’s more, you can potentially sell physical copies without losing access to the games. Obviously in some cases, you’ll need to pay for this extra convenience, but with so many games on PS Plus Extra, odds are you’ll make a substantial portion of your physical collection obsolete.

Will you take advantage of this change? Go digital in the comments section below.