The pros and cons of switching to digital games

Although the video game industry is not yet fully digital, it has been moving in that direction for some time. Sony’s recently announced plans to abandon PlayStation discs in 2028 are the latest step in this shift. In recent years, we’ve also seen the PS5 Pro require a separate purchase for a disc drive, with the Xbox Series S not supporting discs and Nintendo Switch 2 game cards which contain no actual data.

Although digital versions have many advantages, physical media remains important. As gaming companies push us toward their vision of the future, you should know what that entails, especially as options for physical purchase become fewer. Whatever format you prefer, it’s a change you need to be aware of.

This mainly applies to console gaming, since the PC ecosystem has long been digital-only. However, there are key differences between the two, as we will see later.

There are real benefits to going digital in your library. One of the most immediate solutions is not having to change discs or cartridges to play different titles. It’s annoying to get up and swap the disc between your current single-player adventure and a multiplayer shooter you’re playing with friends, for example. And carrying cartridges with your Switch 2 adds extra bulk to your suitcase or backpack. Likewise, the lack of physical media means your collection doesn’t take up space on your shelf. There is also no chance of them getting damaged or misplaced.

Digital games allow you to “gameshare,” which means sharing your entire library with a friend. On Xbox and PlayStation, this involves each of you setting up the other person’s console on their “home system” so that you can play what they purchased using your own account. On Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, you can instead lend virtual game cards to family members through your Nintendo Account.

The convenience of digital versions extends to the purchasing process. You can buy anything from the console’s online store and start playing as soon as you download it. You don’t have to worry about your delivery being delayed or having to pay extra for shipping. While all of these benefits are positive, it’s important to note that these benefits have been inherent to digital games for years and are not amplified by the industry’s phasing out of physical titles.

Removing physical copies from circulation eliminates second-hand markets. When you’re done, you can sell your copy, lend it to a friend, or exchange it for store credit. Without physical releases, the entire business model of rental services like GameFly collapses, as does renting from a library. Apart from sharing games, we lose all these possibilities when digital is the only option. Additionally, publishers and companies that control online storefronts have complete control over pricing. Physical offers much more flexibility since any retailer can sell them; you’ll regularly see boxed games on sale for lower prices than digital (especially once they’ve been out for a while).

On Switch and Switch 2, digital downloads take up more storage space, since cartridges (excluding game keycards) contain the full game. This is irrelevant on PlayStation and Xbox; loading files from discs would be much too slow, so the discs act more as a key to confirm that you own the game. However, PS and Xbox discs are more convenient for people with slow internet speeds. Inserting a disc copies the data to your system’s storage, and while most games have day one updates with bug fixes, downloading them doesn’t take as long as the full game.

Another often overlooked concern is how terrible console refund policies are. PlayStation only gives refunds if you haven’t started the download, while Nintendo states that all payments are final. Xbox’s refund policy is more generous, although vague. You may be able to get a refund if you request it within two weeks of purchase, provided you “have not accrued a significant amount of play time.” Compare this to Steam’s refund policy, which is to grant refunds for any reason, as long as you request it within two weeks and have less than two hours of gameplay. You can always request a refund if your case falls outside of these parameters.

The points above focus on an individual’s experience, but this discussion raises broader concerns. It’s important to know that when you “purchase” a digital game, you are actually purchasing a license to access the content. This license may be revoked at any time and for various reasons. One of the most infamous cases is TPa “playable teaser” for Silent hillswhich was later cancelled. After Sony removed the listing from the PlayStation Store, even those who had added the demo to their accounts could no longer install it again (without pirate workarounds).

There is no need to look far for other examples. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game was removed from the PlayStation and Xbox four years after its release in 2010 due to licensing issues, and returned much later in 2021. In 2026, Sony announced the removal of over 500 digital films in the UK, with those who purchased them having no option for refunds. In 2024, Ubisoft closed its always online service The crew and removed people’s licenses, leaving them with no way to play it (and no refunds). This ResetEra article collects many other instances, if you’re interested.

These phenomena are exacerbated when digital games are the only choice. It is extremely frustrating to have what you have paid taken away without recourse. The preservation of game also suffers enormously. Entire titles that were never physically available disappear when the publisher decides to stop supporting them and remove them from digital storefronts.