A study about the longevity of Blu-rays offers some insight into how long PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 owners can expect their physical discs to remain playable. Ever since Sony revealed it will stop manufacturing new PlayStation discs in 2028, Blu-ray discs have become a major topic of discussion in gaming communities.
Gamers opposing Sony’s decision argue that digital games do not offer the same ownership as discs, which can potentially remain playable for years. This view was supported by a study showing that over 90% of PS5 discs work offline. However, another study suggests that while discs may better guarantee ownership, they are fragile products that may not last long if neglected.
Read-only Blu-rays Are Not That Resilient
According to a study by the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI), read-only Blu-ray discs are expected to remain usable for 10 to 20 years. A read-only disc, or BD-ROM, comes with pre-recorded digital data, such as a movie or game. So, based on CCI’s observations, physical PS4 and PS5 discs may only last up to two decades.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
Discs Start Degrading from the Day You Get Them, Expert Says
In a 2024 interview, Ern Bieman, a Heritage Information Analyst at the CCI, said, “Discs, whether they are optical discs or any other kind of media, are degrading from the day you get them.” Bieman explained that while discs could theoretically last more than 20 years, users should not “bank on it.”
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Image via Sony -
Image via Sony -
Image via Sony
Part of the reason video game discs are harder to preserve is how they work. Since a BD-ROM game requires constant and consistent data transmission, even minor damage to a critical area could make the entire game unplayable. Blu-ray technology is also more vulnerable to physical damage because data is stored on a fairly thin layer. The CCI noted that “A study looking at the stability of Blu-ray media has shown that overall, BD-Rs have rather poor stability compared to some CD-Rs and DVD±Rs.”
Most modern discs have correction and re-read mechanisms in place to mitigate minor damages.
There Are More Resilient Blu-ray Technologies Out There
Many gamers preserving their digital games as physical copies use third-party Blu-ray discs, such as Verbatim. Interestingly, CMC Magnetics, which owns the Verbatim brand, claims its “BD-R 6X SL has been certified by TÜV Rheinland Group, and the data storage period can reach 70 years.”
That said, because Blu-ray technology is relatively new, there are not many reliable case studies to support or dispute such claims. Most accelerated aging simulations point to the same 10 to 20-year lifespan for many optical discs, with some exceptions for discs preserved in optimal conditions.
Expert Tips to Extend PS5 and PS4 Discs’ Lifespan
The CCI experts list several best practices for Blu-ray discs that could help gamers preserve PlayStation discs:
- Hold discs by the center hole and outer edge between the forefinger and thumb.
- Label discs with a water-based permanent marker on the clear inner hub.
- Avoid adhesive labels of any kind.
- Avoid plastic sleeves.
- Store discs vertically in standard-sized jewel cases.
- Limit exposure to pollutants and light as much as possible.
- Keep discs in a cool, dry environment.
- Maintain temperatures between 14°F and 73.4°F (-10°C and 23°C).
- Maintain relative humidity between 20% and 50%.
