Can You Play A PS5 Without The Internet? Base vs. Digital
If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to play your PS5 without an internet connection, the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. Playing video games has become a widely popular pastime, and the options are endless as to how to play. Whether you want to play a video game by yourself, or with another person (or five) you have multiple options. And, when you want to play solo, that can easily be done as well. But, how you do each of these things will depend a lot on your setup, equipment, and where you live. Not every home has access to the internet, and not every gamer wants to be able to connect to the internet.
Table of Contents
- Can I play a PS5 without the internet?
- Can I Play PS5 Without the Internet?
- Which PS5 Game Station Should I Choose?
Can I play a PS5 without the internet?
Whether or not you can play your PS5 without the internet is going to be based on which model of the PS5 you have purchased since the PS5 base model uses discs and the PS5 digital model uses downloadable games.
The world of gaming has evolved rapidly, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the improvements and options on the market. But no matter how sophisticated gaming might seem, it is still – at its heart – a fun and interactive play system that millions enjoy. But figuring out what you need from an internet perspective to make your experience the most enjoyable may take some deeper knowledge of what’s out there on the market.
I enjoy video games and feel fortunate that I live somewhere with access to a great internet connection. But this isn’t the case for everyone, so I was curious what games can be played by those who don’t have (or want) access to the internet. Read on to see what I’ve discovered.
Can I Play PS5 Without the Internet?
Whether or not you can play your PS5 without the internet will be based on several factors, but the short answer is yes, you can. That said, it is not the optimal way to play it.
The PS5, or Playstation 5, is a ninth-generation video game console that comes in two versions – the basic Playstation 5 and the disc-less digital version.
These consoles followed the PS4, and claim to be more powerful and have better resolution than their predecessor.
But, depending on your internet availability and capability may make a difference in which console you purchase.
1. The PS5 Base Model Does Not Need Internet
If you are wanting to be able to game without internet access, the PS5 base model is going to be your best choice.
This gaming system is considered one of the best out there and with good reason. Not only is it fast and easy to set up and use, but it also comes with new graphics and resolutions and can adapt most of the PS4 games, so plenty of your old favorites can still be enjoyed and don’t need to be replaced.
With hundreds of games to choose from, purchasing the base model PS5 will be a great option for you if you don’t have internet, or your internet is unreliable.
2. The PS5 Digital Edition Does Need Internet
The other option for a diehard Playstation fan is to purchase the PS5 Digital Edition if good internet is at your disposal and you enjoy gaming without having to purchase physical games.
The PS5 Digital Edition is just as fast as the PS5 base edition but has some other features that are ideal, such as a sleeker design and the ability to buy games and download them instead of having to deal with the physical games that can be out of stock or take up unnecessary space.
The PS5 Digital Edition has just as many games to choose from as the PS5 base edition.
Which PS5 Game Station Should I Choose?
As I mentioned before, a big part of deciding which gaming console you want to buy has to do with your internet speed and availability. Let’s explore this further as well as some other possible points that may factor into deciding which of these gaming editions to purchase.
What Kind of Internet Access Do You Have?
This is the main point and probably the biggest influence as to which of these two gaming devices you should buy if the internet is a problem where you live.
Without the internet, you won’t be able to game on the PS5 Digital Edition. It has no disc portal and won’t work without an internet connection.
And – even if your internet is spotty, you will find that playing on the PS5 Digital Edition can be super annoying, especially during times when there are multiple people in your house using the internet, or at times when the weather affects your connection.
What type of internet you have and how fast your connection speed is will make a huge difference in your decision as to which PS5 you will want to invest in.
Do You Like Owning Physical Copies of Games?
This is less of an issue of availability and more of a question of preference.
Some gamers like having hard copies of the games in their library. Though digital games give the consumer ease and flexibility that hard copies can’t, it is estimated that more than 74 percent of gamers still like having the physical copies of their favorite games in their possession.
Whether it’s the nostalgia, the artwork on the box, or the idea that they can be physically accessed, regardless of any internet crash or virus, it’s important to make sure you buy the right console if you plan on continuing to purchase your games in hard form, versus online.
Only the PS5 base model has a way for you to play video games that you’ve purchased from a store. The PS5 Digital Edition has no way for you to play these games in its system.
Are You on a Budget?
Here may be another important factor in your decision as to which model PS5 you decide to buy – what’s your overall budget?
The PS5 Digital Edition typically sells for about $100 less than the PS5 Base Edition when both are being sold brand new. The theory behind this is that the PS5 Base Edition needs extra parts and hardware to operate.
It’s also more expensive to produce the games, package them, and distribute them to consumers.
If you are wanting to invest in one of these gaming machines, but have a tighter budget, you may want to consider the PS5 Digital Edition as the right console for you.
Do you Have a Stack of PS4 Games?
This is a great one and good news for those of you who have already had a PS4 and are planning to upgrade to the PS5.
If you already have a nice stack of PS4 games that you love to play, you may want to consider investing in the PS5 Base Edition as your new gaming console of choice.
The PS5 Base Edition is compatible with the majority of PS4 games.
This means that, not only will you still get to play all your favorites on your new console, but you won’t have to re-invest all the money you have already spent.
Anyone who’s a gamer knows this is a big deal. And, if you are still loyal to those older PS4 games, you will probably want to go with the disc using the PS5 base edition, so that you continue to enjoy what you already know.