PlayStation is Sony's games console brand: the PS5 family of consoles, the DualSense controller and other accessories, the PlayStation Store for digital games, and the PlayStation Plus subscription. Sony sells hardware direct through PlayStation Direct in some countries, alongside the usual retailers.
Getting PlayStation spending right comes down to three choices: which console, which PlayStation Plus tier, and when to buy games.
Choosing a PS5 model
The PS5 has come in several versions. The current slimmer PS5 is sold with a disc drive or as a Digital Edition without one, and the PS5 Pro adds more graphics power for high-resolution televisions.
The PS5 Digital Edition and the PS5 Pro can take a detachable disc drive, sold separately. If you buy physical games, second-hand or from friends, price in that drive or buy the model with one fitted.
A digital-only PlayStation means every game comes from the PlayStation Store. You lose the option of buying discounted discs from other shops and reselling games you have finished.
The PS5 Pro makes most sense with a 4K television and players who notice frame rate and image detail. On a 1080p screen much of its advantage disappears.
PlayStation Plus: Essential, Extra and Premium
PlayStation Plus has three tiers. Essential is needed for online multiplayer in most paid games and adds monthly games to claim, cloud saves and member discounts.
Extra adds the Game Catalog, a rotating library of hundreds of PS5 and PS4 games you can download while subscribed. Games leave the catalog over time, so do not count on finishing a long one later.
Premium adds a catalog of classic PlayStation games, time-limited game trials, and cloud streaming where available. In some regions the top tier is called Deluxe and works differently.
Pick Essential if you mainly play online with friends. Extra pays off if you would otherwise buy a few older games a year. Premium is for people who want the classics or streaming.
Annual versus monthly PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Plus is much cheaper per month when bought for twelve months. Monthly and three-month plans suit trying a tier out.
Upgrading tier mid-subscription is possible, but the upgrade cost is calculated on your remaining time. Check the price shown before confirming.
PlayStation Plus renews automatically at the current price, and Sony has raised PlayStation Plus prices before. Check the renewal amount and turn off auto-renew in account settings if you want to decide each year.
Storage and accessories that work
PS5 games are large and the built-in storage fills quickly. The PS5 accepts an extra M.2 NVMe SSD inside the console; Sony publishes the speed requirements, and a heatsink is recommended.
A USB external drive can store PS5 games and play PS4 games, but PS5 games must be moved back to internal or M.2 storage to play.
The standard DualSense is the default controller. The DualSense Edge is a pricier pro controller with swappable stick modules and back buttons. PS4 controllers work with PS4 games on a PS5 but not with PS5 games.
PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation Portal are specialist extras. Portal streams games from your own PS5 over Wi-Fi rather than running them itself, so it needs the console at home and a strong connection.
PlayStation Store refunds
PlayStation Store purchases are harder to undo than a physical game. Sony's policy has generally allowed a refund on digital content within a short window only if you have not started downloading or streaming it.
Pre-orders can usually be cancelled before release, but check the current terms for your country. Once a download starts, a PlayStation Store refund is unlikely except for faulty content.
Turn off automatic downloads for pre-orders if you want to keep the option to change your mind, and watch reviews before release day.
When PlayStation prices drop
The PlayStation Store runs frequent sales. Days of Play, usually starting in late spring, is Sony's biggest annual PlayStation promotion, with game, hardware and PlayStation Plus discounts. Black Friday and the end-of-year holidays bring the other major PlayStation sales.
Many PlayStation Store discounts are larger for PlayStation Plus members. Add games to your wishlist so you can spot when prices fall.
Digital games often drop faster than console hardware. For a specific new release, the disc version from a retailer is sometimes cheaper early on.
Where the PlayStation savings are
PlayStation does not run promo codes the way a clothing store does. Codes like these are usually tied to a specific campaign or to PlayStation Direct gear purchases, and many expire when the promotion ends.
Codes named after Days of Play normally only work during that event. Try them at checkout and fall back on the listed PlayStation sale prices if they fail.
Voucher codes for PlayStation Plus or wallet funds are different: each is single-use and redeemed through Redeem Codes in the PlayStation Store. Be wary of anyone selling or sharing them cheaply.
The dependable PlayStation savings are annual PlayStation Plus bought in a sale and games bought during Days of Play or Black Friday.
Common questions
Do I need PlayStation Plus to play online?
For most paid multiplayer games, yes, at least Essential. Free-to-play games usually do not need it.
Should I buy the PS5 Digital Edition?
If you buy every PlayStation game digitally and never trade discs, yes. Otherwise get the disc model or budget for the add-on drive.
Can I get a refund on a PlayStation Store game?
Generally only within a short window and if you have not started downloading it. Check Sony's current policy.
Do PS4 games work on a PS5?
Most do. Check the game's listing, as a small number are not compatible.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Plus Subscription | Promo code | View at PlayStation → |
| 15% off | Promo code | View at PlayStation → |
| 75% off | Promo code | View at PlayStation → |
| Free gift | Promo code | View at PlayStation → |
