Do I Need the Same Disk to Continue Playing a PS4 Game?

Whether you are playing a physical disc version or a digital version of a PS4 game, the way you manage your game progress and continue your playthrough may vary. This article aims to clarify the conditions under which you do (or do not) need the same disc to continue playing a PS4 game, providing you with insights based on user experiences and technical details.

Physical Disc Version

The disc in a physical PS4 game serves as a license and is essential for continued gameplay. If you are using a disc from a physical copy, you must have the same disc to play the game. If you lend or return a disc, you will likely need to restart from the beginning with a new one.

My Experience

I initially played Horizon Zero Dawn with a disc from Italy Region 2 that I borrowed from a friend. I invested 70 hours into the game before returning the disc and purchasing a UK Region 2 version. The two discs were treated as separate games, and my saved games were not transferred. Using the UK disc, I had to start a new clean game and create new save data. Although I attempted various methods like using PSN upload, USB save, and delete/install, no method allowed me to continue my previous save.

In the end, I had to use the original disc from my friend to continue playing from where I left off.

Digital Version

Contrary to physical discs, the digital version of a PS4 game does not require the same disc to continue playing. If you have downloaded a game from the PS Store, you do not need to use the same disc. You can start from where you left off with the same saved games, whether you played on a rented disc or another friend's game.

Game discs are not serial-numbered or tied to a specific installation. Save games are not tied to a specific game disc, allowing you to replace the disc without any issues. Even if you downloaded the game from the PS Store, your game progress is saved in your PS4 storage (internal or external,) not on the disc.

For example, if you rent a game disc from Redbox and play for a while, you can return the disc and later purchase a copy from the store. You can continue playing right where you left off with the same game saves.

Region Considerations

Be aware that there are regional differences in PS4 games. If your game disc is from a different region, you may experience compatibility issues. Game saves are not tied to a specific regional disc, but the game itself may have regional restrictions. Therefore, to ensure seamless continuation, make sure that both the current and the new disc are from the same region.

Happy gaming!