If You Haven’t Used Sony’s Day 1 Digital Program Yet, You Should

Just like music and TV, gaming has embraced the digital world with open arms. What was once an industry dominated by retailers with row upon row of physical game copies, is now one where buying a game or downloadable content is just a click of a button away. The convenience of buying and owning digital games is quickly sweeping the game industry, gaining the attention of each console manufacturer as they try to adjust to the ever-evolving market.

Sony has always been a company that’s ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, and it’s been diligent about fostering digital sales. Launched under the moniker Day 1 Digital, Sony’s digital game pre-order program are the best in the console market today. As more PlayStation gamers have given the program a try, the size of the digital market has expanded, putting the PlayStation Store at the forefront of console software sales.

The Day 1 Digital program is the epitome of digital sales done right. Not only has the process of pre-ordering a game through the system been made as simple as possible, but it has all of the strengths of buying a game through a retailer, with the convenience of digital purchases.

Heading into the PlayStation Store, under the Game section there’s an entire Day 1 Digital area. What may surprise you is just how many games are on this list. Instead of only being reserved for the biggest first-party exclusives, there are several pages of games that range from third-party titles like Assassin’s Creed Unity, to the biggest exclusives we’ll see during the next 12 months. These games aren’t limited to one platform, either, extending from PS4 and PS3 to the PS Vita.

Here are just some of the games currently available for pre-order through Day 1 Digital:

 

The best part about owning games digitally is you never have to worry about losing them. Once purchased, they’re always available on your account. Even if you get a new hard drive, or even a new PS4, the game will be ready to download and install. No game cases and discs taking up space, or potentially being scratched. You own an mint condition copy forever.

Additionally, you don’t have to be at the mercy of a retailer. We’ve seen several high demand games have pre-orders, especially Collector’s Editions, canceled this year due to a lack of supply. There’s unlimited supply in the digital world, so you can have full confidence in your pre-order.

And then there’s pre-loading. Select games have the option for you to download and install the game ahead of release. What this allows you to do is play the game the moment the release date hits. You don’t have to wait around while it downloads, or wait in the line outside in the freezing cold for a midnight launch. You can play your pre-ordered game at midnight, and even broadcast your first moments on stream before just about anyone else in the world. You’ll know you’ve made the right choice.

Here’s how easy it is. You can visit the PlayStation Store either on your PS3 or PS4 console, or even via a browser on PC (purchases can be made from either). Once on the store, you can browse the Day 1 Digital offerings under the Games section. What quickly realize just how expansive the offerings are. Thankfully, there’s a filter integrated that makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.

Once you find a game you’re interested in, you may have a decision to make. Just like retailers, Day 1 Digital has purchasing options. There are regular editions, as well as a variety of deluxe and collector’s edition packages.

So let’s say you’re happy with buying the regular version of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, one of the most hyped games of 2015. All you do is click on the product to enter its product page, which includes all the details you need to know about the game and your purchase. If it sounds good, you click Pre-Order, purchase your copy, and you’re done.

In some cases, you’ll even receive pre-order bonuses for taking advantage of the Day 1 Digital program. Take for example LittleBigPlanet 3, one of the biggest excluisives arriving this Fall season. If you pre-order, you’ll get a costume pack for the game. You don’t have to worry about entering a code, either. Your purchase will automatically register the content on your account.

If you happen to fall in-love with this digital consumption of content, you’ll be happy to hear that Sony has been very active in the space. Yes, movies and TV shows are also available at the click of a button, but there’s something much more exciting: PlayStation Now. Currently in beta, this unbelievable technology allows you to play games from previous generations through the cloud. Games can be rented from the PlayStation Store, with a selection of options for how long you’d like to rent a product. With games like Metal Gear Solid IV: Guns of the Patriots and Final Fantasy XIII offered, and many more to be added as time goes on, it’s just another way to make enjoying video games of past and present as readily available as possible.

As if that weren’t enough, Sony’s subscription-based service called PlayStation Plus offers discounts on digital games, and even delivers a handful of games for free to subscribers each month. Millions of subscribers are already amassing a digital game library without even realizing it.

Digital gaming is the future, and Sony is ahead of the game. If you haven’t tried Day 1 Digital by now, you should.

Brought to you by Sony Entertainment Network.

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