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The timing could not be more awkward for Sony
Just two weeks ago, Sony confirmed it would stop producing physical disc-based games after 2028, a move that landed about as well as you'd expect with the gaming community. Physical media fans are still processing the news. Meanwhile, the current price of a brand new PS5 Slim Digital Edition has climbed to $599, which is $200 more than the original PS5 launched for back in 2020. That's the context you need before this deal makes any sense.
Best Buy has surfaced a batch of original PS5 Digital Edition consoles through its Geek Squad Certified Refurbished program, priced at $349.99. That's down from $399.99, saving you $50 on a console that delivers the exact same digital gaming experience as the $599 Slim sitting on store shelves right now.
What $350 actually gets you here
This is the original, chunkier PS5 form factor, not the newer Slim revision. The storage is marginally smaller, and here's the thing worth flagging: this older model is not compatible with the external disc drive attachment that Sony began selling separately. So if you had any plans to use physical media before the 2028 cutoff, this particular unit will not help you there.
What you do get is full access to the PS5 library, PS Plus compatibility, and every first-party exclusive Sony has put out this generation. Spider-Man 2, Demon's Souls, Returnal, God of War Ragnarok, the works. The PS5 Digital Edition plays all of it without compromise.
Why the disc announcement makes this deal land differently
Under normal circumstances, a $50 discount on a refurbished console is a modest deal. But the current PS5 pricing situation is anything but normal.
The PS5 Slim Digital Edition at $599 is at an all-time high. Sony's decision to phase out physical media by 2028 has essentially signaled to the market that the disc-based model is a dead end, which pushes more buyers toward digital hardware. More demand for digital consoles, with prices already elevated, means deals like this Best Buy listing carry real weight right now.
For context, pairing this $349.99 console with a 12-month PS Plus Extra subscription at $134.99 gets you into the PS5 ecosystem for under $500 total. That's a meaningful gap compared to buying a brand new Slim and paying the same subscription on top.
The refurbished angle is worth understanding
Geek Squad Certified Refurbished means the unit has been tested, repaired where needed, and inspected before resale. It is not a gray-market or third-party refurb. Best Buy stands behind these units with its own warranty coverage, which puts it a step above random marketplace listings.
The trade-off is that you're getting older hardware in a slightly larger chassis. If the Slim's compact design matters to you, this is not that. But if you want to play PS5 games at the lowest price point currently available from a major retailer, $349.99 is the number to beat right now and nothing else comes close.
For players already deep into the PS5 library or looking to pick up titles like Devil May Cry 5 on PlayStation, this deal makes the entry point significantly more manageable. If you want to build out your PS5 knowledge before committing, the gaming guides cover the platform's biggest titles in detail.
