The Difference Between CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD in Video Games

When you play video games, you might notice that older games came on CDs, then later on DVDs, and now on Blu-ray or even Ultra HD (UHD) discs. But what’s the real difference between them?

CD (Compact Disc)

  • Used in: PlayStation 1, Sega Saturn, some early PC games.
  • Storage: About 700 MB (megabytes).
  • Details: CDs were the first big step away from cartridges. They could hold better music, videos, and bigger games compared to older systems.
  • Limitations: They didn’t have much space, so some bigger games had to use multiple CDs (like Final Fantasy VII on PS1, which needed 3 discs).

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)

  • Used in: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo Wii.
  • Storage: About 4.7 GB (gigabytes) for single-layer, 8.5 GB for dual-layer DVDs.
  • Details: DVDs were a huge upgrade. Games could be much larger, with better graphics and longer stories. Also, the PS2 and Xbox could play regular movie DVDs, which made them popular home entertainment systems.
  • Limitations: As games grew bigger, even DVDs started feeling small by the late 2000s.

Blu-ray Disc

  • Used in: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One.
  • Storage: About 25 GB for single-layer, 50 GB for dual-layer Blu-rays.
  • Details: Blu-ray was the next big leap. It had way more space for high-definition graphics, massive worlds, and long games.
    The PS3 was the first major console to fully use Blu-ray, and it helped games like The Last of Us and Uncharted look and feel amazing.
  • Bonus: Blu-rays also helped make the consoles into movie players for HD movies.

UHD Blu-ray (Ultra HD Blu-ray)

  • Used in: Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X (but not in standard PS4; only PS5 with disc drive).
  • Storage: About 66 GB for dual-layer, 100 GB for triple-layer UHD discs.
  • Details: UHD discs are even better versions of Blu-ray, designed for 4K video and huge games.
    Some of the biggest games today need this extra space for high-resolution textures, bigger game worlds, and faster loading times.
  • Note: Not all modern games actually need a UHD disc — it’s more about future-proofing for bigger games.

Each new disc type gave video games more space to grow — better graphics, bigger worlds, better sound, and new experiences! Today, many games are even downloaded online, but physical discs still matter, especially for collectors and players who love having a real copy of their games.

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