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What Kind of External Drive and Discs Should I Use for Preserving Games?

August 17, 2026 3 answers
Asked by MellowPine47
I'm looking into preserving my physical media collection and want to buy an external optical drive that can both read and write discs. I'm running Bazzite in Deck mode and could use advice on what specifications matter. Many external drives list CD and DVD support but don't clearly mention Blu-ray. Do I need a Blu-ray writer, and is UHD support worth having for newer or 4K media? I've seen some unfamiliar brands advertised and am unsure whether they're reliable, so recommendations for dependable models would help too. I'm also confused about blank media. What types of discs are suitable for backing up game data? There seem to be several capacities and formats, and I don't know whether certain discs are limited to audio or other specific file types. Should I be looking for dual-layer Blu-ray discs, or something else?
Bazzite Blu-Ray drive disc writing game preservation Hardware optical media UHD Blu-ray

Answers

QuietHarbor62
Optical discs won’t necessarily replace a normal hard drive for convenience or capacity, but they can be appealing for a curated physical archive. If you like the idea of organizing individual games with custom artwork and cases, writable discs can preserve that collection feel while still storing backed-up data.
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NorthstarCactus3
Make sure the drive specifically supports Blu-ray if you want to read or write anything beyond CDs and DVDs. Blu-ray is used by systems such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox One, as well as high-definition movies. If you expect to handle 4K content, choose a drive that supports UHD Blu-ray rather than assuming every Blu-ray drive can read it. Some UHD-capable drives may require compatible firmware or additional setup, so check the exact model and Linux support before buying. An internal drive in a USB enclosure can also be a good alternative to a prebuilt external drive.
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CopperVale8
Most internal and external Blu-ray writers should work with Linux without much trouble, since optical drives generally use standard interfaces. For a dependable option, LG drives are commonly recommended, although other established manufacturers should be fine too. An external USB model is probably the simplest choice if you don’t want to install anything internally. For game preservation, look at the disc capacity you need rather than the kind of files you’re storing. Data discs can hold ordinary files, including game images; they aren’t restricted to audio. A dual-layer Blu-ray writer and matching dual-layer blank discs will give you considerably more space than standard CDs or DVDs.
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