# PS3 downloadable content: buy but not install right away?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-downloadable-content-buy-but-not-install-right-away/649816>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [February 9, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-downloadable-content-buy-but-not-install-right-away/649816 "2013-02-09T21:05:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-downloadable-content-buy-but-not-install-right-away/649816/1 "2013-02-09T21:05:02Z")

</div>

We’ve been playing Skyrim a lot, and are planning on getting the downloadable content when it becomes available over the next few weeks. They’re supposed to be half-price the first week, so since we’re going to get them all eventually, we’d like to buy them then. But we’re also concerned that they will make the game even buggier than it already is.

We’d like to buy the DLC, but hold off installing it until we get a handle on how the updates are behaving for others. When we buy it, will it install right away, or can we download it, but wait to install it?

My only experience is downloading songs for Rock Band. There, it’s a separate file that shows up, and I have to click it to open the file and install the song. Is that how PS3 DLC works?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-downloadable-content-buy-but-not-install-right-away/649816/2 "2013-02-09T22:08:03Z")

</div>

I can’t say anything about PS3 or any bugs. Which types do you have?

I also haven’t played _Dragonborn_. But I will tell you that installing _Dawnguard_ creates vampire attacks, so if you’re not read for those, maybe hold off. But I wouldn’t wait too long level-wise, because it does add a bunch of cool stuff, whether you want to start vampire-ing or try out crossbows.

And yeah, if there’s a sale, I’d get it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-downloadable-content-buy-but-not-install-right-away/649816/3 "2013-02-09T22:43:37Z")

</div>

Yeah, you can do that. On the PS3, buying, downloading, and installing are three separate actions.

Thanks to the massive amount of free games offered with the PS+ service, I have a LOT of games I’ve bought, but haven’t downloaded or installed because I’m low on HD space. I’ve got to get around to finishing some of those other games I’ve got installed so I can uninstall them and make space.