For a new submission, the practical choice is PSA Video Games (the service that replaced WATA’s current submission branding) versus VGA. PSA says games received after October 15, 2025 use PSA holders and labels, while older WATA-graded games remain part of the existing collector market. Choose PSA when its current tiers, broad sealed/CIB/loose coverage and PSA presentation fit your item; choose VGA when you want its established 100-point label, Unified 10-point presentation or specific VGA eligibility and bulk terms. Neither label guarantees a higher resale price. Verify the exact game, condition, complete contents, total fee and intended sales venue before sending anything.
The comparison below uses prices and service descriptions checked October 30, 2026. Published turnaround figures are estimates, not guaranteed door-to-door dates.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Video Games (formerly WATA) | Collectors wanting current PSA holders and labels, or a service that describes sealed, CIB and loose-game submissions | Turbo estimated 30 business days; PSA label and holder for items received after the October 2025 changeover | Turbo $49.99 per item; Speed-Run $69.99; Warp-Zone $124.99 | Sealed, complete-in-box and loose physical games; unusual formats require confirmation | Oct 2026 |
| VGA | Collectors who prefer VGA’s historical 100-point presentation, its Unified 10-point option, or VGA-specific eligibility and bulk pricing | Standard, Express, Priority and Walk Through tiers; Standard is estimated at four months | $40 modern Standard; $50 vintage Standard; Express $75; Priority $125; Walk Through $250 | Sealed, unused-in-box and used CIB categories; named loose-cartridge systems and exclusions apply | Oct 2026 |
Is WATA still grading games?
Not as a separate current label choice. On September 19, 2025, PSA announced the WATA-to-PSA transition and said submissions received after October 15, 2025 would receive PSA holders and labels. A game that already carries a WATA label is still a recognizable historical grade, but sending another game now should be evaluated as a PSA Video Games submission.
This distinction matters when a buyer asks for “WATA.” They may mean an older WATA-graded copy on the secondary market, not a new WATA-branded order. Do not pay a premium merely because a listing uses the old name; inspect the actual holder, label, grade, title variant and condition.
Which service should you choose for your game?
The right choice follows the item and your intended use, not a blanket ranking. Start with eligibility, then compare the complete cost and presentation you want.
Choose PSA when the current PSA holder is the goal
PSA is the logical route if you specifically want the post-transition PSA holder and label, or if your item falls within PSA’s described sealed, CIB or loose-game categories. Its three published game tiers let you pay for different estimated speeds, and front post-grade photos are included. PSA also lists optional services such as autograph authentication, light cleaning, CIB Plus, sticker removal and reholdering.
Choose VGA when its label system or terms match your collection
VGA retains its original Standard 100-point presentation and also offers a Unified 10-point presentation of the same evaluation. The company says, “Our Standard 100-point grading scale will remain available.” Choose it when that visual language, holder or a VGA-specific category is important to you. VGA also publishes a distinct bulk tier for at least 20 eligible standard-size sealed games.
Pause before either submission
If you cannot establish that the exact release is eligible, if the package may be resealed or restored, or if the expected sale would not recover grading and shipping costs, keep the game ungraded until you have better information. A protective case can preserve condition without assigning a third-party grade.
How much does video game grading cost?
Advertised prices are base charges. Item dimensions, declared value, selected speed, add-ons, insurance and shipping can change the final invoice. The figures below are the published standard-size terms observed October 30, 2026.
| Service and tier | Base price | Advertised turnaround | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Turbo | $49.99 per item | 30 business days | PSA game-service price; final bill can include size, value, options and shipping |
| PSA Speed-Run | $69.99 per item | 15 business days | Same qualification as other PSA tiers |
| PSA Warp-Zone | $124.99 per item | 5 business days | Same qualification as other PSA tiers |
| VGA Standard, modern release (since 2020) | $40 | 4 months | Standard-size item; custom sizes cost more |
| VGA Standard, vintage | $50 | 4 months | Standard-size item; vintage classification follows VGA’s service terms |
| VGA Express | $75 | 2 months | Custom sizes cost more |
| VGA Priority | $125 | 2 weeks | Custom sizes cost more |
| VGA Walk Through | $250 | 48 hours or less | Estimate, not a guaranteed door-to-door delivery date |
PSA says items with a maximum insured value under $999 have no additional value fee; its pricing explanation describes percentage charges at higher values. Read the live fee explanation for an expensive game rather than assuming the entry price applies. VGA lists an additional 2% fair-market-value charge on the portion above $5,000.
What about bulk submissions?
VGA lists $45 per item for at least 20 eligible standard-size sealed games, with an estimated 30-day turnaround. That is a specific VGA game-service term. Do not substitute PSA trading-card bulk tiers for PSA video-game pricing; use the current game page and calculate the actual order total.
What games does each service accept?
“Sealed,” “CIB” and “loose” are not universal promises that every format or regional variant qualifies. Confirm the exact title, platform, edition, components and packaging before shipping.
PSA eligibility
PSA describes grading for sealed, complete-in-box and loose games, along with selected other physical media. That wording is broad, but it does not establish that every loose disc, cartridge, foreign variant or unusual package is accepted. Ask PSA about an uncommon format and keep written confirmation with your submission records.
VGA eligibility and exclusions
VGA lists sealed, unused-in-box and used complete-in-box categories. Its cartridge designation names NES, Super NES, N64, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X and Atari 2600. VGA’s eligibility information excludes reproductions and resealed packaging and identifies restoration and incomplete items among exclusions. A clean-looking exterior is not enough: the release must contain the correct original components.
Complete-in-box consoles
VGA’s current dedicated console page describes CIB console grading, with a separate price add-on of $35 and requirements for original components. An older VGA scale FAQ describes console grading as planned, so use the current dedicated console page and confirm the exact console before sending it. Console grading uses a different component breakdown from a CIB game.
What is the difference between VGA’s 100-point and Unified 10-point grades?
They are two VGA presentations of the same evaluation, not two independent grading standards. The Unified 10-point number should not be treated as equivalent to a PSA grade carrying the same number, and a VGA 90 is not automatically a PSA 9.0.
For the CIB-game formula VGA publishes, the box contributes 50% of the grade, the cartridge 25% and the manual 25%. VGA says sealed-game subgrades contribute to the overall grade without one fixed formula for every packaging type. Its newer CIB-console description assigns 50% to the box, 40% to the console and accompanying hardware, and 10% to the manual. Do not apply the cartridge formula to a console.
When comparing two listings, record the company, label format, grade, subgrades, title variant and seal state. Numeric shorthand without those details invites a misleading comparison.
How long will grading take?
PSA publishes business-day estimates: 30 days for Turbo, 15 for Speed-Run and five for Warp-Zone. Its video-game information uses differing descriptions of when the estimate begins—one section refers to entry into the grading system, while a disclaimer refers to receipt and scanning—so confirm the start event for your order.
VGA expresses its estimates in months, weeks or hours: four months for Standard, two months for Express, two weeks for Priority and 48 hours or less for Walk Through. These are service estimates, not promises that include transit in both directions, intake delays or return shipping. Keep the game insured and do not schedule a sale around the fastest advertised figure without a contingency.
How should you prepare a submission?
Preparation protects the item and prevents an avoidable eligibility or billing surprise. Use this sequence for either service.
- Identify the exact release. Record platform, region, edition, title variant, barcode or catalog details and whether the package is sealed, unused-in-box, complete-in-box or loose.
- Inventory every component. Check the box, cartridge or disc, manual, inserts, accessories and console hardware against the release’s original contents. Photograph the item and its condition before packing.
- Check eligibility directly. Compare the item with the service’s current video-game rules. Ask about unusual formats, foreign variants, loose discs, consoles, resealing concerns or restoration before payment.
- Choose the label and speed. For PSA, select the game tier and any relevant option. For VGA, decide between Standard 100-point and Unified 10-point presentation, then select the speed tier and any UV, cleaning or grading-summary option.
- Declare value carefully. Use a defensible current market value. High-value items can trigger value-linked charges, and the declared amount affects shipping and insurance decisions.
- Calculate the complete bill. Add the base tier, size surcharge, options, value-related fee, outbound shipping, return shipping and insurance. A low advertised base price is not necessarily the lowest total.
- Pack for transit. Prevent movement, pressure on corners and moisture exposure. Use a trackable, insured shipment and retain photographs, the service order and the carrier receipt.
- Inspect the returned holder. Confirm the name, platform, variant, grade, label format and holder condition. Keep the service paperwork with the game for future buyers.
Will grading increase resale value?
No published, directly comparable statistic establishes that the same game consistently sells for more in a PSA holder than in a VGA holder. An auction house’s acceptance of both historical WATA and VGA labels demonstrates market access, not a guaranteed premium.
Heritage Auctions reported a $1,560,000 sale for a WATA-graded Super Mario 64 on July 11, 2021. That was an exceptional individual transaction, not a typical collectible-game value and not evidence that grading automatically produces a profit. Before submitting, inspect completed sales for the same title, region, variant, seal state and grade, then subtract grading, shipping, insurance and selling fees.
Is an acrylic case a better option for an ungraded game?
If your priority is protection and display rather than authentication or a condition opinion, a correctly sized acrylic case can be the more proportionate choice. Search for “NES boxed video game acrylic display case” for boxed games or “NES cartridge acrylic display case” for loose cartridges, and match the case to the actual dimensions and format.
A case does not verify authenticity, detect resealing or assign a grade. Keep the game’s original packaging intact, avoid pressure on fragile corners and use a case designed for the specific format rather than assuming every NES-sized product fits every release.
What are the most common mistakes?
- Ordering a new WATA label: Current post-transition submissions receive PSA holders and labels, not a separately selectable new WATA holder.
- Treating equal numbers as equal grades: PSA and VGA scales are not interchangeable, and VGA’s Unified 10-point format is its own conversion presentation.
- Assuming every loose game qualifies: Eligibility depends on platform, category, components and release; VGA’s named cartridge list is narrower than a universal “all cartridges” promise.
- Sending a resealed or reproduction package: VGA lists those among exclusions, and any uncertain item should be cleared with the chosen service before shipment.
- Using a card bulk price for games: PSA’s trading-card tiers are not video-game terms.
- Budgeting only the headline fee: Size, declared value, options, insurance and shipping can materially change the total.
- Planning around a guaranteed deadline: Both services publish estimates, with different timing units and intake definitions.
- Assuming a grade guarantees profit: Compare completed sales for the exact variant and deduct all submission and selling costs.
How we picked the recommendation
The decision criteria are current branding, item eligibility, label and holder preferences, published base prices, value-linked charges, estimated turnaround, available options, bulk terms and the intended collection or sales venue. Those criteria produce a conditional recommendation rather than a universal winner: PSA for the current post-WATA pathway and its described coverage, VGA for its label system or terms when the item qualifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an older WATA-graded game still be sold as WATA?
Yes. Existing WATA holders remain identifiable in collector listings and auction catalogs. The 2025 transition affects new submissions, so a newly submitted game should not be described as receiving a current WATA label.
Does a VGA Unified 10-point grade convert directly to a PSA grade?
No. VGA’s Unified number is its own presentation of a VGA evaluation. Compare the company, label format, subgrades and item details instead of matching the numbers mechanically.
What should I do if my game is a foreign variant or unusual format?
Send the service a precise description and photographs before ordering, including platform, region, packaging and every component. Do not infer eligibility from a similar domestic release or from the fact that another loose game was accepted.
Are grading turnaround times business days or calendar days?
PSA states its game estimates in business days, while VGA uses weeks, months or hours depending on the tier. Neither figure is a guaranteed door-to-door date because intake and shipping timing can differ.