A new PS5 with a detachable disc drive could be on the way
The PlayStation 5 design could get an interesting overhaul next year if this new rumor is true
➡️ The Shortcut Skinny
🤔 A new website claims that Sony is working on a PS5 with a detachable disc drive
💿 The console will have identical hardware but will come with a detachable disc drive that can be connected to the PS5 using an extra USB-C port on the back of the system
🎁 The new model will be sold on its own or in a bundle with the detachable drive
📅 The newly designed PS5 is expected to launch in September 2023
Sony is apparently working on a radical new PS5 design that includes a detachable disc drive.
The rumor comes from a new website called Insider Gaming, which claims the new PS5 model will launch in September 2023.
Insider Gaming said that sources familiar with Sony’s plans shared the details under the condition of anonymity and that the new console will replace the current models that have been in production since 2020.
The new PS5 will have identical specs to the current systems, but the biggest change is the rumored detachable disc drive.
The drive will be connected to the PS5 using an extra USB-C port located on the back of the console. It’s unclear whether the new PS5 would be smaller or slimmer due to this change, but the drive won’t affect the overall aesthetic of the console.
According to Insider Gaming’s sources, the drive will attach to the console without “looking external,” and Sony will sell a PS5 with the drive bundled in and will also sell the detachable disc drive separately. The move will allow Sony to make one version of the PS5 instead of two, essentially, and could help remove the questions that arise around the PS5 disc vs Digital Edition.
It also means those who bought the PS5 Digital Edition could potentially add a disc drive to the console in the future, and if the drive failed, you wouldn’t need to send the whole console in for repair.
An interesting move
Sony recently raised the price of the PS5 due to rising manufacturing and shipping costs and has revised the internal design of the PS5 twice since its launch. The new PS5 model is drastically different internally than it was at launch and draws less power.
It’s clear that the Japanese company is trying to find ways to recoup as much money as possible regarding production, as you’d expect, but the idea of offering a modular element to the PS5 would be a first.
The PS5 Digital Edition tends to be harder to find during a PS5 restock, as retailers are more likely to stock the disc version so they can bundle in physical games.
The last time a console had a separate disc drive was the Xbox 360’s ill-fated HD DVD drive. The add-on quickly became obsolete once Blu-Ray discs became the consumer and industry choice for high-definition movies, which was largely due to the PS3 including a Blu-Ray drive as standard.