Sony may ship PS6 without disc drive, add-on sold separately

The PlayStation 5 will celebrate its fifth anniversary in November, and discussions regarding the not-yet-revealed PS6 have intensified recently. One potential feature that the anticipated successor console could inherit from the current PlayStation generation is a detachable disc drive.

Insider Gaming reports that incorporating a detachable disc drive could help Sony lower its production and shipping expenses for the PS6. Essentially, this design would enable consumers to opt for either a PS6 with a disc drive—aligning with traditional preferences—or a more affordable digital version that can later be upgraded with the addition of a drive. In contrast, the PS5 initially launched with two separate models: one featuring a built-in disc drive and the other being entirely digital, without the option for those choosing the lower-priced console to upgrade later. This situation changed with the introduction of the slimmer PS5 revision, and last year's PS5 Pro was released without a built-in disc drive, although it remains compatible with an external attachment.

It's evident that Sony is not ready to abandon physical media. Despite the increasing popularity of digital games, a significant number of gamers have large collections of disc-based titles. For these players, a digital-only console would be viewed as a negative development. Moreover, if Xbox were to launch its next-generation console with a disc drive while Sony did not, that could lead to a major public relations setback for Microsoft. Additionally, many retailers might hesitate to carry a digital-only console, as the lack of disc-based games would result in minimal additional sales alongside the consoles.

Having a disc drive would enable the PlayStation 6 to support titles from both the PS4 and PS5, allowing for backwards compatibility across two generations. If Sony successfully develops a PS3 emulator for its more advanced PS6, the system could potentially offer support for three generations of backwards compatibility. It seems that physical media will continue to survive, at least for the foreseeable future.

While the speculation surrounding the PlayStation 6 potentially including a disc drive is intriguing, that future is still a few years away. For now, the PlayStation 5 Pro remains the premier option for enjoying Sony’s latest exclusive titles, stunning graphics, and rapid load times. As always, for the latest news on hardware launches and industry developments, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.