PlayStation 6 Reportedly Planned with Detachable Disc Drive
SAN FRANCISCO - Sony is reportedly planning a modular design for the PlayStation 6, featuring a detachable disc drive, according to a report from Insider Gaming. The move is expected to lower production and shipping costs and offer consumers choice between a conventional console and a cheaper,digital-only model.
The potential for a detachable disc drive marks a shift in Sony’s approach to console hardware. while the PlayStation 5 launched with both a standard edition with a built-in disc drive and a digital-only version, upgrading the latter was not initially possible. Sony later introduced a detachable disc drive for the slimmer PS5 revision, and the recently announced PS5 Pro does not include a disc drive, though it is indeed compatible with the add-on.Insider Gaming reports the detachable drive is also a strategic measure to protect the company against economic uncertainties, perhaps referencing ongoing tariffs related to US trade policies.This development arrives as hardware costs continue to rise. In Europe, the internal SSD of the PS5 Digital Edition has reportedly been reduced from 1TB to 825GB, a phenomenon known as “shrinkflation.” Sony has also increased prices for both Digital and Standard Edition PS5 consoles in Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, citing a ”challenging economic habitat.” Price increases in the US reached $50 across all PS5 models in August.
Despite the growing prominence of cloud gaming, Sony has affirmed its commitment to hardware-based gaming. In June,Sony president and CEO hideaki Nishino stated that consumers still prefer “local execution” of games through physical media or direct downloads.
