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[RetroGamingUK]

This is Sony delivering the death blow to physical media. Some people just don't see it yet. At the very least, it'll give a lifeline for people for their BC libraries.

Delivering the "death blow" by supporting it.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

The PS5 Slim comes in two SKUs, one with a disc drive attached and one without, so it's no surprise they'd follow the same model for the PS6.

That said, if the PS4 is anything to go by, the PS6 will likely be supported until at least 2040. I'd say that's more than enough reassurance for us physical bros.

 

[Magic Carpet]

It's too bad the PS5's wasn't a simple detachable drive, like an external HD. Then you would not have to rebuy for the new consoles. Just move it over.
I don't think optical media will be getting much new tech speed or capacity. It's not a good way to store things.
Nintendo keycards concept would be a better alternative for physical. Small, fast and no moving parts.

 

[AJUMP23]

Lowers the base system cost, and puts everyone on the same SKU. Also the data probably supports diminishing Physical sales.

 

[Topher]

Option for me is never pointless as I still enjoy older titles as I have a nice library of discs (which you already brought up BC) and I will always buy the disc version of a game when I can

I actually enjoy owning my games and being able to play offline if I need or just want to


Which raises the question will this current odd looking disc drive work moving forward or is Sony going to try and keep up making 2 skus of disc drives?

A new drive won't be a popular decision, but I kind of hope they start from scratch on a new design and not try to design around the existing drive.

 

[Pedro Motta]

Isn't this obvious?

 

[Deerock71]

 

[asdasdasdbb]

Let me guess....It will be another separate 100-150$ purchase ?

That's part of the reason why it's still around. They are going to milk physical lovers.

I'm expecting Sony to hike prices on physical first party games, btw.

 

[GymWolf]

 

[Kacho]

Sony knows it's too soon to rip the bandaid off completely.

 

[Sethbacca]

Feel like this writing has been on the wall since the PS5 slim dropped. Doesn't feel very surprising at least.

 

[Horseganador]

It's normal for PS6 to have a Blu-ray drive, removing the physical format and preventing many people from using their PS4 and PS5 libraries on the new console would be a huge stupidity on Sony's part, we'll see what Xbox does and if it includes Blu-ray in its new generation...

 

[Lith808]

Do we know global splits for digital versus disk drive ps5?

We have the Japan numbers.....

• PS5: 4,915 (total 5,749,227)
• PS5 DE: 952 (total 985,382)
• PS5 Pro: 2,437 (total 243,633)

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/famitsu-sales-week-35-2025-aug-25-aug-31.1687935/

I would be nice to know how many people bought the detachable drive as well. The PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim editions both support it. At least then we could figure out how many PS5 Pros and Slims are out there that are used purely as a digital consoles.

 

[Loomy]

lmao that PS6 mockup is amazing.

My favourite thing about new consoles are all the wild mockups. AI is going to make that more fun. Imagine 2 articles on IGN published in the same week featuring wildly different mockups lol

 

[yogaflame]

That is a good news especially for me that prefers physical copy.

 

[Golgo 13]

PS6, with %90 of games cross-generational all the way back to PS4 and available day 1 on PC!

Please be excited!

 

[mckmas8808]

 

[emivita]

This makes me feel even more motivated to keep building my PS5 physical collection.

 

[Panajev2001a]

… Exclusive: unless they plan to add Dolby Vision playback to UHD Blu-Ray movies instead of HDR10 only they can shove it where the sun does not shine. Unless it is cheap enough.

 

[SplunkyMunkey]

Next will be a rubbish design with rubbish specs to peck not worth buying the deck the power would rival the distant S

 

[jm89]

Good. Even though digital is taking over, on playstation it still has a decent presence.

Playstation is that last really decent option left for physical games, but i'd imagine this will only be for another gen.

 

[R3TRO]

I'm good with that, just give it 2tb storage min.

 

[Inuteu]

 

[Killjoy-NL]

So, it's going to be digital with an optional disc-drive.

Wasn't this already what everyone expected?

 

[hinch7]

What's the point? If it isn't the default hardly anyone is going to make physical versions of games anyway.

Only reason I can see is backwards compatability.

Still a large portion of gamers use physical media (thank god). Also like you said BC is fairly important.

I don't see discs going away anytime soon.

 

[PeteBull]

Here in poland at the launch of ps5pr0 scalpers kept disc drive price at well over 200usd for many months, cant even imagine how much worse its gonna be with brand new next gen af ps6 disc drive, we might reach 300usd scalping price unfortunately scalped officially by stores even

 

[Putonahappyface]

Day one.

 

[StereoVsn]

Here in poland at the launch of ps5pr0 scalpers kept disc drive price at well over 200usd for many months, cant even imagine how much worse its gonna be with brand new next gen af ps6 disc drive, we might reach 300usd scalping price unfortunately scalped officially by stores even

Hopefully there will still be bundles similar to Slim with the Drive already pre-installed.

And yeah, I think this was to be expected. I can't see Sony ditching physical media completely since they know a lot of folks have BC libraries and Sony also sells Blu-Ray movies.

As far as handheld goes, it will be all digital obviously unless Sony goes for key-card idea and has that present on the main console.

What's weird is that PS6 should be at least 2 years out so why are all the crazy rumors coming out of the woodworks.

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

It's good that disc drives are still included but should have had a built in version because I heard the detactable drives spins the disk more compared to the built in version on the PS5 so it doesn't last as long.

 

[Bernardougf]

Will it also play games ?

 

[sendit]

Stop wasting development/engineering hours on a attachment 3 people will use.

 

[adamsapple]

So, it's going to be digital with an optional disc-drive.

Wasn't this already what everyone expected?

Pretty much.

 

[MisterXDTV]

Stop wasting development/engineering hours on a attachment 3 people will use.

It's not like the disc drive itself will change. It's the same thing you can buy today for PS5

 

[SuperC]

Would be hilarious if the PS5 detachable disc drive is not compatible with the PS6

 

[Fake]

No more DE models please. Just make the PS6 have a build in Disc Drive, detachable or not.

Tom: The plans mean that physical games are here to stay, at least for the next generation with the PlayStation 6.

This is a total win for me. Maybe PS6 is a possibility for me after all.

 

[Zacfoldor]

People upset that the disc drive isn't internal.

Me happy there will be the option for one at all:

 

[Putonahappyface]

Would be hilarious if the PS5 detachable disc drive is not compatible with the PS6

If the PS5 covers not fitting on the PRO are anything to go by, the disc drive won't be compatible on the PS6 either. God that pissed me off!

 

[corgiix3]

As long as a disc drive is available im sticking with PS

 

[Putonahappyface]

People upset that the disc drive isn't internal.

Me happy there will be the option for one at all:

My sentiments exactly.

 

[The_hunter]

They will probably keep supporting discs just because of blu-ray movies. Otherwise they will switch to digital.

If the rumours of a portable ps6 are true, it's probably worth going digital.

Personally I've switched to digital games.

 

[nial]

So I think that the SKU with disc drive integrated won't exist

Of course they need to sell out of it and make the thing useless to those with discs

There is no any point to release a console with built-in disc drive when its users become an absolute minority

The last gasps of physical media, I'm actually surprised they're putting one on offer.

Of course it will have a detachable drive, stardard features are paid extras now and you should be thankful and if you don't like it there's that sweet digital version waiting for you.

Hey! I called this back in 2023:

This is Sony delivering the death blow to physical media. Some people just don't see it yet. At the very least, it'll give a lifeline for people for their BC libraries.

Next thing will be the PS6 uses the Dual Sense, so on launch it will be just the digital console. Curious if that disc drive will be the same as the current removable drive?

What's the point? If it isn't the default hardly anyone is going to make physical versions of games anyway.

Only reason I can see is backwards compatability.

Let me guess....It will be another separate 100-150$ purchase ?

Lowers the base system cost, and puts everyone on the same SKU. Also the data probably supports diminishing Physical sales.

That's part of the reason why it's still around. They are going to milk physical lovers.

I'm expecting Sony to hike prices on physical first party games, btw.

So, it's going to be digital with an optional disc-drive.

Wasn't this already what everyone expected?

Hopefully there will still be bundles similar to Slim with the Drive already pre-installed.

Now they can charge you for it again.

For sure.

Disc drive is now a DLC

It's in the article itself:

bundled with the PlayStation 6 as a "traditional console"

Which is literally no different from the current options of the PS5 Slim. This is NOT a PS5 Pro situation, at all.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

It's in the article itself:

Which is literally no different from the current options of the PS5 Slim. This is NOT a PS5 Pro situation, at all.

Tbh sounds like it's digital by default but you can choose to buy a disc-bundle as well or buy a disc-drive later on if you so wish.

 

[nial]

Tbh sounds like it's digital by default but you can choose to buy a disc-bundle as well or buy a disc-drive later on if you so wish.

.

Which is literally no different from the current options of the PS5 Slim.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

But this means it is literally the last gen for physical.

Not for PlayStation and Nintendo gamers.

 

[JORMBO]

I always assumed PS6 would have a disc drive to support BC for PS5. I am curious if PS6 games will be on disc or all digital. Either PS6 or PS7 will make the cut over to all digital for games going forward.

 

[Bojji]

A new drive won't be a popular decision, but I kind of hope they start from scratch on a new design and not try to design around the existing drive.

Would be hilarious if the PS5 detachable disc drive is not compatible with the PS6

If the PS5 covers not fitting on the PRO are anything to go by, the disc drive won't be compatible on the PS6 either. God that pissed me off!

They can always just use different platic covers, matching the design of PS6, drive itself is fairly standard:

But knowing Sony, they will release new drive...

 

[nial]

They can always just use different platic covers, matching the design of PS6, drive itself is fairly standard:

But knowing Sony, they will release new drive...

Yeah, they will. Sony isn't allowing cross-generational support for any console accessory in a million years.
But to be fair, the disc-drive itself in this case matches the hardware design of the PS5.

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

Who knows

PS6 could last for decades

Who will be left unsatisfied with the graphics to warrant a PS7?

That's not how the console business works. It's sales dropping past a certain threshold that trigger a new generation not power or technology by itself. At some point a hardware manufacturer needs fresh new hardware to excite consumers to spike sales. If the PS5 had never launched PS4 sales right now would be through the shitter.

 

[Bojji]

Yeah, they will. Sony isn't allowing cross-generational support for any console accessory in a million years.
But to be fair, the disc-drive itself in this case matches the hardware design of the PS5.

Back in PS3/PS4 days Sony allowed DS4 to be used by PS3. PS1 stuff worked on PS2 etc.

Sony wasn't this strict before PS4 and PS5 with gamepads. I even used my Dual Shock 2 with USB dongle on PS3...

 

[chilichote]

Back in PS3/PS4 days Sony allowed DS4 to be used by PS3. PS1 stuff worked on PS2 etc.

I tried that, but unfortunately the DS4 isn't particularly well supported on the PS3.