We’ve seen some hardware upgrades and changes to Sony’s flagship home gaming console since its release, but nothing quite like the rumored new PS5 detachable disc drive. According to Insider Gaming, Sony is in the midst of developing what appears to be a new PS5 peripheral, where the console’s disc drive could very well take the form of a removable reader as part of a future iteration of PlayStation 5. More details.
Removable PS5 hard drive in the works?
Reports suggest that a major future hardware update for PlayStation could include an optional removable drive that connects to the console via USB-C.
That detachable PS5 disc drive would presumably mean that Sony could halve its current SKU and only offer a single-disc free version with an optional included disc drive. Users can effectively buy a potentially cheaper PS5, perhaps something similar to the current-gen all-digital version. Customers may choose to either bundle the drive or purchase it at a later date. This could also be good news when it comes to failing drives, which with the reported new, more modular setup would almost certainly provide a very affordable solution.
The supposedly modular approach in the works could also indicate a complete redesign of the separating exterior aesthetics. While it might just look like the all-digital version we have now, reports suggest that the outer chassis will also be replaced in some shape or form. We’ve seen the inside of the PS5 see some significant tweaks over the past few years, not least the new motherboard that was spotted earlier this year and before that the improvement in the lightweight heatsink.
It looks like Sony is targeting September 2024 with the PS5 removable drive situation, so it’ll be a while before we know for sure what’s going on.
Meanwhile, Sony is preparing to launch its first-ever professional controller with the DualSense Edge and preparing its second-generation virtual reality platform. PSVR2 is still slated for release in early 2023, but we’ve just received confirmation that it won’t be compatible with PSVR1 games.
Be sure to check out our coverage of the latest State of Play livestream for some upcoming releases, including both the highly anticipated God of War Ragnarok, the game’s DualSense controller special edition, as well as other titles that appear for PSVR2.
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