According to an exclusive report from Insider Gaming, the Playstation 6 console is set to launch with a detachable disc drive.
Now if you cast your mind back to the mists of time for the Playstation 5 launch, you’ll recall that it launched with regular console that had the disc drive built in a normal, or as a digital only PS5 console, before later adding a PS5 Slim alongside a detachable drive that could be bought separately. It seems, according to the report from Insider Gaming, that Sony are planning on making the detachable drive a permanent addition.
If this report holds true, at launch we’ll have the option of the PS6 digital only, with no disc drive, or you can buy a PS6 bundle that has the disc drive included. Naturally the drive will also be purchasable separately as well. According to Insider Gaming’s sources, the reasoning behind this is a simple one – to reduce manufacturing and shipping costs during “uncertain times”. The report goes on to further say that this goal of reducing production costs will also be reflected in the console’s design, and we could see a return of the simple designs of the console boxes of old rather than the more “futuristic” funky designs of the PS3 and PS5.
Now how well all of this goes down with gamers honestly comes down to the cost, not only of the console itself but of the drive, if the drive is too expensive many gamers will feel ripped off especially as digital games on the PSN store are very expensive and often more expensive than the physical copy. At the moment a new detachable drive from the Playstation store for the PS5 is £70, so we shall have to wait and see what the MSRP is for the PS6 equivalent.
It’s good at least that we’re getting the choice and for the next generation at least, it seems that physical games aren’t going anywhere.
