We might be over a year out from getting the PlayStation 6 in our hands, but rumours are already starting to circulate that Sony might be ditching a major feature that gamers have appreciated in their consoles for the last three decades.
According to a report from Insider Gaming, the PlayStation 6 might omit the disc drive that physical media lovers have come to rely on since the PlayStation 1. Instead, gamers will be forced to purchase a separate, detachable disc drive that plugs in via one of the console’s ports.
This isn’t too dissimilar from how some PlayStation 5 consoles are forced to work today. Sony started the PS5 generation with two SKUs of the console, one with a disc drive and another without. However, those with the Digital Edition – the later PS5 Pro, which also omits a disc drive – can opt to purchase a separate disc drive to play their physical media.
Manufacturing two different versions of the console is thought to have been costly for Sony, which is why it could potentially only offer one variant of the PlayStation 6 with the disc drive an optional upgrade. While this likely won’t bother a large chunk of the PlayStation audience who purchase most of their games digitally anyway, it’s a bad sign for the physical market and brick and mortar retailers.
Earlier this year saw the likes of GAME eviscerated from the UK highstreet, and the decline is likely to only worsen if Sony phases out physical media compatibility with the default configuration of the PS6. The PS5 Pro also doesn't have a disc drive.
While Sony hasn’t announced the PS6 officially yet, and likely won’t for a while, gamers are already voicing their distaste for the potential change. “No disc drive would make this $800+ console for me a big no for a long while,” reads one comment. Another adds: “No disk drive = no buy, 99% of my library is on disk.” Meanwhile, a third writes: “I want physical games, and preferably backwards compatibility with my older games.”
Personally, I value the disc drive in the PS5 for one other major reason - it’s a great 4K Blu-ray player. With dedicated 4K Blu-ray players starting from around £160, having one built into the PS5 is a great way to ensure I’m getting value for money out of my tech. I know I’m not the only one who uses the PS5 in this way, with another Reddit comment reading: “I use my PS5 also as a 4K Blu-ray player. I hope the PS6 will have one.”
Sony hasn’t made any official comment on whether the PS6 will have a disc drive or not just yet. It’s thought to be targeting a holiday 2027 release date, although that may change given the current climate of the consumer hardware market.
