Is this one-time connection perfectly reasonable or a bizarre choice by Sony? (Picture: Sony)

People are concerned about a newly discovered detail for the PS5 ’s optional disc drive which Sony has previously kept quiet about.

We’re already seeing some video games demand a constant or one-time Internet connection in order to play them, even for single-player games that otherwise don’t have any online functionality. Yet Sony has managed to surprise everyone by including such a requirement for a mere disc drive.

Two weeks ago, Sony announced a new slimmer model of the PlayStation 5 . Much like the original model, it’ll come in two versions: one of which lacks a disc drive and thus can only play digital games.

Sony plans to also release a separate disc drive, that you can connect to the digital PlayStation 5 should you want to play physical games after all. While the disc drive lacks a launch date, word has spread online of its Internet requirements thanks to new bundles popping up in stores.

Although the PS5 Slim, as it’s unofficially called, isn’t out until November, people have snapped photos of new bundles that include it and a copy of either Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Spider-Man 2 .

Twitter user Thunderclart spotted small print for the digital model that states, ‘Internet connection required to pair disc drive and PS5 upon console setup.’




Uhhhh…if this is the case, that is highly concerning and very strange. Hardware connectivity shouldn’t be determined by a server that may not always be available. https://t.co/NT4KU6ShrN — John Linneman @dark1x.bsky.social (@dark1x) October 25, 2023




So, it doesn’t seem that you need to be connected online all the time to play physical games. However, why a piece of hardware, made explicitly for physical discs, would need such a requirement is a mystery.

The common theory is that this a security measure to prevent people from hooking up an unofficial third party disc drive or modifying the official one.

More: Trending The Elder Scrolls 6 will have same levelling system and progression as Skyrim Game Pass seems to have missed its sales target for the third year running Nintendo discusses 'new platform' and implies backwards compatibility for Switch 2

However, this has sparked preservation concerns, since Sony will eventually shut down the servers which provide verification. So, if you needed to swap out the disc drive for a new one, it wouldn’t work because there would be no servers to connect to.

This scenario isn’t expected to happen until Sony stops supporting the PlayStation 5, and that’s not going to happen for a while, since the PlayStation 6 isn’t expected for another four to five years .

It’s also possible that Sony will simply remove this stipulation down the line and render the issue moot, but the company has yet to offer any official clarification so far.




Hey, @PlayStation & @cerny , we need to talk! Internet to install the detachable disc drive for PS5 Slim is a huge blow to preservation and right to repair. Quite frankly, it’s unacceptable! This plus the soldered-on SSD make the PS5 a timebomb from a preservation perspective. https://t.co/GacpULuDu0 pic.twitter.com/IIF1iB2zgV — Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1) October 25, 2023







Sony in attempt to kill it’s entire PS5 userbase now requires you to connect to an activation server to use your $70usd attachable disc drive so when the servers go down the PS5 will be a brick unless someone manages to jailbreak it — Realcodythedragonrude (@Codydrg0nrude) October 25, 2023







Last RT: The PS5 Silm digital requires the internet connection to get the disc drive add-on work is peak stupidity. Imagine Sonic and Knuckles cart requiring an internet connection to function with Sonic 3 in order to play Sonic 3 & Knuckles. — Greenalink ⚔️ (@Greenalink) October 25, 2023




Email  [email protected] , leave a comment below,  follow us on Twitter , and  sign-up to our newsletter .



MORE : This is how big a PS5 Slim is compared to the original console





MORE : PS5 Slim release date leaked along with new Spider-Man 2 bundle





MORE : PS5 rolls out its cloud streaming service – but there’s a catch



Follow Metro Gaming on  Twitter  and email us at  [email protected]

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our  Submit Stuff page here .

For more stories like this,  check our Gaming page .
Sign up to all the exclusive gaming content, latest releases before they're seen on the site. Sign up Privacy Policy » This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.