Like It or Not, This Is Why PS5 Pro Doesn't Have a Disc Drive

Digital ratio increases again on PS5

[-Foxtrot]

I feel like these kind of arguments are always a little one sided because if a company pushes digital, wants you to go digital, make things more enticing for digital and so many other things like making digital only variants of consoles or having to now buy a disc drive as an extra then yeah of course the gap between digital and physical will widen in digitals favour.

It's like manipulating the audience and market into a push you want the industry to go in then when you get the results you want go "see guys, more of you guys want this, don't blame us".

That's not me saying there's not a lot of people who genuinely like digital, of course not, but my point is that companies are pushing for this kind of result.

[jznrpg]

If they were really pushing for digital they wouldn’t have had a disc drive option. They were pushing for lower price.

[-Foxtrot]

I think that's so they don't cause a PR nightmare and a negative backlash

It's not something that you can just do in the way you're saying, it's slow, surgical and drip fed to us

[victorMaje]

Used to not be an option.

[just_looken]

Your talking about a disc drive that needs server in order to use it and has a connection that only works on that system version.

A real disc drive would use a sata cable and or usb connection with drivers installed on the fly 0 server's needed.

In the future with those servers go down or production ramps down that disc drive option means nothing.

[fr0sty]

The disc drive in PS5 and PS5 Pro does connect via a sata (or USB, depending on version) cable... no server required. No internet connection required.

Unlike PC, which has abandoned disc drives entirely.

[VariantAEC]

@Frosty
Uh... The new PS5 slim and Pro drives need to be activated to work with the system and that activation does take place by connecting to an online service.

[Killer2020UK]

Often I disagree with your takes but it's pretty clear to me that there is a massive benefit to Sony et al to have complete control over digital sales especially as you can only purchase exclusively via their console specific marketplace and sales of pre-owned physical games won't be able to hurt their digital only releases.

Digital sales may be popular on the PC but that's because of the multiple different competing storefronts you can use.

For consoles, it's a totally different ballgame.

To the people disagreeing with you, why wouldn't Sony want to push towards digital only?

[Tapani]

They do it because consumers do not want physical media anymore, not because the company has an agenda. They benefit from it yes, but not doing it because of that only, otherwise they would not offer an option. Same with movies and music. Doesn't matter how you spin it or slice it, that's just the way the world is and will be moving forward.

[Killer2020UK]

Bullshit. The disc drive add on for the PS5 Pro has sold out everywhere in the UK.

[just_looken]

Your correct heck you can see with the rise of streaming there is fewer of those movies/shows on disc with pc gaming we have very few disc copies of any software.

Console going digital will be the worse because there is one store front very few sales and a tos that always changes.

Consoles need more than one store to shop at like pc/mobile.

[Profchaos]

It's a cost thing for many I know Aussies can pay up to 40% more for a game digitally over physical it might just be out region but it matters to us.

Digital should be on par with physical for cost per region if not cheaper but it's not even in the same realm

[just_looken]

Your in my situation it can be cheaper to import a game/software then pay for it locally/digitally.

[Rude-ro]

80% of game sales have been digital.
Like it or not..majority speaks.
The good thing is that Sony did not shove it down anyone throats…
They have reacted to demand

[Miraak82]

I just think if physical media wants to survive they need to create a new medium especially in the gaming space, something that's usb compatible with the ability to store updates in a separate partition . BR as a format is almost 20 years old and games don't run off them to actually play since they're just installed on ssd/hd nowadays . Sony definitely don't want to produce BR discs & drives in mass as physical movies, music and games have drastically dwindled and a majority of retail outlets have phased out physical media in general . It's not that companies are pushing for digital but where is the incentive to support it if it can't even support itself . Nintendo is the only company doing it right .. but then again people will complain when there are limited supplies and availability without a digital option.

[GAMERJET]

It's about eliminating choice. This all started in the PS3/X360 era. We were told it would allow indies to release games that otherwise couldn't be released. Yet, the previous generation (PS2) had no problem releasing plenty of games on disc. Once choice has been eliminated, it becomes take our choice or leave it. Many gamers will take it. Horse Armour already proved this outcome like it or not.

[MDTunkown]

You can’t even now move your saves to an USB. They say it’s against cheaters but all online games are server based so a save edit won’t do anything. It’s just them making sure more people are subscribed to ps plus

[mandf]

False

[mandf]

It’s about hacking hackin and crackin nothing more but continue the false narrative of evil conspiracy for profits

[just_looken]

@MDTunkown

Remember when ps3 had that feature then it was patched out as soon as they started pushing cloud saves i remember that all to well.

[bRuud83]

Sony should offer a new cheaper tier Ps Plus subscription just with online gaming and cloud saving. I couldn't be bothered with the monthly games.

[VariantAEC]

You can just in bulk only as a back-up where we were able to do this per game on PS3 and on PS4 so long as the game save wasn't copy-protected. Some PS2 games also had save game copy limitations. This was true of some games on PS3 and PS4. In those cases you could still back up those saves on PS3 and PS4 by doing a back-up. On PS4 you could choose to back up just save files like on PS5. The major difference on PS5 is as I wrote earlier, you can only back up save game data by creating a back up.

[VariantAEC]

@just_looken
This feature was not removed on PS3. It worked on all FW versions since launch. You just need a compatible USB drive or HDD to get it to work. Basically any USB drive between 32MB to 64GB will work and any supported HDD.

Why do people lie about this? Also from the PS3 official online manual:
"Copying saved data to storage media (making a backup)

Data that was saved to the system storage can be exported to storage media, and saved data that has been exported can be imported to the system storage. Select the saved data that you want to export or import, press the 🔺️ button, and then select [Copy] from the options menu. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the operation. It is recommended that you copy important data for backup purposes.

Hints
• Some saved data cannot be copied
• Saved data cannot be copied during content playback using other features, such as playback of music files.
• Saved data of PlayStation®2 or PlayStation® format software can also be copied to a memory card (8MB) (for
PlayStation®2) or a memory card. For details, see [Using saved data on memory cards] under 🎮 (Game) > [Playing
PlayStation®2/ PlayStation® format software] in this guide.
• An appropriate USB adaptor (not included) is required to use storage media with some models of the PS3™ system.

Notices
• Some PlayStation®2 or PlayStation® format software titles may perform differently on the PS3™ system than they do on PlayStation®2 or PlayStation® systems, or may not perform properly on the PS3™ system.
• PlayStation®2 format discs cannot be played on some PS3™ systems. For details, refer to [Types of Playable Discs], visit the SIE Web site for your region or review the documentation that was included with your PS3™ system."

[VariantAEC]

@just_looken
I also tested savegame file copying myself on PS3 official firmware version 4.91 and it worked as the manual stated. This feature works very similarly on PS4.

Only PS5 is more restrictive. I don't know if any PSP games had copy protected savegame data but as I said some PS2 did at least when played on PS2 HW. That meant you couldn't copy some PS2 savegame data to another PS2 memory card inserted into the PS2 console even if there was enough space to copy the data over. I don't know if that was the case for any PS1 savegame data or if there were restrictions on any PS Vita titles (I don't think there were but I didn't use the Vita's content manager very much for that I just did full back-ups when my memory cards were full just in case).

With PSP you could just copy anything to the PC so long as your PC had a MemoryStick slot or card adaptor. I miss PSP's overall flexibility.

[Gamist2dot0]

Digital is cheaper than physical these days. Was looking at Street Fighter 30th Anniv and notice digital is $10 on PSN while physical is $20 on Amazon. I still prefer physical because digital is not 100% ownership.

[nitus10]

It depends on the game you are after.

I won't deny that some digital games are cheaper than their Blu-ray version but this normally happens when the digital game is on special.

As an example I purchased the Blu-ray version of Final Fantasy 12 a few years back and that same game, digitally is two (on special) to five times dearer.

[andy85]

That all depends on if you sell your games, if you sell, day one gaming is massively cheaper

[__y2jb]

99% of the time physical is wayyy cheaper.

[Chocoburger]

I have an unopened disc drive waiting for my PS5 Pro to arrive next month. I wouldn't have bought the Pro if discs weren't an option. I do believe PS6 will be similar, disc drive sold separately.

[BlackCountryBob]

I’ve been wondering if the PS5 slim / pro disk drive will carry over and could be used on the PS6. Can’t imagine anyone is going to be advancing blu-ray technology in the next decade and the drive is pretty much as small as it needs to be with a simple connector. Would there be any point in Sony spending time redesigning it as assuming it will remain optional on the PS6.

[Chocoburger]

I've had similar thoughts, but disc capacity sizes may or may not be an issue. Perhaps they'll have to use two discs for installation (such as FF7 Rebirth).

[mkis007]

Honestly digital is swaying me. It's so much easier to start any number of games up without having to go put the disc in. 4tb m.2 + 2 tb pro= instant start on all my games. I bet digital will be improved as far as ownership goes as time goes on.

[MetroidFREAK21]

Take away choice and I won't support your product. Simple

[Deathdeliverer]

You might want to consider leaving gaming and talking up a different hobby. The day is fast approaching that none of them companies have a physical option. I do think Nintendo will be the last company to dump physical. They need to level up their online first.

[MetroidFREAK21]

The Switch 2 will be my final new game system. Not upgrading to PS6 or next Xbox so trust me, I am

[TheDreamCorridor]

Supporting Nintendo while complaining about taking awake choice is a level of mental gymnastics I can't even fathom.

[MetroidFREAK21]

I can completely support their games. Their business practices, not so much. Besides, I don't care

[Npugz7]

I have a ps5 with a a disc drive but never use it so I couldn’t care less if the pro doesn’t have one.

[Deathdeliverer]

I simply wish that digital was cheaper than physical. No middle man, no manual, no pressing disc, no packaging. I’m not saying it should be wildly different, but dang. $10 maybe? I’ve just always felt that was an argument gamers should have been having.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

When the Playstation Store has a sale , it is usually much cheaper than physical copies of video games at video game store. . I have pretty much stopped buying physical when I picked up my PS4 in 2015 . But I still like physical copies of video games. . Hopefully the triple A market will still make physical video games .

[__y2jb]

This is simply not true. A sale on the PS store still has games at £45-50, same game physical online is only £25-30. This is the case 90% of the time.

[gold_drake]

its also the fact that some devs use the disc price as an excuse.

look what happened to alan wake 2. underperformed. why? well, it was digital only..im sure there are other reasons,l for it, but they had to go bk on their decision and release a disc version, or they're planning to.

without knowing the cost of said disc production, i wont buy that excuse.

and then theres also Sega, who recently updated their Terms of Use/service where it says, that you dont own the digital copy and that they control more or less everything.

i want to own my games. i dont give a flying fk about digital games.

there is a place for both. and for as long there is a place for both, i will go physical.

[fsfsxii]

Black Myth wukon is digital only too lmao, stop cherry picking

[TheDreamCorridor]

Sequel to a 13 year old game is why it underperformed.

18 year old gamers who played it 2010 are like 32 now.

That's a huge leap in time for a game that launched as 360 exclusive.

[gold_drake]

the game was released on modern platforms.

[PRIMORDUS]

Consoles need to try to adopt something like GOG does for PC. Where you can download the game to the consoles drive just incase it gets pulled you still can play it. Once everything goes all digital I'm done buying or should you say renting games. Not going to spend $60+ on a game knowing that it can be taken down and you can't play it anymore. I'll just go to PC take it for free or on occasion buy from GOG.

[fsfsxii]

you can already do that, i have many delisted games that i can still download and redownload again and again.

[VariantAEC]

Or you can also back them up. Some things on PSN are gone for good like the P.T. demo. If you didn't make a back up of that game... it's gone and can not be re-downloaded. I don't think PSN has outright deleted any other title and P.T. being a demo, it was free to everyone didn't cost anyone anything after it was removed from PSN. That is also probably why they felt it was fine to delete it like that.

[Knightofelemia]

Let them game go digital moment games go all digital I am just sticking to retro. Again I like the sense of ownership I don't want to pay to get a license to play the game. Again collectors like collecting and bragging about the game and showing off their collection. And most of the time you can find the game cheaper physically then its digital cousin. Again this debate is always the same song and same dance on this site all the time. Sony not adding the disc drive to the PS5 Pro in my eyes is Sony trying to save the customer a few bucks off the all ready high priced machine.

[BlackCountryBob]

I don’t mind that it’s an option to have or not to have a disk drive, I will at least for the foreseeable but I know for many they consider it an unnecessary added expense. However I do find myself anxious about the idea of an all digital future and I do hope that the EU (someone has to, might as well be them) can bring some competition to digital markets around things like the ability to loan or resell, ability to have backups, owning licenses and compelling sellers to remove any mandatory logins or services which can make software unusable if taken offline before they can formally withdraw support / consider support ended.

[gigoran8]

(a few months later when the pro with disc drive releases)
Push Square - "So here is why Playstation will always have a disc drive. Get used to it."

[Jingsing]

Like it or not, consoles without physical media is the end of consoles. When there is no physical media that means the regulators come in and start telling them to allow multiple store fronts on their platform. After that the profits for each hardware platform holder go down and subsidising of the hardware no longer makes sense.

[__y2jb]

Hopefully!

[senorfartcushion]

Unless you want to factor in Blu Ray usage, I'd kindly shut up.

[fsfsxii]

All digital is the future, if you care about game ownership, it means you're attached to a hobby to sickening degree, worry about home ownership bro not plastic boxes.

[HankHill]

Be careful what you wish for.

[VENOM OF SINS]

The disc drive was included with the original console for a small premium over the all digital version. Then Sony made the all digital console the defacto go-to console by dropping a console model, and introducing and pricing a disc drive at a premium that was 3x more costly than previous disc options. Customers are being driven, dragged, or even cornered into going digital, and this article is like, “Digital sales are up! See, no one wants physical.”.

From a business perspective, digital makes sense. No costs associated with printing discs or sleeves, warehousing or logistics, and you cut out the used games market to push more logical copies sold. From a consumerism perspective, digital is horrible. Gamers want to own their games, and it’s their prerogative if they one day want to sell what they have financially secured. Essentially they are expected to pay more to ensure they can exercise that right. Without much competition, there is not much that will change. Microsoft is happy to push digital as well.

There were patents discussing the resale of digital items. I would be interested to see if there’s a reversal from the digital trend, if these would ever see the light of day.

[Hugodastrevas]

There's more digital consoles because people buy more digital games and people buy more digital games because there's more digital consoles...

[hiawa23]

Wait, but it does have a drive if you fork out the extra $80 like many of us did. Simple answer for me is Sony wanted to reduce costs and make more per each console sold. I mean inflation has even hit the console makers especially given what we have seen this gen with Covid, chip shortages, and many other factors. Their cost of doing business has just skyrocketed so I am not surprised by what we have seen. I mean the Switch is last gen and 7 years old and still sells for almost full price.

[MrBaskerville]

I wish they had a system in place so that we could convert our physical games to digital games.

But even then, I still need to be able to play dvds and blu rays. And Driveclub.

[__y2jb]

Enjoy paying full RRP for 90% of your games. PlayStation ‘sales’ are already hot garbage, when Sony completely controls the distribution channel it will be $99 games all the time.

[Toecutter00]

How many of those digital sales a from day one purchases and how many are from deep sales? Like it or not, consumers will vote with their wallets. Sony would do well to remember the Xbox one launch.

[Blankboi]

I hate to say it but a few will learn the hard way when the TOS is breached (for whatever reason) and that digital library is gone forever via permaban

[z2g]

Every time these articles get written like this, I make a comment basically saying that discs will be dead in the near future, naturally to tons of disagrees… yet here’s just more evidence. MS and Sony have just released disc-less flagship consoles… they wouldn’t be doing that if the main driver was discs based games. In this day and age, patches, updates, dlc, expansions and broadband internet have all but left discs obsolete in today’s markets. They are literally good for an initial install. Nothing more.

[Solitariussaint]

Like it or not, I'm not buying a PS5 with a detachable disk drive.

[Pyrofire95]

Is there anybody more iconic on this site than -Foxtrot?
Are there any other regulars that I never notice just cause they aren't Tails the Kitsune?

[CantThinkOfAUsername]

You don't notice Obscure_Observer, N4G's resident Xbox shill?

[KwietStorm_BLM]

You don't say

[garos82]

dont care how popular digital sales get, i will stick to physical media thank you very much

[oguzsasi]

SANANE OĞLUM İSTER SEVERİM İSTER SEVMEM SAĞAMI SORACAM

[asapas8]

No, WE DON'T LIKE IT. This strategy is like pushing people to accept digital media. Some days ago, Valve came out to say that DON'T OWN the games you buy. Like we didn't know. There is absolutely no reason for Sony not to release a disc console. They push people who already own a physical collection to spend MORE money to be able to play on PS5 pro and this is pathetic to say at least.

Companies have turn gaming nowadays into thin air, where buying is not owning, just to save money.

Thus, we will support physical media, LIKE IT OR NOT

[BlackDoomAx]

It's just like anything else nowadays: taking the most possible profit, having the most control and pushing as far as they can without people going nuts.

[anast]

Like it or not game bloggers will never been on our side.

[DustMan]

So the OG ps5 could include a disk drive at it's launch price point. A console costing $300 dollars more just can't seem to make it cost efficient. GTFO.