According to senior games industry insider Tom Henderson, a new PS5 model is in the works, but its key new feature will be incompatible with older consoles.
Henderson claimed last year (via Insider Gaming) that a new PS5 would be released in September 2023. Although the console would reportedly share the same hardware as existing models, it will include a detachable disc drive that will connect to the console via an extra USB-C port around the back, out of sight. If you want the console to be thinner, you can remove it entirely.
Henderson indicated that the new console will be offered with or without the detachable disc drive, and that disc drives will also be available separately. According to PlayStation Universe, the insider recently added on Twitter that the disc drive “likely won’t be compatible with the current digital version,” which means that if you already own the original model, you won’t be able to upgrade it using the new technology.
A small update here:
– Doesn't seem like there are any major hardware changes from the original console.
– Disc Drive likely won't be compatible with the current digital versionhttps://t.co/2rzlDrjYAb
— Tom Henderson (@_Tom_Henderson_) January 13, 2023Obviously, if you own a Disc Edition PS5, this will have no effect on you. However, if Sony has gone out of its way to ensure that existing Digital Edition owners are unable to upgrade their console without purchasing a brand new one, then the existence of the removable disc drive will undoubtedly be contested.
At the time of writing, neither the new PS5 nor the detachable disc drive has been verified by Sony, but assuming Henderson’s assertion regarding its rumored release date is correct, we shouldn’t have to wait long to find out. You might want to wait till we know for sure what’s going on before purchasing a Digital Edition PS5.
