Sony’s new PS5 with a removable disc drive will apparently need an internet connection to initially pair the disc drive with the console. It’s an odd move that has some consumers scratching their heads. While simultaneously upsetting others with claims that this will be hurtful to overall game preservation for Sony’s 5th generation PlayStation. Details about this trait come from a tweet on X from CharlieINTEL. The account is dedicated to all things Call of Duty and had recently tweeted out leaked images of an upcoming Modern Warfare III bundle for the PS5 refresh. On the back of the box are details of the internet requirement for the disc drive pairing.
The new PS5 will only need internet to pair the disc drive once
To be clear, it doesn’t seem like you’ll need internet at all times to use the drive. Just to pair it with the console the very first time you boot it up. That isn’t to excuse Sony’s decision. As some feel it shouldn’t be part of the console refresh at all. It’s a choice that consumers aren’t happy with due to worries that Sony could shut down servers used to verify the drive. Even if that time might be far in the future.
Sony hasn’t confirmed any reasons for this decision yet. But Video Games Chronicle points out that it may be to prevent users from modifying the drive in any way or from doing third-party repairs on it. If that’s the case then this may partly be a measure to ensure users can’t modify the disc drive to read pirated software. Specifically pirated versions of PS5 games.
Even if that’s an understandable reason to do so, some consumers are hoping Sony changes this before the console launches. Sony will release the refreshed PS5 consoles on November 10 in the US with the Disc edition coming in at $499, and the Digital edition coming in at $449.
