While the newer and slimmer PlayStation 5 consoles are yet to be on the market, images of the Modern Warfare III PS5 Slim Bundle are surfacing online. The box of Call of Duty Modern Warfare III PS5 Slim Bundle consists of more details on the upcoming PlayStation 5 Slim, including the setup of the Disc Drive and the console. The box reads, "Internet connection required to pair Disc Drive and PS5 console upon setup." When the fans on Twitter spotted the instruction text, it raised many concerns amongst the gamers.
Reacting to the requirements of pairing the Disc Drive and PS5 Slim, one of the Twitter users wrote, "Wait…..are you actually trying to say to me that the PlayStation 5 Optional Disc Drive has ONLINE DRM??!!" while another one question "I know it's detachable but why does it need an internet connection?"
Internet Requirement To Connect Disc Drive And PlayStation 5 Slim Raises Concerns
The newer PlayStation 5 are said to be smaller than their predecessors. Sony claims to reduce the console's volume by more than 30%, and PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition will see 18% and 24% in weight compared to the previous models, respectively. The PS5 Digital Edition is priced at $ 449.99, while the Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive will be sold separately for $ 79.99. Talking about the changes in the newer generation of PS5, Sony says:
To address the evolving needs of players, our engineering and design teams collaborated on a new form factor that provides greater choice and flexibility. The same technology features that make PS5 the best to play are packed into a smaller form factor, along with an attachable Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive and a 1TB SSD for more internal storage.
With the addition of an attachable Disc Drive, players will require an active internet connection to set up the drive with their PS5. Since the Disc Drive is costly, a third-party vendor can create a more affordable disc drive. By introducing additional internet connection prerequisites, Sony can ensure that the players use the official disc drive without worrying about vendors making a cheap knockoff disc drive. Fans have shown concern regarding the setup instructions, claiming it to be "very strange." The requirement of an internet connection will mean that one will be dependent on servers for hardware connectivity. While it might work well in the shorter run, fans are questioning the availability of the servers that will be required for the connection.
The slimmer PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition will be first available in November 2023 in the U.S., and Sony will later roll out the consoles for the rest of the world.