I PlayStation 5 The Disc Drive has become a hot item after the unveiling of the PS5 Pro, but when it comes to the value that the peripheral provides, there is room for debate. The Disc Drive makes it possible to play physical games on other discless PS5 systems, including the upcoming PS5 Pro which is set to act as the console's mid-generation refresh. However, it's not cheap, and whether it's worth the investment can depend a lot on how someone plans to use it.
The PS5 was the first home console from Sony to be introduced with a digital option, and the split release model cost the version of the console with a disc drive higher than the version without it. When the updated version of the Slim was released, the disc drive became an external attachment rather than something built into the hardware design, making it possible to buy it separately or choose a bundle. The PS5 Pro has completely removed the bundle option, so buying a PS5 Disc Drive as an add-on will be the only way to play physical games on the system.
PS5 Disc Drive Is A Great Investment
Playing Physical Games Doesn't Come Cheap
There's no way around the fact that the PS5 Disc Drive isn't cheap, either the $79.99 asking price covers the $50 difference in price between the digital and disc drive systems for PS5 Slim. Given the context of 4K Blu-ray players, it's not a bad demand, and standalone players can be more expensive than that. Although digital and physical games generally provide the same experience in playback, 4K Blu-ray surpasses 4K broadcast quality by a wide margin, so its use for multimedia purposes should be considered.
When it comes to the PS5 Pro, there is no bulk option on the tablewhich worries sports fans who would like to get something of a deal. The digital-only console costs $699.99, which rises to about $780 after adding the Disc Drive. Anyone who already owns a Slim model with a Disc Drive can always upgrade to a PS5 Pro, though that may lower the Slim's resale value a bit.
As for the PS5 Pro, the fact that it doesn't come with a PS5 Disc Drive should be taken into account when evaluating the investment. Even those who plan to go digital, $700 is the maximum asking price for a console without a disk driveespecially considering the inevitable appearance of the PS6 in a few more years. The lack of a disc drive reflects Sony's push towards digital, so the PS6 may not come with a pre-installed disc drive, but at least it will be compatible with the next generation of games.
The PS5 Disc Drive Is Perfect For Game Fans
A Long Term Decision That Makes Sense
Despite the cost, investing $79.99 in a Disc Drive may be worth it in some cases. It is possible to save money by purchasing portable games that may return the investment. Physical sales are sometimes more intense than digital, especially considering the offers from second-hand hands, and buying physical copies also opens up the opportunity to resell games after playing and recoup a decent portion of the purchase cost.
There is also the question of longevity to consider, as physical games make a better bid for permanence than digital ones. While patches make internet connectivity useful for modern gaming, there's not much need to worry about the future when servers go down or licenses are revoked for the basic capacity of playing digital games. The odd caveat here is that the PS5 Disc Drive requires an internet connection to be set up, a frustrating requirement that didn't work on the original PS5 model.
For those who plan to buy a lot of digital games, however, getting a PS5 Disc Drive for a few physical games here and there is probably not worth it.. That money could easily go into another new AAA game or many cheaper titles instead. Anyone who has been using the discless version of the PS5 until now without any complaints can ignore the increased interest surrounding the PS5 Disc Drives, as nothing has changed except for the announcement PlayStation 5 Pro.