Summary
- Standalone PS5 disk drives are selling out online following the PS5 Pro's announcement.
- The disk drive lets PS5 Digital Edition owners play physical media on the system.
- Analysts predict the PS5 Pro will sell well despite controversies over its price and lack of a disc drive.
Sony’s standalone PlayStation 5 disk drive has been selling out online since the announcement of the PlayStation 5 Pro earlier this week. When the PlayStation 5 originally launched in 2020, it came in two different versions: a standard console with a built-in optical disk drive and a digital-only model that was offered at a somewhat lower price. Late last year, Sony released an attachable disk drive for the PS5 Digital Edition console, allowing gamers who initially picked up the disk-free version to play physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, Blu-ray discs, and DVDs on their system.
Interest in this separate PS5 disk drive was sure to increase following the recent reveal of the PlayStation 5 Pro console, which Sony finally unveiled after years of leaks, rumors, and speculation. While things seemed exciting for PlayStation fans at first, the PS5 Pro would spark multiple controversies due to its hefty $699.99 price tag and the fact that it will only be available without a built-in disk drive.
New PlayStation 5 Console Exclusive May Be Dead on Arrival
An upcoming PlayStation 5 console exclusive game is potentially dead on arrival when it launches next month.
Disappointed players have quickly noted that the last part can be remedied by purchasing the previously released PlayStation 5 disk drive, and it looks like a lot of people are picking one up ahead of the PS5 Pro’s November 7 release date. As reported by Push Square, the Disc Drive For PS5 Digital Edition Consoles has been selling out on outlets like Amazon and Best Buy ever since the PS5 Pro was announced, even becoming the eighth best-selling video game item on the former.
Digital-Only PS5 Pro Announcement Leads to Massive Spike In PS5 Disk Drive Sales
It can be guessed that this massive increase in PS5 disk drive sales is tied to the announcement of the long-awaited PS5 Pro being digital only, as the device will indeed be compatible with Sony’s upgraded console. However, this has only intensified the PS5 Pro’s price controversy, as the drive costs about $80 at most online retailers, meaning that players interested in a PS5 Pro will end up spending almost $800 off the bat if they wish to purchase and play games on traditional physical media.
Despite the growing controversies surrounding the PlayStation 5 Pro, analysts are already predicting that the system will sell almost as well as the older PlayStation 4 Pro model during its upcoming launch window. The PlayStation 5 Pro’s lack of a built-in physical disk drive option may be off-putting for gamers who prefer physical media to digital downloads, but at least there is a solution in the form of the existing PlayStation 5 disk drive – at least for those who can pick one up before stocks run out.
Sony's PlayStation 5 is part of the ninth console generation and debuted with a launch lineup that included Demon's Souls and Astro's Playroom. The console comes with a Blu-ray disc, although a digital-only edition is also available for a cheaper price.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info