PS5 Slim Reportedly Requires Internet Connection to Pair Its Detachable Disc Drive

It’s unclear whether it’s simply a one-time pairing setup or if the process has to be repeated every time the drive is removed and re-attached.

Written by Rahul Chettiyar, Edited by Manas Mitul | Updated: 26 October 2023 15:26 IST

PS5 Slim Reportedly Requires Internet Connection to Pair Its Detachable Disc Drive

Photo Credit: Sony PlayStation

The PS5 Slim will be available in both Digital and disc variants

Highlights

The online verification could be needed by Section 1201 of the DMCA Act
Server takedowns in the future could pose problems when accessing games
The mid-gen refresh for PS5 makes it 30 percent smaller than base version

Sony's slimmer and revamped PS5 console will reportedly need an online connection to set up its removable disc drive. As images of the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 console bundle, slated for release on November 10, started popping up online, fans have spotted an interesting detail at the back of the box. First reported by the ‘Does it Play' Twitter account, the disclaimer reads: “Internet connection required to pair Disc Drive and PS5 console upon setup” — it's not clear whether it's simply for the initial setup or whether the process has to be repeated every time the drive is removed and attached back.

As per a VGC report, Sony might be required to do an online check-in for verification purposes due to Section 1201 of the DMCA Act, which helps prevent piracy and third-party modifications. This ensures that the detachable disc drive is an official peripheral — whose daughterboard will pair with the PS5 console motherboard. While not explicitly mentioned, upon switching to a new disc drive, players might get asked to pair the two devices again, so a new digital handshake is formed. Game preservationists online have begun raising concerns about servers being offline during the pairing process. Of course, that's not an issue now, but if Sony's servers dedicated toward pairing and verification are taken down years ahead, players won't be able to use their physical media.

Hey, @PlayStation & @cerny, we need to talk!

Internet to install the detachable disc drive for PS5 Slim is a huge blow to preservation and right to repair. Quite frankly, it's unacceptable!

This plus the soldered-on SSD make the PS5 a timebomb from a preservation perspective. https://t.co/GacpULuDu0 pic.twitter.com/IIF1iB2zgV
— Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1) October 25, 2023

Bear in mind that the aforementioned check will be performed regardless of whether you bought a 4K Blu-ray-equipped PS5 Slim or a Digital one and add a drive later down the line. Hopefully, Sony will update its terms to avoid the online connectivity stipulation in the future. An Xbox leak from September revealed Microsoft's plans to release a mid-gen refresh for its Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, both of which boast an all-digital make that signals a massive departure from physical media on the consoles. Sony has yet to clarify the reasoning for an internet connection, in addition to dropping an official release date for the PS5 slim. That said, reports from earlier this month suggested that the 30 percent smaller variant will launch November 10 in the US, with a Spider-Man 2 bundle releasing two days prior.

The new PS5 slim (disc edition) is priced at $499.99 (about Rs. 41,599) — the same price as the original launched in 2020 — but comes with an upgraded 1TB SSD instead of the 825GB one. The remaining hardware stays identical, but the outer faceplate now features a black streak running horizontally. The upper half has a glossy finish, while the lower side of the console comes with the disc drive, officially branded by PlayStation. The Digital Edition is exactly the same, except for the lack of a disc drive, which can be purchased separately from authorised retailers. The PS5 slim Digital Edition is priced higher than the original version, going up from $399 (about Rs. 33,190) to $449.99 (about Rs. 37,440).

What are the most exciting titles that gamers can look forward to in 2023? We discuss some of our favourites on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Sony PlayStation 5

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Good
DualSense is great
Very powerful
Reduced loading times
Friendlier storage expansion
Capable of 8K / 120fps
4K Blu-ray player (finally)

Bad
Expensive
Lack of truly next-gen exclusives
Not a generation leap over PS4 Pro at launch
Game prices now go up to Rs. 5,000
Missing next-gen upgrades for PS4 games
No "Quick Resume", as on Xbox Series X
Limited backward compatibility
No support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
SSD storage amount is restrictive

Read detailed Sony PlayStation 5 review

HDD 825GB PCie Gen 4 NVMe SSD

Processor Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.5GHz with SMT

Graphics Custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU 36 CUs @ 2.23GHz (variable frequency)

RAM 16GB GDDR6

USB 4

Weight 4.5kg

Ethernet Gigabit

More Sony Gaming Consoles

Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition

KEY SPECS
NEWS

HDD 825GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD

Processor Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU @ 3.5GHz with SMT

Graphics Custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU 36 CUs @ 2.23GHz

RAM 16GB GDDR6

More Sony Gaming Consoles

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: ps5, ps5 slim, ps5 slim disc drive, ps5 slim disc drive online connection, ps5 slim release date, ps5 slim price, ps5 slim specs, ps5 slim pairing, playstation, sony