With enhanced graphical prowess, the PS5 Pro ranks as the mostadvanced gaming consoleto date. While gamers would expect the system to include every possible perk, a missing disc drive is the glaring exception. Considering how accepted digital gaming has become, some observers wonder if Sony intends to drop support for physical media entirely.
Ultimately, gaming giants like Sony will do what is most profitable, but also can’t ignore consumer demand. Have preferences changed so much that players are willing to abandon collecting game discs? To find some clarity, it’s helpful to consider how Sony’s competitors are responding ahead of thePS5 Pro’s November 7th release date. The continued popularity of retro gaming could affect how these companies tackle the digital vs. disc debate.
Why a Disc-Less PS5 Pro is Causing Controversy
When thePS5 Pro’s pricewas confirmed to be $700, gamers' responses were overwhelmingly negative. Many critics immediately concluded that agaming PCprovided superior value. Then, Sony revealed that the PS5 Pro didn’t come with an optical drive or vertical stand, making its price tag even more extreme.
PlayStation 5 Pro
Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro is the mid-generation evolution of the PS5, one that comes with an improved GPU and 2TB of storage space. The graphics card is advertised to offer 67% more compute units than the base PS5, along with 28% faster memory. The PS5 Pro also uses AI to offer an enhanced resolution for 4K TV and Advanced Ray Tracing.The console does not come with a disc drive or a vertical stand, both of which are sold separately.
The lack of the $30 vertical stand may not be an issue for many gamers, but choosing not to include a disc drive is more significant. Fortunately, buyers can purchase one for $80 and attach it to the side of the PS5 Pro. However, it’s the first time Sony or Microsoft has released their most powerful console without a version that supports physical media. Was Sony simply the first willing to make the plunge to release a flagship all-digital console? Or was it a cost-saving measure to keep the price of an already expensive PS5 Pro from further spiraling out of control?
To answer why the PS5 Pro ditched the optical drive, Sony Senior Principal Project Manager Toshi Aoki tried to clear up the confusion. Aoki claimed the company’s priority was making thePS5 Pro as powerfulas possible, with boosted graphical performance and improved ray tracing. Sony’s modular optical drive allows buyers to add it to the PS5 Pro without ruining its look. On the other hand, it would have been virtually impossible to upgrade the console’s performance other than adding another SSD. Even so, this explanation is far from satisfactory to owners of PS5 discs hoping to boot them on Sony’s highest-end gaming system.
Sony might claim their decision gives players options, but it’s more likely based on profits. It’s easier to profit from selling games in an online marketplace without the costs of producing physical drives and media and then shipping discs globally. If the PS5 Pro proves successful, it will only encourage the company to focus on selling games on the PS Store and subscription services.
With Sony’s approach, buyers could expect more next-gen console makers to drop support for physical media. Still, not every manufacturer has given up on optical drives. The changing attitudes of consumers and console manufacturers toward physical media provide some clues as to when digital gaming will become mandatory.
How Microsoft and Nintendo are Preparing for Digital Consoles
It would have been less surprising if Microsoft announced a more powerful disc-less console. In fact, with the Xbox Series X Digital due out in mid-October, Microsoft’s premium console will have a digital-only format for the first time. Regardless, there are no performance upgrades like the PS5 Pro or reasons to switch to the Series X Digital other than a marginally lower asking price. Alongside this console, Microsoft is releasing a more expensive Series X with an optical drive and 2 TB of storage.
Xbox Series X Digital
The Xbox Series X Digital is the best way yet to play Microsoft’s extensive collection of Game Pass titles. In a distinctive robot white color, Microsoft’s flagship console has the same 4K gaming capabilities and supports 120 fps gameplay. The Xbox Series X digital ships with a blazingly fast 1 TB SSD to ensure gamers have plenty of space for digital downloads. With the console, buyers receive the versatile Xbox Wireless Controller with a dedicated Share Button to boast gameplay achievements.
Few details exist about a Series X successor, but insiders believe it will be a brand-new console rather than an upgrade. While the company is handling the transition to digital gaming differently than Sony, the next Xbox gaming system may very well come without an optical drive.
Nintendo’s next console, the Switch 2, will very likely still accept game cartridges.Nintendo patentsfiled in the past several years depict a slightly altered cartridge design and slot that may accept older media. That said, past leaks also point to Nintendo developing a digital Switch 2 that’s possibly cheaper than the standard version.
With Nintendo reinventing titles popular in the 1980s, the Switch remains the modern console of choice for many retro gamers. Consequently, the company may face a tougher battle in convincing this audience to stop collecting physical media and game cases. At the same time, the Switch also appeals to a young group of gamers accustomed to streaming content. The Nintendo eShop is gradually maturing, and gamers are increasingly likely to purchase digital titles.
How Are Buyers Reacting to the PS5 Pro?
Ifsales of the PS5 disc driveare an indication, not all consumers are ready to move on from physical media. Previously, the accessory allowed regretful buyers of the PS5 Slim Digital to later add the ability to play game discs. With the PS5 Pro, gamers with a large physical media collection have no choice but to purchase the $80 optical drive. It wasn’t until the announcement of Sony’s upcoming console that the disc drive sold out at most retailers.
Another conclusion can be drawn from the sudden surge in PS5 optical drive sales. Sony’s strategy of making the drive optional for the PS5 Pro is apparently working. Despite all the backlash about pricing, analysts are already projecting lifetimePS5 Pro salesjust under the mark set by the PS4 Pro.
Perhaps the PS5 Pro finding acceptance for going all-digital shouldn’t be so shocking. In 2023, 70 percent of PlayStation game sales were digital downloads, and that number continues to increase in 2024. Still, that doesn’t give a precise indication of how many gamers predominantly purchase titles digitally but still want the option to load physical media. The PS5 Pro provides that flexibility if buyers are willing to pay a premium.
Retro Gaming and the Decline of Game Discs
One of the biggest appeals of game discs, cartridges, and cases is their collectability. That’s a critical reason whyretro gaming consolesremain so popular. Since these gaming systems, like the Nintendo Super NES Classic, use emulation to play old titles instead of cartridges, they bring retro gaming into the digital age. With the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition, Sony is also looking to capitalize on this market.
Super NES Classic Edition Console
The Super NES Classic is a fun way to relive the nostalgia of Nintendo’s 16-bit glory days. This console comes preloaded with plenty of classic titles likeDonkey Kong Country,The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, andSuper Mario Kart. It also comes with an HDMI cable, a USB cable for charging, and two controllers that are highly responsive. One of the console’s most interesting offerings is the Rewind feature, which allows gamers to return a game to the point it was some seconds ago.
The PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition lacks an optical drive, but it does ship with a gray cover for one that matches the original PS1’s color scheme. The console can only play PS4 and PS5 media, even with the drive. As with the disc drive accessory, thisthrowback-style PS5 Pro sells outas soon as it’s restocked. Complete with a DualSense Edge and DualSense controller in the same gray color scheme, the 30th Anniversary Edition goes the extra mile to appeal to retro gamers.
Manufacturers are wooing the classic gaming crowd without relying on game discs. However, it’s not enough to appease this entire audience, so selling authentic consoles and games from the 1980s and beyond continues. Responding to declining physical media sales, GameStop recently announced that it would sell used consoles and games from these eras in stores.
Emulated classic games are not always a substitute for owning sealed copies of famous titles likeMike Tyson’s Punch-Outin excellent condition. Besides the monetary value of these items, owning a piece of video game history gives gamers a sense of nostalgia. Even so, buyers are conditioned to expect modern titles distributed in digital form.GameStop’s decision to sell retro gamesis a stopgap measure, and the retailer will need to do more to survive indefinitely. Other retail stores struggling is an inevitability, as publishers produce fewer modern games on discs and cartridges.
Are Digital Consoles Now a Fact of Life?
The PS5 Pro shipping without a disc drive is a significant step toward an all-digital gaming landscape. Nevertheless, gamers find themselves in a transitional phase where they still have choices. Sony may be the first company to ship its best console with an optional drive, but not all its competitors are following suit. Even though Microsoft will soon release the Xbox Series X Digital, they have no immediate plans to abandon disc-based gaming. Nintendo seems to agree with Microsoft’s stance, and at least one Switch 2 model will likely support cartridges.
Proving physical media isn’t dead is as simple as examining consumer habits. While most PlayStation game purchases now happen at the PS Store, there is a significant demand for the PS5 Pro’s modular drive. The accessory lets buyers play game discs and watch 4K Blu-rays instead of bandwidth-hogging streaming services.
The popularity of retro gaming also demonstrates gamers' reluctance to ditch physical media altogether. Sony tempts these players with the covetedPS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Bundle that scalpershave targeted, but it also lacks an optical drive. Taking a different approach, retailers like GameStop plan to increase the stock of collectible classic games and consoles.
It’s not unfathomable that other upcoming consoles will soon be incompatible with discs. Until then, gamers have the flexibility to purchase many titles digitally or store them safely on shelves.
FAQ
Q: Why is the PS5 Pro so expensive?
Even without a disc drive, the PS5 Pro shocked many gamers with its $700 price tag. Sony explained that the console’s high cost is due to a faster GPU and memory, which enable improved ray tracing and smoother, high refresh rate 4K gameplay.
Q: Is it better to get the disc or digital version of the PS5?
Although the PS5 Pro requires purchasing a disc drive separately, the PS5 Slim comes in versions with and without a built-in drive. Considering the $80 cost of the disc drive accessory, most gamers find PS5s that support physical media are the better value.
