Is The New PS5 Slim's Internet-Dependent Blu-Ray Setup A Preservation Threat?

Sony Group Corp's (NYSE: SONY) upcoming smaller PlayStation 5 is set to feature a swappable disc drive, allowing users to connect or remove it as desired.

However, a new leak of the PS5 Slim's packaging reveals a surprising requirement for an internet connection during the initial setup of the Blu-Ray player, Kotaku reported.

Internet connection is required to pair Disc Drive and PS5 console upon setup, the disclaimer on the box says.

This unexpected requirement has raised concerns that the Blu-Ray player could become obsolete in the future, as it relies on internet connectivity for essential functions.

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The extent of this requirement is unclear; it remains uncertain whether the internet connection is needed only for the initial pairing or if it will be necessary every time the drive is reattached.

If the servers used for this pairing process are eventually taken offline, it could prevent new PS5s from reading discs, posing a significant challenge to video game preservation in an increasingly digital era.

This requirement may be related to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which prohibits the circumvention of technological measures controlling access to copyrighted content. While the law aims to prevent piracy, it has also been criticized for limiting right-to-repair efforts.

The PS5 slim is set to release on Nov. 8. The standard model is priced at $500 and the all-digital version at $450, while the standalone disc drive costs $80.

Sony has announced that the slim models will become the only option once the current stock of launch PS5 consoles is depleted.

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