While the PS5 Pro is a $700 console for hardcore PlayStation gamers, it doesn’t come with a disc drive — that’s an $80 accessory. According to Sony, this is out of an altruistic desire to make sure gamers like you have more options.
The decision not to include a disc drive with the Pro is about “giving gamers options,” says senior product manager Toshi Aoki. IGN“With PS5 Pro, we’re bringing all these new technical innovations, adding a 2TB SSD, and Wi-Fi 7,” Aoki says. “For the disc drive, it’s a choice for gamers. Not all gamers have discs, although most gamers might have them… but we have the option to add that for those gamers. So I think it’s more about the balance of the value proposition that we’re offering.”
There’s a lot to unpack here. First, acknowledge that “most gamers” already own a collection of physical PS5 games. Many PS5 Pro gamers will likely upgrade from the standard console, and for anyone who already owns disc games, getting a disc drive isn’t a “choice” — it’s a tax.
The concept of “value proposition” seems to come pretty close to the obvious reason behind all this: if the PS5 Pro came with a disc drive, it would probably cost more than its $700 price tag. But given that these drives are still in stock even before PS5 Pro pre-orders go live, it seems like early adopters are already committed to paying for the disc. If we’re all paying $800+ anyway, why should we bother finding and installing an extra accessory?
here Where to pre-order the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection and Where to buy PS5 disc drive.
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