Sony will likely continue the path it started a few years ago with the PlayStation 5.

November 7 will mark one year since the PlayStation 5 Pro hit store shelves, a mid-cycle refresh that signaled the halfway point of this console generation. The further we go into the PS5 lifecycle, the closer we get to the PlayStation 6. While most reports about the next-gen console remain speculation, Insider Gaming’s latest report sounds very plausible: the PlayStation 6 will launch with a detachable optical drive. (Naturally, this will be Blu-ray.)

Since 2023, PlayStation consoles have been available with removable disc drives, so it’s no surprise Sony would extend this approach to its next-generation system. Insider Gaming notes that aligning with existing manufacturing processes is one of the main reasons behind this decision. Like today’s PS5 models, the PlayStation 6 will be sold in two versions: one bundled with an optical drive and another without, with the option to buy the drive separately later.

Beyond production efficiency, there’s also the reality that Sony isn’t ready to go fully digital just yet. Rumors suggest the upcoming PlayStation handheld won’t include an optical drive — which makes sense, as it would add unnecessary bulk, and Sony is unlikely to revisit a UMD-style format. The fact that drives are already optional shows that PlayStation is gradually transitioning toward an all-digital future.

For now, gamers who value physical discs can still enjoy that option. It’s easy to see why: physical copies retain trade-in value and can be exchanged, while digital purchases lock you into the ecosystem with no such flexibility.

Source: WCCFTech, Insider Gaming