SonicKitsune

If what I've heard about the new "slim" PS5 disc drive attachment needing internet to install on a digital only console is true, this makes me wonder if the disc ready version of the new design requires internet to even boot up the first time, since that seems to be effectively those two things pre-combined. (Update: Found more photos that imply this is the case to use the pre-installed disc drive. Nice work, Sony.) Or is needing a connection to boot up and use a console anything new here? Not having played a PS5 I don't know and I've been getting consoles secondhand since last generation. Either way it's a piracy-paranoid move as usual from a company that previously put out that disc-sharing video when the PS4 was new.

Also the new version disc console apparently being bundled with what looks to be a download code for the latest Call of Duty, a series that has been noted to have its disc versions not even contain any game as of the last several entries at least and needing the whole big-ass download either way, just seems increasingly ironic in terms of the point of physical media-capable consoles. Not that anyone has to use the disc drive, but it does cost extra.

It seems way too early for any raytracing console manufacturer to be making a "slim" version of a current model. Usually when that happens it's when the console has an established library of dedicated killer apps that potentially make the plunge worth it that aren't largely remasters, and also it's not more expensive for the smaller model. The consoles from both sides only "launched" almost 3 years ago and they didn't even properly launch until at least a year after once more than 5 people could actually own one to play instead of resell at 10000% markup. However this does line up with the leaked Xbox documents and their supposedly outdated strategy so it's not exactly surprising, but it still feels really soon. Also I haven't bought a console new and not secondhand since the Wii U, so it's not like my reluctance to buy a console full price is anything new either. And the Wii U was on discount.