For the first time in history, Sony released 2 variants of its video game console with the PlayStation 5: a standard one, with a disc bay, and a digital one, without a bay but cheaper. However, it seems that the strategy is going to change and they are going to merge.
Tom Henderson, a well-known video game industry insider, published a rumor on Insider Gaming that would change the entire paradigm. Apparently, Sony is planning to release a new PlayStation 5 model, which will replace the current 2. Apparently, the new model will have basically the same internal components, but the difference is that the disk bay will be detachable and that it could have a slimmer and slimmer design.
Roughly speaking, it seems that the new PS5 will basically be a Digital PS5, which can be sold with or without the disk bay. The detachable disk bay would be connected by cable using an extra USB-C port that would be plugged into the back of the console.
The new PS5 with detachable bay could look something like this
The joke of this new version is that it will be easier for Sony to manufacture it, because it would only be a general model and a separate accessory, instead of 2 completely different manufacturing processes. In addition, users could decide if they want to buy the console alone (so that it is like the digital version) or also buy the disk bay (so that it is like the standard version). Also, if the disk bay breaks down, now changing it would be as easy as buying the replacement, instead of having to send the entire console to be fixed.
According to Henderson, Sony could start manufacturing the new PlayStation 5 model in the middle of the 2023 disc year and start marketing it in September of the same year. However, do not forget that at the moment all this is a simple rumor, at least until the company confirms or denies it.
