Last week, the press reported that Microsoft expects Sony to release a revised Slim model of the PlayStation 5 along with the already announced Project Q handheld, with the documents even mentioning a Pro model. While confirming nothing, Microsoft’s expectations are in line with rumours that continue to persist, suggesting that Sony is looking to reshape its hardware line-up this year and moving into 2024. So what should we expect?
What’s not clear is whether Microsoft genuinely believes these products are coming or whether the expectation is based on continued speculation surrounding reports that initially emerged from Insider Gaming (though in fairness, Insider Gaming did correctly predict the announcement of a new handheld streaming-based PlayStation). If its sources remain on the money, the PS5 Slim looks to use the existing components but within a new ‘d-chassis’ that features an detachable (optional?) optical drive. Quite how this concept translates into a retail product remains to be seen, but on the DF team, I think it’s an interesting idea while John Linneman sees the idea of a detachable drive as taking us one step closer to the end of physical media in the console space.
From my point of view, I would not be surprised if a new process node enables Sony to reduce the size of the PS5 processor still further, making for a smaller box requiring a less expensive cooling solution. The smaller footprint allows for a number of wins, right down to packaging size and reduced shipping costs. However, the notion of making the optical drive an optional extra is intriguign. Right now, with disc and digital models, Sony has to choose between dividing components between those two SKUs. By making the disc drive detachable/optional, production can be centralised into just one PS5 and from there, the platform holder can divide up the units more easily between a base, disc-less model or else add in the drive for a more expensive version. What’s up in the air is whether the idea of two SKUs will continue – or whether the optical drive becomes entirely an optional extra.