Photos confirm internet requirement to link disk drive to new PS5 models

New PlayStation 5 models are set to release this month, as confirmed by recent online images. A noteworthy feature is the necessity for the console and the disk drive to connect online at least once for synchronization. This requirement applies both to models that come with the disk drive and those without, which can have the disk drive purchased separately.

This online verification rule regarding the console's disk drive has caused some controversy among gamers. This is mainly due to concerns regarding game preservation; for instance, if Sony decided to take the approval servers offline after a couple of decades, what would happen to the consoles?

Some speculate that Sony might release a patch before then to remove this online requirement, but Sony has not issued any official communication on the subject so far. These new PS5 models, 30% smaller and with 1 terabyte storage capacity, are scheduled to replace the current versions on the market.