PS5’s detachable disc drive can reportedly be swapped between machines easily

A new video has shown a user swapping a registered PS5 detachable disc drive between consoles.

Posted to YouTube by Mystic, if a player finds themselves in a situation wherein they have two detachable disc drives and want to swap them between PS5 systems, the system can quickly register the new drive, quelling fears that the drives may be locked to one system.

Instead, the drives seem to operate more closely to a peripheral such as a controller. If a player resets their PS5 with a detachable disc drive, the system will have to connect online again in order to register it, but once the drive has been registered once, it can be used offline again without issue.

However, should a player start up the new PS5 without an internet connection, the disc drive will refuse to accept discs, and since no games can be downloaded without a connection, will essentially be useless.

Because new PS5s will require an internet connection for verification, there will potentially come a time when the servers needed to verify the license will no longer be operational.

It’s possible that by the time this happens, Sony will release an update that removes the requirement, and in any case, it’s likely to be many years in the future, long after the PS5 is Sony’s main console.

The online check-in is likely due to compliance with the DMCA for Blu-Ray players to ensure official hardware.

Launch PlayStation 5 hardware can be set up without an internet connection, compared to Xbox Series X, which cannot.

Sony’s new PlayStation 5 model launched on November 10 in the US. It’s planned to roll out elsewhere in the coming months. The new model will come with 1TB storage for both editions.

Unlike the current model, those who purchase the PS5 Digital Edition will be able to add a Blu-ray disc drive later, as it will also be sold separately for $79.99 / €119.99 / £99.99.

A horizontal stand will be included with the new PS5 model. Also a new Vertical Stand compatible with all PS5 models will be sold separately for $29.99 / €29.99 / £24.99.

Once inventory of the current PS5 model has sold out, the new model will become the only one available.