The PS6 could arrive without a built-in disc drive, and while that may frustrate players who still prefer physical games, the move could help Sony avoid an even bigger problem: an extremely expensive next-generation console.
Industry analyst Piers Harding-Rolls believes rising component costs could push the PS6 towards the $1,000 (£733) mark, a price that would put the machine out of reach for many potential buyers. His argument is that going all-digital could give Sony more room to subsidise the hardware through game sales and PlayStation Plus subscriptions.
Sony has not announced the PS6's final price or specifications, but the company's move away from physical game discs has already fuelled speculation about what its next console will look like. With digital sales accounting for nearly 80% of PlayStation game sales in 2025, the shift is already well established.
Why Sony Could Drop the Disc Drive
Harding-Rolls, Head of Games Research at Ampere Analysis, believes removing the disc drive makes financial sense as Sony prepares for its next console generation. Physical games require manufacturing, packaging, distribution and retail, meaning some of the money generated by each sale goes towards costs outside Sony's digital ecosystem.
Digital purchases work differently. Games sold through the PlayStation Store keep more revenue within Sony's platform, while the company also benefits from its control over the digital storefront. Harding-Rolls has argued that removing physical games could therefore help offset some of the pressures facing the console business.
Sony's own sales figures show why such a strategy is becoming easier to justify. According to figures cited by GameSpot, digital games represented around 13% of PlayStation game sales when the PS4 launched in 2013. By 2025, that figure had climbed to about 80%.
Sony has also already moved towards consoles where the disc drive is optional. The PS5 Pro launched without a built-in drive, with an external drive available separately.
Harding-Rolls has suggested the PS6 could follow a similar approach, allowing Sony to sell an optional drive for people who still want to use physical PS4 and PS5 games.
The $1,000 PS6 Problem
The bigger issue is not simply whether Sony wants to abandon discs. It is whether the company can afford to sell a powerful next-generation console at a price that ordinary players will accept.
Memory and storage costs have reportedly become a concern because of increased demand from AI data centres. Harding-Rolls has warned that the console industry is facing rising component costs, with a $1,000 (£733) machine potentially limiting the size of its audience considerably.
The removal of a disc drive would only provide a relatively small saving on the hardware itself. The more important advantage could come from what happens after the console is sold. Every digital game purchase and PlayStation Plus subscription gives Sony another opportunity to generate revenue from the same customer.
That would continue a strategy Sony has used before. The company previously sold PS5 hardware at a loss, helping to build a larger installed base and generate money through games and services over the console's lifetime.
Sony has not confirmed that the PS6 will cost $1,000 (£733), and it has not officially revealed the console's specifications or launch price.
However, the company has announced that it will stop producing physical PlayStation games for new releases from January 2028, adding weight to expectations that the next generation could be designed around digital distribution.
Harding-Rolls currently expects the PS6 to launch towards the end of 2028, while some reports say that the base model will not include a physical media drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why might the PS6 not have a built-in disc drive?Removing the disc drive could help Sony reduce costs and focus on digital sales, which are more profitable.
- What are the potential benefits of an all-digital PS6 for Sony?An all-digital PS6 could allow Sony to subsidize hardware costs through game sales and subscriptions, keeping more revenue within its digital ecosystem.
- What challenges does Sony face with the PS6 pricing?Rising component costs could push the PS6 price towards $1,000, potentially limiting its audience.
- When is the PS6 expected to launch?The PS6 is expected to launch towards the end of 2028.
