Sony is not known for making the most sensible or popular moves with its hardware. In the past, they have removed features from their consoles once released in new models, and sometimes these new models have been inferior to the older ones. It’s a common occurrence with the Japanese company, which is why when they announce a revision of their consoles, it is always met with skepticism and caution. Something that doesn’t seem to be different with PlayStation 5 Slim.
According to images published on the Internet depicting the initial setup process of the new PlayStation 5, popularly referred to as PlayStation 5 Slim, it has been confirmed that it would require an internet connection to activate the disc reader. Initially, this would only need to be done once, registering the reader with the motherboard it is connected to. Speculations suggest that the reasons for this requirement could be to comply with the regulations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the United States.
What’s surprising is that this requirement applies not only to the digital model but also to the version with a disc reader, effectively rendering the console useless until it is connected to the Internet, at least once. This could pose significant issues for users.
Indeed, many users on the Internet have already lamented that this is a severe blow to preservation efforts, as well as a significant attack against consumer rights. To activate the new PlayStation 5 consoles, not only will an internet connection be required, but Sony’s servers must also be operational. There is no assurance that this will continue to be the case in the coming years, let alone decades. Not to mention the probable scenario of a temporary outage that could last hours or even days, rendering a newly purchased PlayStation 5 useless.
If confirmed, these are terrible news for all consumers and a user-unfriendly move that, while not unprecedented for Sony, demonstrates a complete lack of consideration for their customers.
