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Sony’s new PS5 heralds the end of disc drives

Start budgeting for separate disc drives.

It seems likely that Sony and Microsoft are testing the waters for going all-digital for the PlayStation 6 and the next-generation Xbox — or at least offering disc drives separately. Being able to run games from a disc matters if, say, PlayStation unexpectedly bans your account and blocks you from your library. For Xbox, at least, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently said the company’s strategy “does not hinge on people moving all-digital” and that “getting rid of physical” is “not a strategic thing for us.” On the other hand, Spencer noted that “a majority” of its customers are buying games digitally, so it might just be a matter of time.

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