The ongoing shortage of standalone PlayStation 5 disc drives continues to frustrate fans eager to get one for their PS5 Pro. In 2023, Sony introduced an attachable disc drive as a peripheral for its digital-only PS5 models. However, this accessory gained new significance following the announcement and release of the PS5 Pro in 2024. Since the updated PS5 is only offered without a physical disc drive, this previous accessory has become highly sought after by gamers looking to enhance their setup while keeping their physical game collection.
Since the launch of the PS5 Pro in November 2024, the demand for the PS5 disc drive has surged, leading to a shortage of the product. PlayStation’s own PS Direct website has been having a tough time keeping up with the demand. In places like the UK, scalpers are buying up the PS5 drives and reselling them at much higher prices, reminiscent of the situation during the initial release of the PlayStation 5 in 2020. This spike in resale prices has been frustrating for gamers who want to buy one, especially since the PS5 Pro consoles themselves are already quite expensive.
It seems that the situation isn’t improving anytime soon. According to PlayStation Lifestyle, the shortage of PS5 disc drives is still a reality. Both the US and UK PS Direct stores are currently out of stock, and whenever new drives arrive, they vanish quickly. While some lucky gamers have managed to snag PS5 disc drives from third-party retailers like Best Buy and Target during surprise restocks, many others are still left empty-handed.
PS5 Disc Drive Shortage Continues
Earlier, we pointed out that scalpers quickly tapped into the rising demand for the PS5 disc drive, intended for use with the disc-less PS5 Pro. Rather than hoarding the console, they chose to stock up on the drive. Fans are puzzled by Sony’s silence on the ongoing shortage, especially considering the company’s efforts to sustain PS5 production throughout the height of the 2020 pandemic.