Earlier this month, Sony revealed new slim models of its PlayStation 5 hardware. Both the disc drive and digital model are getting upgrades, but alongside this news, the company also revealed a new detachable disc drive. This optional drive can be added to a new slim model of the digital PS5, turning it into a console that can use discs. It seems this drive will require an internet connection to use, however. 

Some images of a potentially upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III slim PS5 bundle have leaked online (thanks, CharlierIntel) and in the small text on the box, it says, “Internet connection required to pair Disc Drive and PS5 console upon startup.”

Hey, @PlayStation & @cerny, we need to talk!

Internet to install the detachable disc drive for PS5 Slim is a huge blow to preservation and right to repair. Quite frankly, it’s unacceptable!

This plus the soldered-on SSD make the PS5 a timebomb from a preservation perspective. https://t.co/GacpULuDu0 pic.twitter.com/IIF1iB2zgV

— Does it play? (@DoesItPlay1) October 25, 2023

Understandably, many players and video game preservationists aren’t enthused about the online requirement as there could come a day when the servers the console and disc drive attach to are offline, making the optional accessory useless. Given the text on the box, it sounds like the internet connection is a one-time thing, only needed to pair the disc drive with the console, but it’s unclear if it’s required after that. 

Game Informer has reached out to PlayStation to ask about the internet connection requirement and if a connection is required beyond initial setup; we will update this story if we learn more. 

The same leaked images that you can see above also point to an unannounced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III slim PS5 bundle that comes with the console, a DualSense controller, and the game.

For more, catch up on all the biggest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III news from a recent COD Next livestream, and then read about how Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III won’t come to Xbox Game Pass this year, even after Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard earlier this month.

What do you think about this disc drive requiring an internet connection? Let us know in the comments below!