Summary
ThePlayStation 5disc drive is back in stock at select U.S. retailers as of mid-January 2025. ButPS5owners may need to act fast because the device is unlikely to remain available for long, based on recent trends.
Released in 2020, the PS5 Digital Edition was the first Sony console to launch without an optical disc drive. Thediscless PS5 Pro followed suitfour years later. Both the mid-gen upgrade and the new Slim models are somewhat modular, allowing users to install a disc drive that they’ve purchased separately. Many PS5 owners eventually decided to do just that, at least in the United States, where Sony’s official attachment has been in short supply for months now.
And while thestateside shortages of the PS5 disc drive continue, some national retailers have seemingly managed to restock since the turn of the year. As of January 15, the attachment can be purchased from both Amazon U.S. and Sony’s own PlayStation Direct storefront for its regular MSRP of $79.99. Game Rant was also able to identify one third-party seller offering the device via Walmart. However, this reseller marked up the disc drive 50%, pricing it at $122. Additionally, they only have three more units left in stock as of this writing, so their offering is more of a last-resort option rather than a good opportunity to infuse one’s PS5 with the ability to read physical discs.
$79.99
Walmart (reseller)
$122
PlayStation Direct Limits PS5 Disc Drive Orders
Regarding Sony’s own digital storefront, PlayStation Direct limits PS5 disc drive orders to one per customer. The company has long employed this practice to combat scalpers targeting any of its products that are in high demand. E.g., thePlayStation Portal pre-orders were also limited to one per useron PS Direct, as were Sony’s 30th-anniversary consoles and accessories.
Thestateside disc drive shortage has been frustrating PS5 ownersfor months now. A similar phenomenon has also manifested in the United Kingdom since late 2024. The timing of these issues suggests that they are related to the PS5 Pro, which launched on November 7. Unlike the base PS5 model, its mid-gen upgrade cannot be purchased with a disc drive. As a result, anyone wanting the absolute best gaming experience that Sony’s ecosystem can currently offer while also insisting on being able to play physical media needs to buy the PS5 disc drive separately.
With the attachment still out of stock at Walmart, GameStop, and Best Buy, it’s clear that stateside shortages are far from over. However, it’s presently unclear how long they will persist.
PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition
The Sony PlayStation 5’s slim console upgrade offers the same functionality as the launch unit but throws in increased storage (1TB), an additional front USB-C port, and a much more compact frame, making for an ideal console purchase for users still on the fence.Priced $50 more than its digital edition, the disc edition already trades at a $50 discount over MSRP and comes with a Dualsense controller, an HDMI 2.1 cable, an AC power cable, and documentation as part of the package, making for a complete package for gamers looking to hook one up to a monitor or TV out of the box.
