In the UK, You Can't Buy a PS5 Pro Disc Drive without Paying a Premium

Yea scalpers are scum. I've created an alert on Hotstock app to notify me when any store restocks it as the normal price.

I've seen a few on eBay here in the States for around $130 which is still too much to pay but wow, 400 quid is crazy. You'd think surely they'll replenish stock soon what with Christmas coming up.

Scalpers are seriously awful, a little bit of profit i could still understand. Hey, thats the game. But the nerve to ask those prices. All decency is lost to these people

And this is why the console itself should come with one or at the very least they should have held back stock on their own site, so anyone buying a Pro can add the disc drive to the transaction.

Luckily I saw this coming and secured my disc drive a while back

Scalpers are a cancerous blight that need to be removed

Such a shame, I knew the Pro wouldn't be scalped because of the price so I suppose they went for the next best thing - the disc drive, thankfully got mine as soon as it was announced but not fair on those that didn't

As I said in another article, I just tipped on the pro today. I learnt that the drives were gold dust very soon after that

I'm trying to buy one for 2 months, but it was not in stock anywhere for months and wont be available until at least December.

A solution would be to buy PS5 Slim (used one ideally) with the drive, take it out and sell the PS5 Slim without the drive. But not many PS5 Slim with drive on the market as well

Glad I got my daughters one for Christmas (@rrp) before the madness kicked in

Got mine from CEX using a voucher I already had. The extra £15 isn't too bad when u get a 2 year warranty. Though think they've now changed it to 5 years!

I would imagine this isn't a difficult component for them to have manufactured, so why it's so hard to secure one when two sku's require it is bizarre.

@get2sammyb I think they seriously underestimated the demand dir the disc drives. As it’s not good for accessory’s to accumulate in stock for any company. But I’m pleased that pro owners want the physical media.

@get2sammyb It's certainly helped with a buddy's impulse control - he was gonna walk in and buy a Pro at the weekend, but has a big ol' pile of discs, so he's sticking with his launch PS5 now.

He's probably atypical of a lot of Pro buyers, but I do wonder how many others this is putting off a sale.

@LogicStrikesAgain yea unfortunately there is no way to regulate this. As that would involve interference by the government or company. And we don’t need more oversight TBH. Sucks that there are those that seek to make a huge profit on every little thing because they are so money driven. Hopefully Sony has enough in production presently.

Doesn't impact me 😁😁😁

@Intr1n5ic I'd imagine most Slims sold have the disc drive included. The number of people buying a digital-only Slim, then going out to buy a disc drive isn't too big a number (and the number lost and then replaced to disc drive failure must be smaller again).

I always take stuff like this with a pinch of salt.... just because someone is trying their luck in selling it at that price doesn't mean anyone will actually buy it.... at least I would hope not anyway

It seems like everyone knew this would happen... Except Sony. Or just didn't care. For the payers indeed.

Every Walmart I’ve been to in my area of the US has multiple disc drives in stock at the actual stores.

Seems like they’re plentiful here, so at least Pro purchasers here won’t be screwed!

@get2sammyb Sony sell most of the stock to retailers so aim that request to them.

I would love a company like Sony to completely screw the scalpers one time by deliberately flooding the market with a load of stock they had been secretly holding back at a reduced price just so all the scalpers get stuck with hundreds or thousands of pounds of products that nobody needs. Not gonna happen but still....

Scalpers lower my opinion of humanity.

Let's not forget the lack-wits who pay through the nose to line the scalpers pockets. Without their support they'd have no reason to do it.

I bought a disc drive as soon as they announced the pro from Argos, they had loads in stock….day later all gone. Don’t know if I’ll end up using it, was going to give it to my wife to give me for Christmas

*in Europe and Oceania

New stock is due about the first of December 2024.
The USA PS Direct store is already restocked.

@MrPeanutbutterz Yeah probably, but they're still leaving money on the table by not ensuring it's availability for both.

@dskatter fancy shipping one over 😂

@OldGamer999 the US restock is what gives me hope that one will happen in EU soon.
Still, no Direct here means I'll have to hunt for one at retailers, who have also been raising the price.

I have to wait buying a Pro, because of this sh... I mostly buy physical so I actually couldn't play any games because the lack of disc drive. I think Sony should have paid more attention to manufacturing enough disc drives on launch... I hope it will be back in stock, at least on Sony direct, so I can get both.

This is entirely on Sony.

They have to produce more of these drives. They say they're offering a choice to their consumers : well, then, give them the option to buy it ! Produce more drives !

It's impossible to not suspect there's a clear intent, here, to force people to go full digital.

I know that the days of physical media are counted. I know. But as long as I'll have the option, I'll take that one. I'll take the disc, and the box. Even if the game is not entirely on disc, yeah, I know that, too.

And I'll do the same with movies. It's just my choice, the way I like to buy these things.

Personally, I was really lucky to get a drive at my local gameshop, the day I went to preorder the console itself. But I see on reddit all of these poor folks who won't be able to play their collection of games on their new console... because there's no drive available !

Not cool, Sony. Produce more drives, please. Give us a choice. At least for this gen, once more.

PS : oh, and DO NOT BUY FROM SCALPERS.

If no one buy from these guys, they just loose. Do not buy from them. Just wait, check and search. Good luck to you, pals...

One thing people are failing to realise about the disc drive is that buying one means your PS5 Pro is now a 4K Blu-Ray player which adds massive value just in itself. For £700 that’s the least you can ask, never mind having to pay £800 or even more if stock issues persist.

If people wait anf dont buy them from scalpers, then said scalpers will be stuck with the drives when Sony restocks - therefore they will lose money, and poetic justice will be served.

Got mine from Currys last month knowing this would happen

@get2sammyb I still think offering a “Pro” console without a disc drive is an insult as the know only enthusiasts will buy that console, so they know most people buying the Pro would also buy the disc drive and they couldn’t even bother to have it in stock…

And that my friends, is why you buy the disc drive early, thankfully not an issue to me, but I hope SONY get more stock out soon for those needing one last minute.

Sony should allow a External Blu-ray Drive to be enabled I mean c'mon SONY word on the street is there is more excitement for the Switch 2 get yur freaking act together fer gawds sake...stwpid fwlls.

Sony caries as much blame as the scalpers. They could easily tackle the problem, especially because they already sold the drives to scalpers, but they choose not to, because I believe it's both beneficial for scalpers and Sony.

@Bobobiwan

I think Sony just underestimated the number they needed, rather than any wilful act.

This will likely be because of few reasons including:

They know that far fewer physical copies of games are being sold now, but possibly didnt factor in purchasers historical physical collections for which they still require drives.

Some, and probably more than they thought, will buy the drive just to use their console as a blu-ray player.

Maybe there is a higher than the norm % of physical purchasers within the group that are interested in Pro.

@LowDefAl we all lose out to scalpers n piracy summit gotta change.

Wouldn't be an issue, if the premium console came with Disc Drive as part of it. This is an embarrassment.

The ps5 pro disc drive is available on PlayStation direct sites in the usa.sony is wrong for not including the disc on it.word up son

@ThroughTheIris56 Embarrassment is a bit far fetched, an annoyance maybe, but we do live in a digital age so you can't blame companies for moving away from a dying market (most sales are digital these days)

I myself am a disc collector but most of my friends only stick to digital and don't care for their drives, a sign of the times!

GAME in Eastleigh have them in stock at RRP behind the counter. They may not be online but worth checking physical locations. They are also available currently on the Argos website

@get2sammyb Is that not the figures that include Xbox? Which obviously sells less discs due to Game Pass mentality?

Sony clearly underestimated the demand, however let’s be clear the demand was from scalpers, otherwise it’s likely there would have been a few more available for those who want one. I’ve got plenty digital games to play so can wait to get one at RRP, I’m more annoyed the US has them in stock and the exchange rate makes them about £60….

Sony is leaving the European and UK in the dust they don't care about their biggest market. The part of the world that was always Playstation oriented.

@Centaured Just import it then

The price of some of the games Sony charge on the Playstation store compared to the physical version are absurd too.

@get2sammyb That sales data is firmly on new purchases only, it doesn't include second hand, of which there's still a fair few options in the UK for that. I mean, if it was genuinely doing so bad, you'd see places like CEX drastically lowering their used games sections, selling them for much lower, and offering much lower trade-in/buy prices, which simply isn't happening. The push to digital isn't because physical players are the minority, it's because there's big parts of physical sales that Sony don't get their hands on.

Even with new games, physical is always cheaper where I am, and not by a small amount either, new games are usually around £50, as opposed to £60-70 for the "Privilege of downloading a revokable licence for it". None of this is to do with a minority market, it's to do with a market Sony doesn't want to exist.

As for the scalped drives, I said as soon as they announced the Pro those drives were getting scalped, and here we are. They're going to be like this until at least after xmas now because Sony has always been atrocious with their restocks, and scalpers use bots to buy quicker than you ever could.

@siofwolves I think Linus posted a video comparing (in real depth) digital and physical. Apparently, the difference in prices is not that big at all, small even. The only way physical came out on top in the comparison is if you buy and sell every game. That might be an inconvenience and you don't really build a collection, but its one of the cheapest way to game.

I'll buy a PS5 Pro when it comes with the drive, otherwise they can go and get 🤬

Bought a disc drive when the Pro was announced just incase I decided to preorder cos I knew if I didn't I would just sell back at retail price.

Also had the idea I would just use the disc drive from my slim and just replace the cover with a digital one so two options.

The Disc drive will always be available just depends how much you need it right now.

I still don't understand why they didn't offer two options. It makes no sense.

@La_Kias argos is showing out of stock for me

As soon as it was announced it doesn't come with one, I ordered it that very day as I could see this happening. Glad I did or Thursday would be a lot less fun.

Does anyone know if a disc drive purchased in Europe will be compatible with a PS5 Pro purchased in the UK?

Managed to get one 3 weeks ago normal price. Ready to go on Thursday!

Got one from Argos yesterday no issues

@get2sammyb I know but people seem to want the option for the disc drive even if most won’t use it, that’s why still most sold consoles are with the disc drive included even if the digital edition is cheaper, and again, the Pro is geared towards enthusiasts which I bet are a good part of that 25% that still buy physical media.

My point is that the reason it’s not included is to intentionally squeeze another $80 from enthusiasts who went all the way to spend $700 in a console, as they knew this is precisely the audience that still values physical media; if it was the other way around we would’ve seen the Slim launching an only digital model with the disc drive sold separately but conveniently the only-digital model is the most expensive one.

Sony totally screw this up. They should have selled it with PS5 in the first place. Just bundle it

Makes it nearly, not really, as much as the pc I just built. Which also doesn't have an optical drive... 😂 but it does have f1 in vr via psvr2.

By the time all the scalping slows down it probably won't be long until the ps 6 is due. And then it'll start all over again. Some kind of legislation needs to be brought in ASAP.

This one's on Sony. They want their consumers to be 100% locked into their storefront, where they obviously set the prices and control discounts.

Pricing comparison of digital vs eBay physical:
Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut: £70 vs £32.99

HZD Complete: £45 for remaster as original was delisted vs £9.79 for PS4 + £10 upgrade if you wanted to

Spider-Man 2: £69.99 vs £30

@DonJorginho If scalpers are able to to do what they're doing, that means that there is demand for the disc drive. That means we're not in a "digital age" where no one wants physical media, because there is still an audience for physical games. It's hardly a Pro console when my PS5 slim can do more than it. Hell even my PS3 is more useful than it.

@nessisonett Yup, that's what I use by PS5 disc drive for, 4K movies. I moved over to buying games digitally many years ago, but 4K movies are the last physical media I still own due to their superior picture and sound quality (and the fragmented landscape of streaming services and their low bit rates drive me mad). The PS5's drive is a very capable 4K movie player indeed. Luckily I snapped up my drive attachment a while ago for normal price, before the stock shortage and scalper mayhem began...

No I'm not planning on getting a PS5 Pro and contributing to a serious problem

This is annoying, as Sony will see them selling for £200 and think it's fine to charge more going forward. £100 for a disc drive is already too much really.

As others have noted, this is clearly a case of Sony not making enough and trying to force the digital narrative, that 'everyone' is buying digital now.

The highest priced SOLD listing on eBay is £229, and most are below £200.

@ThroughTheIris56 Most sales in every region are digital, the outrage has all be online from hardcore gamers and scalpers scalp anything they feel will be scarce in supply, that’s what scalping is.

Check any sales chart data and look at the ratios, the fact consoles are leaning towards this option shows we are heading into a digital age, I never said I’m for it, I have a disc drive for my incoming pro, I like physical, sometimes digital is a better deal but that’s 1/10 times.

PS5 Slim also had a digital option, it’s just cheap enough that they can sell the disc drive with an optional SKU without losing too much money, one disc drive is all it takes to render the slim obsolete so I’m happy to do that if it means enjoying my time this generation.

@Old-Red Is it really Sony thats forcing the move to digital though? Of all media types, gaming is probably the last that even uses physical discs. Films and music are mostly streamed. And in the gaming space there are two platforms namely PC and Xbox who are already almost or entirely digital.

Seems like Sony isn't really forcing the move to digital, its just the way its been going.
Even though some here want a disc drive, i really dont think its indicative of the larger userbase. We’re a bit of a niche group anyway.

Atleast Sony is still releasing consoles with the option to attach disc drives. Xbox already releasing their adorably all digital consoles. Im very curious to see what Nintendo does with the Switch 2. If that console is all digital. Sony will be the last in the gaming space that hasn’t gone full digital, in a space where gaming is already the last of all media types to havent gone mostly digital.

It's probably more Sony underestimating how many people still want one rather than a forced attempt. There are many companies keen to see and accelerate the demise of physical, but Sony and Nintendo are two that seem happy to keep providing while the demand is there. Indeed, Nintendo could even be seen as actively defending physical.
It happens a lot with physical games too. Big releases completely unavailable physically in the first couple weeks because retailers massively underestimate the demand that still exists.

Tbh I saw this coming but I put off buying one until I had secured a Pro, by this time they'd all gone and haven't returned to stock since. I should've ordered one in advance in hindsight. My local Game store has told me stock is incoming on the 7th so there is still hope and perhaps all retailers will get stock on that day.

@DonJorginho I'm aware of the trends. That's largely happening because people are far less likely to buy a disc for F2P/live service/indie games. Plus the trend is not purely consumer driven, it's largely corporate driven due to how much they benefit from digital storefronts. If publishers put the same amount of effort into physical games as they did in the past (manuals, collectibles, entire game playing playable off the disc etc), the decline wouldn't be as fast. Furthermore, total game sales don't represent the number of gamers who have zero interest in physical. Like you I also buy physical games, but I also buy digital games which screws the figures a bit.

Regardless, if I was to "upgrade" it's likely I would lose the ability to play my best games. I'm not the only one in this boat, and on a console that's supposed to objectively better, that's really not good.

I’m gutted, trying to get a disc drive but can’t and won’t pay scalper prices, already a lot of money!!

PS direct had them as recently as Sunday here in the States. Being how optional of an item it is, just wait it out.

For me its 0 impact as I replaced my all digital launch ps5 with the pro(on the 7th), been all digital for a very long time.

Won't buy PS5 Pro until it is bundled with mechanic already.

@Medic_alert it was the Burnley store. Try Argos, I collected mine from the Argos in the Clitheroe Sainsbury's today

@carlos82 Sony dropped the ball as far as I'm concerned, it should have always been an bundle option. Don't take options away from your customers.

It's annoying because you can get a pro where ever which I'm slightly tempted to sell my ps5 and a few bits but it's impossible to get a disc drive so it's kind of pointless.

It's such Stupid idea for the pro console not to have a disc drive... But I suppose Sony needs to make back that concord money one way or another

@MrPeanutbutterz yup, i nearly hit the button on a pro earlier today until i couldnt find a drive. I bet its cost Sony a few sales and it stopped me from buying one thats for sure.

@Zemo55 I'm looking everywhere in warrington and online and they may as well be unicorns at the minute

Edit: just checked Clitheroe and they're all out of stock. You took the last one you monster.

I play digital only and the 2TB will be more than fine for me on the Pro, I am surprised SIE managed to overestimate stock for the Pro yet also underestimate the stock for the disc drive, reminds me of when the portal was out of stock for ages.

@Weebleman good! I'm glad! 😜😭😁

@Medic_alert so you're saying to go to a third party website to buy a discount? I obviously chose a few games instead of doing a long list, but yes you can wait for a sale and hope the prices drop low or you can buy physical significantly cheaper any time, resell if you'd like to recoup cost, and most importantly - you actually own it.

But if you want to defend Sony trying to have a monopoly over their games go ahead 🤷‍♂️

Same here in Italy and that's ***** disgusting. I want to buy a Pro but can't bc i can't find a SINGLE disc drive in all this fu**ing country. And Sony is totally silent. How tf is this even possibile?!

@Zemo55 you monster 😂

Do these even sell?

Scalpers aren't the problem. Sony created the scalper market and the people buying are feeding it.

If they were readily available, no scalping.

If people didn't buy them, no scalping.

If it was food or water I could understand the moral indignation. But someone buying a non-essential, luxury item and then selling it for a huge profit shouldn't cause anyone sleepless nights.

I doubt that will last long. I’m in the US right now and if anyone out there needs one then I will pick one up and you can buy it from me on eBay. I’ll sell it at cost plus shipping. Private message me if this madness continues over there. I f’n loath scalpers.

I was lucky to purchase the last disc drive my Walmart every other retailer is out of stock.

@siofwolves Absolutely.
I have the Pro on pre order and saw this fiasco with the disc drives.
I was contemplating going all digital and replacing my physical games with the digital ones.
First game I looked at was Spiderman 2. It is £69.99 on the PS Store. I would probably get £30 for my disc version if I sold it. That's a £40 loss to me straight away.

Should have picked one up then. They were still available days after the Pro announcement

I see in the image 30x have been sold. This is the problem, people still buy at ridiculous prices. They complain but don't actually boycott. Don't buy anything like this on Ebay or any marketplace, no matter the price, let them all drown in their stock which they can't sell. I want to see scalpers go into bankruptcy for not being able to sell anything.

@Medic_alert ok buddy lol you be happy getting ripped off and needing to troll other sites for discounts

They are in stock at argos right now! 🙄

@ItsAlwaysSunnyyy aren't those games constantly on sale, though?

I am surprised Sony did not go the whole hog and put online only because that's where we are going oh and you can bet your bottom dollar the monthly subscription to play online will double hell even triple maybe even quadruple who knows what Sony will be capable of they have shown no mercy in the past when it comes to greed from the player.

@Rich33 Good analysis, I agree with everything you wrote

But Sony has to say something about this, officially, I mean.

My local shop just told me that they may be able to order some more drives starting tomorrow, but that these will be exclusively available to people who bought the PRO ( in their store, off course).

I guess that's a start, if it confirms.

But scalpers have to be stopped, one way or another.

i won't buy a disc drive from ebay or second hand as the price is thrice as original price. It won't make me happier. I will wait for restock from video game store or direct playstation-- even though it take months. I can live with play digital games for a while. Plus I have original PS5, so I can play it with physical games. I may able to use PRO for self-boosting if you know what I am talking about.

I've got £800 sat here for PlayStation but as I can't get the disc drive for the Pro, it's staying with me.

@Bobobiwan
No argument there - Sony have been awful in their communication these last few years (PS5 Pro full Specs!) - and there have been several times they could have squashed sillyness with a simple communication eg here where a simple message detailing restocking dates could reassure people so they wait, leaving the scalpers with drives they cant easily get rid of (and therefore lose money).

In my territory, Sony's Distributor still has stock of disc-drives, but they're priced at a premium at around £136 / $170.

Still can't believe the PS5 Pro was built without a disc-drive...

Scalpers would exist if stupid people didn’t buy from them. Leave them to sit on a loss.