PS5/PS5 Pro Disc Drive Shortage Continues to Frustrate Gamers
The ongoing issue of the PS5/PS5 Pro disc drive shortage has left numerous players feeling frustrated and disappointed as they struggle to get their hands on the much-needed add-on. While the detachable standalone drive was initially introduced with the PS5 Slim, players who opted for the PS5 Pro are currently facing challenges in finding a disc drive to purchase.
Scalpers Shift Focus to Disc Drives Amid Shortage
The scarcity of PS5 disc drives appears to be a result of Sony’s own actions. The company’s official online store, PS Direct, frequently experiences stock shortages. As of now, both the U.S. and U.K. PS Direct stores are sold out of disc drives, with new stock disappearing rapidly upon restocking.
The situation is no better with third-party retailers, both physical and digital. Some players who were fortunate enough to secure a drive reveal that they had to consistently visit stores like Best Buy and Target in hopes of catching random stock drops. However, not every gamer has the luxury of being able to do so.
Capitalizing on the situation, scalpers quickly took notice of the trend. Following the full revelation of the PS5 Pro, with details such as pricing and the absence of a bundled disc drive, the add-on began to vanish from shelves and reappear on platforms like eBay. Instead of hoarding the Pro consoles, scalpers have shifted their focus to accumulating disc drives.
A quick search on eBay reveals numerous listings for the elusive drive, often priced at double the retail value.
The reasons behind Sony’s decision to produce the disc drives in limited quantities remain unclear. Surprisingly, the company has not issued any statement regarding the matter, despite the apology it previously extended for the PS5 shortage.