A leak from a reputable insider claim that Sony is planning the announcement of a newPlayStationconsole for later this year, followed by its release a month later. That PlayStation 6 is certainly still years away, but an updated SKU for thePlayStation 5could be right around the corner. This latest leak revolves around the long-rumored PS5 Slim redesign, a digital console with an optional detachable disc drive sold separately. News regarding the console could arrive sooner than expected.Leaks regarding a PS5 Slim console with a detachable disc driveadd-on have been shared since around September 2022. There were rumors prior to that, of course, as Slim versions of PlayStation consoles have been released for every generation. But specifics regarding the PS5 Slim with a detachable disc drive are more recent. The leaks have gained significant credence in recent months, as legal documents from Microsoft’s FTC case regarding the acquisition of Activision Blizzard appeared to confirm the PS5 Slim news.RELATED:Sony Fan Builds PS5 SlimA new leak from XboxEra’s Shpeshal Nick bears even more specifics about the rumored release of the PS5 Slim. According to Nick, Sony’s current plans are for the PS5 Slim to be announced during an August PlayStation presentation. There has been speculation regarding a second summer PlayStation event due to fans feeling likeSony held back during its May event. This could be why, as Sony scheduled events with the reveal of a PS5 Slim in late summer in mind.
If Shpeshal Nick’s details are correct, that could mean that a PlayStation event in August would reveal the PS5 Slim’s price and release date just a month before its expected launch. The Microsoft documents indicated that thePS5 Slim would launch in Septemberwith a price point of $399.99.
The PS5 officially launched in 2020, so if the leak is accurate the PS5 Slim would release less than three years after the original console. As the price point suggests, the PS5 Slim would be less of a mid-generation upgrade than an iterative step forward for the console. At a price point of $399.99 the PS5 Slim would cost as much as thecurrent digital-only PS5 SKU, with no apparent improvements.
For those who have been planning to pick up a PlayStation 5 soon, it might be worth waiting until August or September to see if there’s news. At the very least, thePS5 Slim could be a visual improvementover the current large and awkwardly wavy PS5’s shape. The option of not having or upgrading to a PS5 disc drive is also alluring. If the leaks are true, expect the announcement of aPlayStationevent over the next several weeks.
MORE:Why a PS5 Slim and Pro are Just As Likely This Generation
