There's a lot to like about the PlayStation 5, but the Slim model has always come with one big caveat. Unlike the original model, PS5 Slims required Internet access to activate the disc drive. While this pairing is a one-time process, it's somewhat absurd to have a disc drive that's inoperable without an initial Internet connection.
That requirement now appears to have changed, as spotted by X user modyfikatorcasper. The latest PS5 Slim model available in stores comes with a disc drive that's been "factory-paired with the console." This won't make any difference for previously released PS5 Slims, but it should hopefully be the new standard going forward.
In addition to spotlighting the change, Modyfikatorcasper provides a few reference details. The latest model is the CFI-2116, and the factory firmware is 11.40. This, of course, only applies to the bundle that comes with a disc drive by default, and purchasing a Slim without a disc drive will still require pairing to add one.
This change effectively makes the PS5 Slim operate in the same way as the original PS5 model, which finalized its slow exit from stores sometime in 2024. The Slim also comes...
