Uh oh, the PS5 Slim's disc drive looks like it might require an internet connection to install

You might need to be connected to the internet in order to pair up the new PlayStation 5 disc drive add-on with the soon-to-be-released slim version of the console.

As spotted by Eurogamer, pictures of PS5 Slim boxes have begun popping up online ahead of its US launch, which is set for November, with some of these seemingly showing a rather concerning line printed on the side of the packaging. This little bit of fine print reads: “Internet connection required to pair Disc Drive and PS5 console upon setup.”

So, what could that mean? Well, potentially an end to your dreams of being able to play disc-based PS5 games on the slim without having to make sure you’ve got internet access during the set-up phase at least. While that wouldn’t be the end of the world, it’s not really ideal.

If the connection is required in order to allow the devices to contact some kind of authentication server for a security check aimed at verifying that you’re using official hardware, it might also lead to some annoying little issues down the line. We’ve all experienced what it’s like to try and play an online game when the servers are misbehaving or encountering issues or pick up an old title again only to discover that its online servers have been switched off and sent to the great retirement farm beyond.

Who knows what fun could be had in the future if it turns out you’ve got to be able to connect just to be able to hook up the hardware required to play your physical PS5 games?

That said, it seems unwise to rush to judgment too quickly, as Sony has yet to acknowledge the images or the unhappy responses they’ve been getting from some on social media. If it provides clarification or issues a statement, we’ll update this article as soon as possible.

Aside from being slightly less bulky than the PS5 model it's set to replace on shelves, while still packing 1 TB of storage, the Slim’s disc drive looks to be a big selling point, with its detachable nature allowing it to be sold separately or packaged in with the console.

Then again, it’s not all bad, as, unlike this bizarre custom Diablo-themed PC, the PS5 Slim isn’t infused with something resembling real human blood (as far as we know).