New PS5 in black: Sony impresses with the design but disappoints with the details

Sony has officially unveiled a new PS5 Digital Edition in Midnight Black, adding a darker option to its PlayStation lineup. There's a catch, however: The console is exclusive to Japan. According to the announcement on the Japanese PlayStation Blog, it requires a Japanese-region PlayStation Network account and supports only Japanese language settings. In terms of hardware, it's a standard PS5 Digital Edition with an 825GB SSD. There are no performance upgrades or other technical improvements – the main attraction is the new look. The console launches on November 19 for 55,000 yen, or approximately $347.

Sony hasn't explained why it's introducing the new color variant now. The timing is notable, though: It arrives on the same day as Rockstar's highly anticipated open-world game GTA 6 (available for pre-order on Amazon). A matching Midnight Black disc drive will also go on sale on November 19 for 11,980 yen (around $76), allowing the otherwise digital-only console to play physical games.

Sony reiterates plans to phase out physical games

The announcement also reiterates Sony's previously announced shift toward digital-only releases – a move that's unlikely to sit well with fans who prefer physical games. The Japanese PlayStation website includes the following statement, translated into English:

New PlayStation games released from January 2028 onward will be available exclusively as digital downloads through the PlayStation Store and participating retailers. Physical games released before January 2028 will remain playable.

Fans love the look, but question the details

The Midnight Black design is getting plenty of praise in a recent Reddit thread. Several users are hoping for matching PS5 Pro covers, while others argue that the console should have been available in black from the start. The Japan-only release and pricing have sparked a separate discussion about regional differences. Some commenters point to the weak yen and lower purchasing power in Japan, while others argue that converting the price directly into US dollars doesn't tell the whole story. The lack of a built-in disc drive is another point of contention. One user says they'd rather keep their existing PS5 because it has a disc drive, prompting others to point out that Sony is also releasing a matching black drive as a separate accessory.