New PlayStation console coming this year, new documents suggest

We may have just got official confirmation about a brand new PlayStation console releasing this year thanks to Microsoft, of all companies.

Although it’s weird to be getting information about upcoming Sony hardware from its rival company, it feels like basically every major piece of gaming news lately has come to light thanks to Microsoft, or more specifically, its court battle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In an attempt to prove that the buyout going ahead wouldn’t put the company at an unfair market advantage, Microsoft has been submitting a whole load of evidence and documents as part of the trial, which has (perhaps inadvertently) pushed loads of previously unknown games industry information into the limelight.

Take a look at this awesome hydrodipped PS5 below.

Now, as Game Rant reports, it appears that one of these documents may have confirmed that the rumoured PlayStation 5 Slim is real, and that it’s releasing very soon. Specifically, a line from a new document reads: “PlayStation likewise sells a less expensive Digital Edition for $399.99, and is expected to release a PlayStation 5 Slim later this year at the same reduced price point.”

We’ve previously heard plenty of whispers about a PS5 with a detachable disc drive being in the works - prominent games industry insider Tom Henderson previously claimed that the unconfirmed console is expected to release in September 2023, so it could be that the PS5 Slim is actually the official name for that very console. If so, it's interesting that it'll apparently cost the same as a regular Digital Edition console.

At this point, Sony hasn’t given any official word on the detachable disc drive rumours, nor has it addressed the claim about the PS5 Slim from that aforementioned document. However, based on the evidence, it sounds like an announcement could be imminent, so watch this space.