Sony Quietly Reduces PS5 Slim Storage in Europe, Offers Less for the Same Price
2025-10-01
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In a move that has raised eyebrows across European markets, Sony has begun quietly circulating a new PlayStation 5 Digital Edition bundle that features a significant and unannounced downgrade in its core specifications. The new package, which includes two DualSense controllers, ships with a smaller 825GB SSD, a clear reduction from the 1TB of storage that was a key selling point of the new "slim" console generation.
This is not a simple variation; it is a regression. By reverting the console's storage capacity to that of the original 2020 launch model, Sony is effectively offering consumers less value for their money. Despite the roughly 175GB reduction in usable space, the bundle's price remains unchanged, creating a situation where a downgraded product is being sold at the same premium. The quiet nature of this rollout has fueled criticism that the company is eroding its own value proposition without transparency.
A Step Back in Storage
The new bundle has been spotted by consumers in European countries, including France and Spain, as confirmed by reports from both GameSpot and Eurogamer. The package contains a PS5 Digital Edition "slim" console and two controllers for a recommended retail price of €450. On the surface, it appears to be a standard offering. The critical difference, however, lies inside the machine.
When Sony introduced the redesigned "slim" PS5 models, the upgrade to a full 1TB SSD was a welcome improvement over the 825GB drive found in the launch-era consoles. This new bundle reverses that progress. By reintroducing the smaller 825GB SSD into the "slim" chassis, Sony has created a less capable version of its new hardware. Yet, as reports confirm, the price has not been adjusted to reflect this diminished specification. Customers are being asked to pay the same €450 for a console with tangibly less storage for their games.
A Question of Transparency
The lack of any official announcement from Sony has led to a decidedly negative perception of the move. With modern game install sizes frequently exceeding 100GB, a 175GB reduction in storage is a significant loss of utility for players. The prevailing sentiment, as framed by initial reports, is that this is an anti-consumer decision, driven by a desire to offload older component stock without alerting the customer base.
This silent hardware revision has been interpreted by many as a surreptitious attempt to clear out its remaining inventory of 825GB SSDs by packaging them in the newer, more desirable "slim" form factor. By failing to communicate the change or offer a corresponding price drop, Sony has left itself open to accusations that it is prioritizing inventory management over consumer trust, hoping the discrepancy would go largely unnoticed at the point of sale.
The Unanswered Questions
This entire situation is defined by an information vacuum left by Sony's silence. With no official statement or explanation from the company, several critical questions remain unanswered. It is currently unconfirmed whether this 825GB "slim" model is part of a limited-run bundle designed solely to clear old stock, or if it represents a new, permanent hardware configuration for this specific package.
Furthermore, the full scope of this rollout is unknown. While it has been identified in France and Spain, it is unclear if Sony plans to introduce this reduced-storage console to other regions. It also remains to be seen if the 825GB "slim" model will be sold outside of this particular dual-controller bundle in the future.
Sony has put a lesser product on the shelf without a word of explanation. The company now faces the consequences of a decision that, in the absence of any official justification, appears to be a calculated maneuver to sell old technology at a new price. The onus is now on Sony to clarify its hardware strategy and explain to its customers why, in this case, the new standard is a step back.