Over the past several months an extremely concerning report regarding Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 hardware was shared online. The report alleged that a certain hardware component, a CMOS battery, could disable the PS3 and PS4's ability to play all games offline if the battery died. Now the same test has reportedly been applied to the PlayStation 5, claiming that should the CMOS battery fail the console will be rendered inoperable without an internet connection, bringing into question the PS5's lifespan.

A CMOS battery is a key component in certain hardware. It allows a system to retain key information, specifically time passing, even when a system is powered off. CMOS batteries, like all batteries, don't last forever. Their typical lifespan is anywhere between five and 10 years, or longer in certain circumstances. PlayStation hardware, including the PS3, the PS4, and reportedly the PS5, uses CMOS batteries for this purpose. As such, they're all vulnerable to CMOS batteries going bad and the consequences of that.

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When a CMOS battery goes bad, or in test cases has been removed, all digital content on modern PlayStation platforms is rendered inaccessible when offline. The CMOS battery is apparently required for the console to maintain information that verifies the user actually owns and can access digital files. Without the CMOS, users need to have a constant internet connection to verify that information and regain access to their libraries. Further, in the PlayStation 4's case, physical discs are also unusable without an internet connection.

Early reports on the investigation claim that the PS5 also cannot access digital games and files if the CMOS battery dies. It's also possible that the disc drive will be useless like the PS4, but it hasn't been officially confirmed yet. It must be noted that these details about the PS5 haven't been completely verified, but early reports indicate their veracity.

Obviously, if consoles were losing the ability to play games offline within five years, there would be a lot more noise regarding the subject. The PS4 launched in 2013, after all. The PS3 launched in 2006 and stories about PS3s failing aren't widespread. Still, as more and more console gamers move to digital-only game libraries, the issue is likely to become more prevalent.

Sony has yet to offer up an official comment on the issue, to the dismay of PlayStation fans. The lack of an official comment lends confusion and worry to an issue, the gravity of which doesn't remain entirely clear. Regardless, for gamers who value long-term video game preservation, the PS5 joins the PS3 and PS4 as having unfortunate limitations.

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