A new leak seems to confirm that the PS5 will have removable plates, allowing players to customize the console's design. The leak follows a previous comment by a PlayStation executive who said that the PS5 would have customization options not seen before by gamers.
A post on Chinese forum A9VG reveals photos of what appear to be removable PS5 plates. One photo from the post shows a stack of white plates removed from the standard version of the PS5 (the version with the disc drive) piled high on a table. The inside of the plates feature several hooks and while they look like they could keep the PS5's outer shell fairly secure, it doesn't look as though the plate will be that difficult for players to remove and switch out for another design.
Fans have been asking about the PS5's color scheme since Sony revealed the PS5 DualSense controller back in April. The all-white accessory was a sharp move away from the darker colors chosen for all four previous PlayStation console generations. The PS1 had a grey controller, while the PS2, PS3, and PS4's default controllers were all black. There was a concern that the PS5's DualSense would get dirty much quicker and, superficially, that the crisp, clean white just doesn't look as cool as the deep, dark black.
These concerns continued when Sony officially revealed the design of the standard and digital edition PS5 consoles during a big stream event last month. Before the event, fans had been optimistic that Sony would confirm that a black version of the console would be available.
When that didn't happen, there was minor outrage and quite a few complaints were lodged on social media. There were also dozens of hugely popular memes comparing the PS5's design to Wi-Fi routers, duck beaks, and the "had to do it to 'em" guy, Lucky Luciano. While a black version of the console wouldn't stop those memes from being made, it would probably help the console look a little less conspicuous in gamers' homes.
It's unclear just how far any PS5 customization options would go. PlayStation's vice president of UX design, Matt MacLaurin, had teased "special editions" of the console and fans have come up with ideas such as the Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS5 and a Horizon Zero Dawn skin. These haven't been confirmed but with leaks like this one, an official announcement may be not be far off.