If the built-in battery runs out, you may not be able to play disc or digital games on your PS4. The bad news comes courtesy of trusted modder Lance McDonald, who offers some worrisome insight into what happens when the battery runs out. He finds that users could be left with a bricked console, unable to play either physical or digital-based games.

With the inevitable slump in stock prices surrounding the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the PS4 has become an increasingly valuable holdout, while many are trying to get their hands on next-generation consoles amidst the noise of the duff network.

The PS4's broken battery has been the subject of a Twitter account, "Does it Play?" earlier this month. The Twitter account mentions the PS4's "CE 34878-0" error code.

It's dark stuff. At first glance, the Sony console's battery will inevitably run out and take all the digital files stored on the PS4 with it as it cannot re-establish a connection with the server. This is a kind of clock-based collateral catastrophe from which the PS4 console cannot escape.

Also, if you thought that physical copies of games were secure, you are sadly mistaken. It appears that no format is safe. McDonald explains that the PS4's trophy system may be one of the culprits behind the clock. [PS4 trophies rely on an internal fixed clock that cannot be changed by the player. The clock exists to prevent crafty trophy hunters from interfering with the clock, rewinding it, and claiming to have won the trophy earlier than they actually did. In effect, and from McDonald himself, "If the batteries in the PS4 clock run out, all games die."

Sony has had problems with positive press of late, not only failing to meet its 2021 sales targets, but also showing new signs that its inventory situation may be worsening. At the very least, the PS5 is the fastest-selling console in U.S. history.

Of course, this is a very unfortunate mistake for Sony and an internal hardware issue that could have been communicated more transparently, but it remains infuriating for PS4 users worldwide. It is also clearly premature due to the paucity of gaming hardware options.

With all this aside, if you're ready to tuck your PS4 away in the closet, why not take a look at our handy retailer restocking tips to point you in the direction of fresh releases? We also have a guide to where to buy a PS5, and we'll keep you updated on PS5 news.