Memory Disk Reader

"I once thought I could save the world... now look at it" — Spoilers for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided follow!

Memory Disk Reader is a story item in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Acquisition of the item is a required objective for the side mission SM06: 01011000. The item is acquired at the antique store Future-Past Antiký. The item is found in the basement of the store, or obtained through dialogue with Walker.

Description

An old disk reader that's capable of reading memory disks.

Background

Floppy disks are an old technology, first available in the 1970s, but experienced a revival in 2022. According to a draft article by "Top 10 Tech" on top technology revival in recent times, floppy disks have the advantage of secrecy due to the rarity of working drive readers. "Top 10 Tech" featured the floppy disk as one of the top 10 tech revivals, and requested Future-Past Antiký to proofread an article on the floppy disk given that the store is one of the only places that still carry a reader.

Use

Acquiring the item is a required mission objective for the side mission SM06: 01011000. After Jensen acquires the Memory Disk, Helle asks him to acquire the disk reader, so that the memories of hers that are stored on the disk can be retrieved.

Trivia

• The memory disk reader seen in Mankind Divided closely is unmistakably based on the real-world Zip Drive. The Zip Drive was a reader designed to read zip disks, a type high-capacity floppy disk first released in 1994 with a capacity of 100 MB, though later versions expanded this to 250MB and, ultimately, 750MB.