One of the PS5’s most requested features is almost upon us. Expandable storage has been on players’ wish lists since the console launched in November 2020. But now it’s a reality. Sort of. News broke this week regarding PS5 SSD expansion and it might not be quite as simple as you’d expect. And don’t get us started on the price tag.
While the PS5 does pack a built-in 825GB SSD already, users want more. Modern games are bigger than ever. And you’re likely to see your storage fill up quick with just 3 or 4 of the latest releases installed. Call of Duty (in its various forms) is colossal. Put that with some heavy hitters like The Last of Us Part II, Red Dead Redemption II, Returnal, and Demon’s Souls and you’re probably about there. And when Sony launched its new “how to add an M.2 SSD to a PS5 console” page, users naturally rejoiced.
But how does PS5 SSD expansion actually work and when can you take advantage of it?
PS5 SSD Expansion: How to join PS5 system software beta programme
Right off the bat, we need to clarify that expandable PS5 storage isn’t available to everyone just yet. As Sony have explained on their website, you need to have signed up to their PS5 system software beta programme. If you’re wondering how to sign up to PS5 system software beta programme, you can do that via the PlayStation website. In case you’re wondering what exactly you’re signing up for, Sony say: “The beta programme gives you early access to new PS5 console features. By signing up, you could be among the first to put new features to the test and provide essential feedback that will help guide their development.”
When will expandable PS5 storage be available?
Sony haven’t confirmed an official release date outside beta testing. However, they have described it as “upcoming” and explained that it’ll arrive with a future PS5 system software update.
How do I install a new SSD for PS5?
This is where it gets pretty technical, and your best bet is to visit Sony’s support page at the link above. There are a number of key technical specifications it must meet, and you’ll only be able to install an SSD with a maximum 4TB storage space. Sony have explained that you must use a high-speed SSD known as an M.2 SSD: “M.2 SSD devices are a high-speed solid state drive medium that PS5 beta users can install to upgrade the storage capacity of their PS5 console or PS5 Digital Edition console.” These can be installed via the internal SSD slot, which was unusable until now.
Once you’ve installed the M.2 SSD, you can use it to “download, copy and launch PS5 and PS4 games, as well as media apps”. Before that, you need to ensure your M.2 SSD is compatible. There are a few fundamentals here – it has to use the PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD interface, have a minimum capacity of 250GB (4TB max), read at 5500 MB/s or faster, be 22mm wide, and have an appropriate cooling structure. Again, you can find full details on the PlayStation website. Sony have been quick to point out that even if your drive meets the necessary spec, it isn’t guaranteed to work. They’ve stated: “SIE cannot guarantee that all M.2 SSD devices meeting the described specifications will work with your console”.
How much does a PS5 SSD cost?
Seagate have confirmed their FireCuda 530 will be the first PS5-compatible, third-party SSD. And if their prices are anything to go off for ‘top-of-the-range’ SSDs, you can anticipate spending around $150 on the lower end (500GB) and $1000+ on the upper end (4TB).
As you would expect, the less storage you want the cheaper an M.2 SSD for PS5 will be. But even then, don’t expect it to be at bargain price. Obviously, prices will gradually fall as the technology becomes standard – but you may be waiting a while for any significant drop. Of course, more affordable options will be available too – you’ll just need to find them. PS5 designer Mark Cerny noted on Twitter that he’d go with the Western Digital SN850, which looks to be a bit more affordable.
Are you clamouring for more storage space? Do you think PS5 SSD expansion price is reasonable? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
