Key Takeaways
1. Xbox Series X and Series S users face storage challenges, with only Seagate and Western Digital NVMe SSDs approved for expansion.
2. A new 4TB Seagate NVMe SSD is available, but its price of $429.99 is considered steep by many gamers.
3. Current-gen games must be launched from Xbox expansion cards, though external USB drives can be used for storage.
4. Microsoft’s shift towards digital gaming and services like Game Pass leads to increased demand for storage, prompting the release of a 2TB console variant.
5. The proprietary storage technology used by Microsoft results in higher prices compared to similar drives for the PS5.
Xbox console sales might be facing challenges, but storage is still a big issue for Series X and Series S users. A new 4TB Seagate NVMe SSD has appeared on Best Buy’s website. Although players can save games on external USB drives, current-gen games can only launch from Xbox storage expansion cards. This ease of use, however, comes with a steep price. Even with a reduced price of $429.99, the latest Seagate option is quite shocking for many.
Storage Options
The only approved Xbox storage card options are NVMe SSDs from Seagate and Western Digital. These accessories fit into the expansion slot on Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. After installation, games load almost as quickly as they do from the internal storage. Up until now, the largest SSD that Microsoft accepted was 2TB.
Digital Gaming Trends
With Game Pass being a major selling point for Xbox consoles, big titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 can quickly fill up available storage. Microsoft has also shifted towards digital gaming, leading to less reliance on physical media. To meet this demand, the company launched the 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition Series X in 2024. However, this still might not be enough for the most dedicated gamers.
Pricing Concerns
Those looking at Microsoft’s gaming systems are already spending quite a bit. Due to tariffs, the company increased the prices of its consoles and accessories in early May. The $499.99 MSRP of the 4TB Seagate Xbox storage expansion card only adds to the financial strain.
The cost of the new Seagate SSD is particularly annoying when you consider that similar drives for the PS5 are much cheaper. Microsoft chose to use proprietary technology for its storage instead of standard NVMe M.2 SSD drives. While the installation is more straightforward, this decision results in higher prices for consumers.
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