Sony confirms PS5's SSD storage expansion will be disabled at launch

[Cal Jeffrey]

In context: As hardware becomes increasingly powerful, software assets take up more space. The smaller storage allocation for the PS5 reported earlier this week are not sitting well with some gamers as they realize the solutions will not hold many next-gen titles.

This week, both Sony and Microsoft have faced criticism over the seemingly small amount of storage available in their next-generation consoles. Fortunately, the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 have SSD storage expansion options. So those with a bit more Christmas cash on hand could opt for additional drive space if they wish. However, today Sony said not so fast.

On Thursday, a Sony spokesperson confirmed that the PS5's expansion bay would not be available at launch. While the physical hardware and the port that accepts M.2 SSDs are there, it will be disabled by system software until Sony can certify some aftermarket SSDs.

"[T]his is reserved for a future update," was all the spokesperson would tell The Verge.

The news should not come as a complete surprise. In a PS5 deep-dive earlier this year, Sony's head architect Mark Cerny mentioned that they are still benchmarking and performing compatibility testing on SSDs and would not likely have that completed on day one.

"It'd be great if that happened by launch, but it's likely to be a bit past it, so please hold off on getting that M.2 drive until you hear from us."

Fortunately, users will still be able to hook up an external drive. It will just not provide the advantages of an M.2 SSD in the expansion bay. Even with the smaller storage allocation, players should not run into space shortages immediately unless they go on a download spree, so there is no need for panic.

Although Sony did not say when the bay would be functional, it should not be too long since it has been in testing for most of this year.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/87486-sony-confirms-ps5-ssd-storage-expansion-disabled-launch.html

 

[Xclusiveitalian]

Imagine if your PC had a software patch that blocked any external drive from being added even tho the port was there and there was ZERO REASON to not allow it. What BS is this!?

 

[pcnthuziast]

Proprietary means inferior marketed as superior and necessary. -pc masterrace

 

[fps4ever]

Imagine if your PC had a software patch that blocked any external drive from being added even tho the port was there and there was ZERO REASON to not allow it. What BS is this!?

You should see MS's even smaller HD size....yeeessh.

 

[bviktor]

You should see MS's even smaller HD size....yeeessh.

Except it's a dev kit.

 

[fps4ever]

Except it's a dev kit.

How big is the actual retail size?

Update: Found it, 802GB out of 1TB.

 

[winjer]

So gamers can only use 660GB on the original SSD. And then they can't even install another SSD to make up for the small amount of space.
Sony is just screwing around with console gamers.

 

[m4a4]

Man, that's at least the 2nd convenience thing they've dropped the ball on. First being the face plates.

Me thinks Sony was indeed rushed to put the PS5 out this year...

 

[R00sT3R]

Imagine if your PC had a software patch that blocked any external drive from being added even tho the port was there and there was ZERO REASON to not allow it. What BS is this!?

Except this is a console, a closed eco system where you get what your given and its your choice to accept their terms or not. If you don't, buy a PC. If you do, stop crying over nothing.

 

[OortCloud]

I suspect that they, like MS with Seagate, want a proprietary solution just so they can double the price and profit from it. Every console since they began has done this with certain things - like controllers, wheels and storage, but for a while they supported bog-standard USB external devices. However for the NVME storage it looks like they want their greedy share of the pie so will double the price (like MS do with their Series X Seagate drive) and offer limited options.