During the extensive tech talk about the PlayStation 5, developer Mark Cerny, among other things, Console specifications The role of a solid-state storage drive (SSD) for next-gen hardware is explained: The technology enables lightning-fast loading times and offers game developers a great deal of freedom. In addition to the built-in SSD storage, it should be possible to upgrade the console's storage space with external storage.
External NVMe Drive
This is welcome news, as the internal SSD's storage capacity is limited to 825 GB. Users don't have to rely on Sony's own hardware for external storage systems. The PlayStation 5 can also be expanded with standard storage from the open market, which benefits from all the console's features. However, the external SSD must meet the console's requirements, meaning it needs a bandwidth of at least 5,5 GB/s.
The catch: The necessary hardware will most likely be relatively expensive at the time of the console's release. Furthermore, users should check before purchasing whether the external storage devices have been validated by Sony to ensure compatibility with the PlayStation 5 and proper functionality.
UpdateAs Sony has now explained once again, users may have to wait a while for compatible external storage. All currently available NVMe storage devices do not meet the requirements Sony has specified for the PS5. Therefore, it will likely come down to certified products, even if they come from third-party manufacturers. The design will also need to be specifically considered. This will all take time, of course, but they hope to be ready by 2021 at the latest.
