Sony Has Guaranteed PS5 Slim Models Will Include Important SSD Expansion Feature

After recent speculations hinting that the new PS5 Slim models could drop SSD expansion support, as both consoles have increased internal storage capacity, Sony has officially debunked the rumours and confirmed their new console will include the crucial feature.

It is a welcoming piece of news for PS5 Slim potential buyers as the new PS5 Slim console will now feature 1TB of internal storage, an improvement over the base model’s 825GB SSD. However, it remains unknown how much is actually usable, as in the case of the PS5 launch model, as only 667GB of the 825GB was available for storage.

Related: PlayStation 6 Is Coming Very Soon, Should You Ditch the Precious PS5?

Storage Issue with New Generation Consoles

If you owned one of the newest consoles from Xbox and PlayStation, you may have already noticed that the storage space problem has gotten out of control compared to prior console generations. For instance, while the PS5 launch console includes 667GB of usable internal storage, game such as Black Ops Cold War requires a staggering 175GB to download. 

My ps5 looking at me download call of duty cold war at 200 gb pic.twitter.com/MKVTLM79Km

— asc 🦥 (@ascinhiding) August 14, 2023

Moreover, games such as NBA 2K23 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivors require around 150GB of memory each, theoretically meaning PS5 users will utilise all their memory with just five big games. Additionally, future updates of long-term projects such as Genshin Impact or Honkai Star Rail will definitely require more space for players to play the newest content.

PS5 Slim Buyers Can Upgrade Their Model with an M.2 SSD

According to a PlayStation spokesperson who emailed IGN, the PS5 Slim will have no feature changes to the original model. Therefore, PS5 owners can remove the back cover panel of the console and manually install an additional M.2 SSD. However, you must ensure that it is a PCIe Gen4 version and can meet the minimum requirements of 5,500MB/s read speeds.

Although there are no feature changes in the PS5 Slim, it has few differences from the original PS5 models. For instance, aesthetically, the PS5 Slim now has stripes on the side. Moreover, the PS5 Slim is about 20-25% thinner and around 30% smaller than its predecessor. For more information about the PS5 Slim, stay tuned to our website for updates throughout the weekend.

Also Read: 8 Best PS5 Games in Development 

The Importance of Storage in Consoles 

With the evolution of technology, storage space has become a priority, even a necessity for newer gaming consoles. Why so? As consoles and PCs continually improve, new generations will have more features. These features will require more storage to operate and collect new data from updates and will require more data to store.

Over the years, gamers have had the freedom to store multiple games on a single console, and since newer devices have more storage space, you can download and save more games and content. However, once you reach a certain threshold, the CPU must comb through more data to find what you want and affect the overall performance of the games. 

Thus, the upgraded PS5 Slim with 1TB of internal storage will provide users with more space for downloading games, taking screenshots and more. While many of the best PS5 games require at least 40GB of storage, it would take longer for you to burn through your storage capacity than the original model.

Final Thoughts

While we understand why some PS5 owners may question the need for an upgrade to the PS5 Slim without a significant upgrade or price change, there may be a solid business reason for the move. For instance, it is more affordable to produce than its predecessors due to its smaller size and lighter weight and could make it cheaper to ship. 

Furthermore, they are targeting the audience who don’t have a PS5, and providing an SSD expansion will tempt them even more. Will you buy the new PS5 Slim? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Will the PS5 Slim Be Available?

According to Sony, the PS5 Slim will arrive just in time for the holiday season in November. While we have not received an official time confirmation, we know the price of both models. For example, the cost of the Blu-ray Disc edition remains the same at $499.99, while the digital edition will see a $50 increase from $399.99 to $449.99.

What Are the Best Games to Play on the PS5?

2023 is one of the best years in gaming, with the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Resident Evil 4 Remake. If you are looking for games before 2023, we recommend God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West and Elden Ring. For more news about the 2023 games, check out our article here.

Which Games Use the Most Internal Storage in PS5?

The current game that holds the record for the biggest file size on PS5 is Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War with 175GB. NBA 2K23 comes in second with 153 GB, while Star Wars Jedi: Survivor takes up 148 GB. Finalising the top five, we have Destiny 2 with 139 GB and Horizon Forbidden West with 101 GB.