The availability of storage options for Xbox Series X|S and PS5 has been a notable difference this console generation. While the PS5 has a variety of options for expanding its storage, Xbox Series X|S has had limited choices. WD Black’s head of product marketing, Ruben Dennenwaldt, explained that this is due to the proprietary interface used by Microsoft for Xbox Series X|S, which requires licensing agreements with Microsoft.
Dennenwaldt emphasized that Microsoft’s proprietary interface complicates the process for third-party manufacturers, making it time-consuming to develop licensed products. In contrast, PS5 uses a more standard M.2 interface, allowing for a wider range of storage options. However, Sony has specific requirements for M.2 SSDs, including heatsinks.
While Xbox Series X|S currently has limited internal storage options, Dennenwaldt mentioned that Sony recently released a beta firmware update for PS5 that supports up to 8TB of storage, indicating the recognition by console manufacturers of the need for increased storage capacity as game sizes grow. This suggests that more storage solutions may become available for both consoles in the future.
