Seagate Announces 2 TB and 512 GB Storage Expansion Cards for Xbox Series X|S - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 November 2021 / 2,955 Views
Microsoft and Seagate have announced two new Storage Expansion Cards for the Xbox Series X|S coming soon to all markets the consoles are available. The new 512 GB and 2 TB Storage Expansion Cards join the already available 1 TB cards.
The Seagate 512GB Storage Expansion Card is available for pre-order today in Walmart in the US for $139.99 USD and will launch in mid November.
The Seagate 2TB Storage Expansion Card will be available for pre-order in November for $399.99 USD and will launch early December.
Read the Xbox Wire post below:
Seagate Storage Expansion Cards for Xbox Series X|S
Xbox Game Pass has made it possible for Xbox gamers to have a library of games at their very fingertips. Between Game Pass and four generations of game compatibility on Xbox Series X|S, there are thousands of games to choose from and play. With so many games available, we want to ensure there are also options when it comes to storage capacity and support to expand next-gen storage.
At the launch of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, Designed for Xbox announced the close collaboration with Seagate to expand next-gen storage with the 1TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card. Designed for Xbox has collaborated with Seagate once again, and we’re excited to announce 512GB and 2TB Storage Expansion Cards for Xbox Series X|S will be available soon in all Xbox markets.
The Seagate 512GB Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is available for pre-order today from Walmart in the United States for $139.99 USD (US Dollars) and will launch mid-November. For other markets and availability, please check your local retailer.
The Seagate 2TB Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S will be available for pre-order in November for $399.99 USD and will launch early December. The Seagate 2TB Storage Expansion Card will also be the next product featuring the Designed for Xbox Limited Series badge, ensuring premium product quality, performance, and design.
How to Use the Seagate Storage Expansion Card
To use the Seagate Storage Expansion Card, just plug the card into the Storage Expansion port on the back of your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console, and you can use it just as you would any external storage solution. You can choose to install games to the expansion card by default, play games directly from it, move or copy games between local and external storage, or do anything you already do today with an external hard drive. The only difference is that the expansion card is designed to match the exact performance of the internal storage of the Xbox Series X|S.
Xbox Velocity Architecture
The Storage Expansion Card uses the foundation of the Xbox Velocity Architecture. This is the custom, internal SSD delivering 2.4 GB/s of raw I/O throughput, more than 40x the throughput of Xbox One. The Seagate Storage Expansion Card was designed using the Xbox Velocity Architecture to deliver the exact same consistent, sustained performance of our internal SSD ensuring you have the exact same gameplay experience regardless of where the game resides.
The Seagate Storage Expansion Cards are the only external SSDs on market designed to leverage the Xbox Velocity Architecture and deliver the exact same performance as the internal SSD.
Performance and Experience
All your games — whether they’re Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One titles, or classic Xbox 360 and Original Xbox games played via Backward Compatibility — will see significant improvements in load times whether you are playing from a Seagate Expansion card or the internal SSD on Xbox Series X|S.
And because Quick Resume persists data on the internal SSD, it will work regardless of whether you are playing a game from the internal SSD, the Seagate Storage Expansion Card or an external USB 3.1 HDD or SSD drive.
Please visit Seagate.com for more information.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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At these prices just buy a Series S for your expanded memory needs.
Those are normal prices, but to be honest just bought a M.2 1terabyte for my ps5, cost me 150 dollars. Seems to be the best value. It's plenty for internal, I have a 4tb for external.
So storage is gona cost more than consoles this gen?
Only if you want the convenience... there still a valid 2TB HHD option for really cheap.
The only problem with that is the current gen games need to be on either the internal storage or the seagate card to run due the things to do with faster loading and quick resume. If you download them to another external HDD you have to copy them across before the console will boot the game.
X enhanced games are still last gen games that run in backwards compatibility mode so of course they can be run from an external storage.
No, it's not "of course". Any back-compat+ game that's been upgraded to take advantage of the velocity architecture will not run off an external SSD. For example, initially both the Master Chief Collection and Sea of Thieves (despite both carrying the upgraded for X|S badge in the store) would run off of an external USB drive, but after a further update now Sea of Thieves no longer does (presumably that additional update took advantage of the velocity architecture, on top of whatever back-compat+ upgrades they'd previously made). Master Chief Collection still does, last I checked. So it's a case-by-case basis, depending on what back-compat+ upgrades have been implemented.
On xbox is less than an issue as you can transfer files between drives while playing games.
Still its no big deal, its still faster than installing the games from discs.
Wait... that's not a thing on PS? Serious question, I don't have a PS3 through PS5. My last PSs were the PS2 and the PSP.
Actually, storage is cheaper than it used to be. And faster too.
And it'll get even cheaper as time goes on. I predict storage will get cheaper at a faster rate than consoles will this gen.
I also predict that game streaming to consoles will grow in popularity as a way to save on storage. Or at least to first test whether a game is worth the download, before committing the wait time and storage space to the game.
You are DEFINITELY paying extra just for the convenience of a plug n play storage expansion in a small package
I don't get your logic, you save 200 dollars by buying the series S instead of X and then you need another 100dollars just to match its storage, and then you don't have a disc drive and you get half the power.
Why even buy the S, why not wait for the X?
I will have no problem carrying over my PS5 around when I start wanting to do it, but sure I don`t travel on planes often =p . My PS4Pro is carried over like twice a month.
Bear in mind the ps5 is way bigger than the ps4 pro. Still doable as a hand luggage. But personally if I had to travel I'd just take my switch, I have such a huge backlog on switch its ridiculous.
Actually not having a 4K TV is one more reason to have the series X, it gives you super sampling. This is why I also prefer to play these new consoles on my 1080p projector rather than on my 4K TV. On my projector, despite having an image 3x the size, jaggies are all gone due to super sampling.
I went for the Series S for the following reasons:
- I could get it much sooner, and didn't want to wait for next-gen features like Quick Resume
- I run all my back-compat games off an external USB SSD, which saves on space
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it would immediately let me run games with X|S enhancements (such as 120 FPS modes), and let me run X|S-only games (which I have already done, such as Flight Simulator)
Even if I'd waited for the X, I would have expanded the storage anyway, because:
- there are potential performance advantages to having just the OS on the internal drive, and all games on expansion drives, so that the console can access OS and game data simultaneously
- SSDs wear out with use, and wear out faster under heavy use, and there's no obvious way to replace the internal SSD, so there's a ruggedizing advantage to using the internal drive as little as possible; a larger internal drive is of little value if you don't intend to use it for anything other than the OS
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games are large and getting larger, and the difference in useable space between the Series S and Series X is only 438 GB
Bonus benefits:
- the smaller size of the Series S works better in the space I'm using it in
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it'll use less electricity, which is a long-term savings.
In the long run I may start streaming more of my games, making both the local storage and the horsepower of the local box less important, making the Series S more appropriate for my uses.
I think the standerd price of a high spec internal SSD RN is around ... 80/150/250 $ for 512/1TB/2TB respectivly. its not THAT high for now, considering everything else. it seems to be a smaller form factor then a 2280 to boot, and that makes it much more expensive.
"Cheaper is more important at the moment, especially because XBSX comes with 1TB. SNY now offers 256GB-4TB expansion so MS at the very least has to offer a cheaper option asap. They will also likely offer a 2TB solution as soon as they reasonably can. It obviously has to fit the proprietary card housing (or they have to redesign it) and has to be cheap enough compared to third party solutions that SNY PS5 can use or it will look bad on MS."
Charging so much extra for accessories or 'accessories' does seem to be the new norm for XB this gen, so.
I don't think you understand what is the type of drive used on the xbox, its not cheap, I always knew that as I have built plenty PCs.
Does it offer higher speeds and more storage vs the gen 4 NVMe drives the PS5 can use? It's unique in it's own proprietary way, but other than that, there's good reason why SNY went with third party M.2 upgradability. Cheaper and more options, especially in the long run. The XB exp card may be portable, but how many will actually make use of that extra cost?
You seem confused. Sony drives are also expensive. My point was that these new drives are expensive. There’s no way around it. Period.
Well more stock storage in the console would be one way around it. Since that's not an option right now, third party is always going to be a better deal than proprietary. Like external SSD/HDD with transfers. More for less overall. Every option has its downside though.
That would be a bad strategy. Each console maker wants to sell the consoles. So if they put let’s say double the storage on the consoles they would have to price it at 650 dollars. And we know customers don’t want to pay that much. Remember the ps3?
I do. I also remember multiple storage models. What's wrong with a $500 1TB (ish) model and a $629 (ish) 2TB (ish) model?
This would be much harder for PS5 because of the $100 gap. You'd end up with two $500 PS5's. One being 1TB, the other being 2TB DE. 4 consoles in total, which is more confusing and a harder sell priced so close together.
It would be easier to add a higher storage tier XBSS and XBSX though. That doesn't make any sense if you want to profit off your proprietary drive however.
The main point about third party storage is the future. How much cheaper does a proprietary device typically get vs third party, especially when the third party device is used beyond consoles?
There's a shortage of chips, that's why they needed to focus on the cheaper models as there will be no stock.
The expensive models would be left on the shelves, and the stock shortages would be a bigger issue than it is now.
I thought this was a very obvious observation.
Also, Sony was testing the waters, surely they now will make more disc version ps5s as consumers are willing to pay that extra 100 to be able to play their ps4 disc games and have the opportunity to rent or borrow games from friends and get better sales too.
Still the cheaper no-disc version is welcomed as some gamers have committed to digital only since last gen.
A digital only ps5, even with 2tb would still not fix its problem, the lack of a disc drive, that means I and many gamers would have our ps4 libraries useless, no to mention I already bought ps5 games at less than half price on second hand market, most people will have the brain to figure the 100 difference is not worth it, as you'll save way more in the long run by having the option of discs.
The shortage wasn't near the problem leading up to launch vs what it is now. For all we know there could've been plans for a top 2TB model PS5 that got scrapped perhaps. Likely not for XB though due to their exp card partnership with Seagate.
This now also leads me to believe that it's more likely we won't see onboard storage upgrades until Pro models, maybe. XB will want to continue making money off of the exp cards and SNY can rely on cheaper and cheaper M.2 NVMe as the gen goes on. This way they both can reduce the price of the consoles quicker once the chip shortages have subsided.
Having 3 or more models of the same console would have been too much. Maybe that's the reason, but simply those sony drives are very expensive, at the moment before launch they cost a fortune on PC, it would have increased the console cost probably an extra 200 dollars, making it a 700 console at least for the launch period.
With the PS4 and XB1S there are 3 consoles each right now.
PS5 was sold at a loss at launch, so PS5 DE was losing up to $125 per unit. SNY could've had a $600 2TB model. SNY would also get it far cheaper with direct mass orders.
That's after the generation ended. But at launch is not smart to confuse buyers.
So your logic is if ps5 is at loss at launch, then your idea is to make another model that loses even more money? Makes no sense to me.
Again I repeat, you have no idea of the prices of the ps5 drives, at launch, 2 terabytes would cost maybe 400 dollars just the drive, for sony, for consumers it would cost much more.
Hence why the ps5 doesn't even have 1 terabyte, a 1 terabyte might have costed 600 dollars.
But I guess I am wrong, sony is wrong, and only you are right?
Confusing buyers isn't smart, so a 1TB PS5 and 2TB DE at the same $500 price would not be smart. $400, $500, and $600 could work though, however they arranged the models. This is why it would work easier for MS. $300 XBSS 500GB, $400 XBSS 1TB, $500 XBSX 1TB, $600 XBSX 2TB. If MS wanted to do that, but then why make a proprietary exp card?
BD drive prices can be found easily at retail. SNY pays less than that. So yes, anyone can get a general idea for max cost anyway.
Losing even more money up front on a 2TB model makes sense if it's likely those early hardcore fans are going to fill that drive up, and probably quickly. That's a lot of game sales so SNY is out of the red and into the green where they want to be per unit sold, asap.
The 825GB SSD in PS5 is based on it's custom design. It has nothing to do with 1TB being too much. SNY also knew they had incredible compression tech lined up, so they wouldn't need as much storage to allow the same or more games than an XBSX can fit on 1TB.
Just my opinion based on what makes sense to me. It's not exactly right vs wrong, especially when it comes to options.
I will wait till the year of exclusivity is up before getting an upgrade.
I have a little bit of money and this makes me cringe.
Still quite expensive, but good that they are giving options.
Its still a better solution than PS5, for casuals. Most casuals will have trouble installing the m.2 cooling, specially to put the pads properly. The advantage on ps5 is you can shop around for cheaper prices.
Dunno if it is such a problem, at least on the PS3 and PS4 it was quite easy to replace or put a new driver. I would say the casual needs to be totally bonkers to have issue doing it for PS5, but sure the Xbox is simpler one (although I prefer better price =p)
You really can’t compare to ps3 and ps4 which was just inserting the drive. The difficulty is the cooling. Well it’s still very easy but i have built pcs for over 20 years.
I’m just saying the casuals.
Unless the casual decides to buy the SSD without the heatsink and all them that is that person bringing problem. I`m pretty sure Sony will release some licensed SSDs.
SSD without the heatsink is much cheaper, you can add a heatsink for only 15dollars.
Sure. But you can't complain at price, simplicity, and everything at the same time. Xbox version gives you a single vendor with simplicity but that costs you, Sony gives you several options for you to save but adds little complexity, and you can save more by having "the additional complexity of putting the heatsink yourself" but your can't complain of saving money and having to do the extra work at the same time.
Where did you see me complaining? I actually prefer sony's approach, its a drive I will never move again, so I actually prefer it to be internal, I also have an external.
Xbox approach is good, but if there's kids they might be taking it out or something.
Sorry if I misinterpreted you then. I thought you were complaining about it being less practical than MS solution (which I`m sure in the near future we will see plenty of SSDs from other makers as well).
It is still less practical either way as xbox solution is plug and play, takes less than a second even with the console on. on ps5 you have to switch it off, remove all cables, remove the stand(with the screw), then remove the side panel, then another screw for the bay, then remove the tiny screw and standoff ( I had issue with this because the screw is very weak, I had to force unscrew mine with a special tool I had to buy (I should probably help the people who are having this issue linking the special tool to remove the screw), then insert drive, screw it to the standoff, then close the bay cover, screw it, then put back the panel, then put back the stand and screw it. And that's considering you buy a drive with the heatsink, much more expensive, if not, you have more work to insert pads and put it all together, that's another 2/4 screws.
And finally put all the cables again.
In my opinion I prefer to have that little work and have it permanently on internal. But I cant deny the ease of use of the xbox solution. My only complaint is that rubbish screw, that alone made me drop 1 star from my ps5 review on amazon, I have been building PCs for over 20 years now and never saw a worse screw than the one for the ps5 standoff. Just wait until people start installing drives and google will be full of people complaining.
Not sure what happened in your case and if it will be common, but yes an external screw that many customers will use shouldn`t break easily. And sure Sony could make the access to the insertion of the extra SSD easier.
Managed to get a 1TB expansion on sale but did feel a 2TB one was needed. They are a bit pricey though so not like I’ll be rushing out to upgrade.
Got the 1TB for my Series S, was waiting for a bigger one for my Series X :) This makes me happy.
