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More information about the Xbox Series X / S storage requirements has been revealed, and it’s not as straightforward as some might like.
The big new announcement is that Microsoft Xbox Series X / S requires an external storage device that is USB 3.0 and has a minimum capacity of 128GB. That means small USB sticks should no longer be used, as was the case with previous Xbox systems, and it may mean certain users will need to upgrade their external storage needs.
Perhaps most pressing is how Microsoft requires you to use storage. The internal SSD of the system is quite limited with Microsoft Xbox Series X offering 1 TB of space and Microsoft Xbox Series S providing 512 GB. Once you take into account what the operating system takes up, the usable space is slightly less, leaving many with the need for additional storage. That leaves users with two options: using a USB 3.0 drive for storage or purchasing a Seagate external SSD cart that is unique to the system.
The latter is of course more expensive, but it is the only way to play straight from the start. Titles optimized for Xbox Series X / S can be stored on USB 3.0 drives, but you can only play them through the internal PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD or Seagate SSD carts. You can still play Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games via USB 3.0 external hard drive at least.
Microsoft has explained that this is due to speed restrictions. Simply put, for improved loading times, using Quick Resume, and more, you should use a newer gaming SSD. We are expected to see load times for games like Destiny 2 at 43 seconds compared to 1 minute and 53 seconds for Xbox One X (thanks Tom’s Hardware) and other games see greatly improved load times as well.
So if you want to reap the full benefits of your shiny new next-gen console next month, you’ll need to add around £ 220 for the 1TB expansion cart. It is not essential, of course, but it will probably feel that way soon. I bet the expensive PC upgrade doesn’t seem so unappealing now, does it?
