PS5 Beta Users to Receive Internal SSD Expansion Update

The PS5 SSD expansion update for the PS5 is nearly here, as beta users will get to try the new feature first. Sony promised to release the M.2 SSD storage expansion feature update for the PS5 sometime this Summer earlier this year, though external storage drives worked from launch. The PS5 comes equipped with an 825 GB SSD, of which 650GB is usable space. It isn’t a lot of storage for modern games of late.

As reported by IGN, Sony revealed the requirements for the M.2 SSD dimensions and instructions for installation in a new support page on PlayStation.com. Storage size can range from 250GB to 4TB of space on the M.2 SSD, but it must be a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 NVMe SSD with a socket 3 type (Key M.) A read speed of 5,500MB/s or higher is recommended for any M.2 type 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 (the first two numbers refer to the width, the last two the length in millimeters.) The width can’t exceed 25mm.

The 25mm width limit also extends to the width added by the heatsink. Some M.2 SSDs come with a heatsink built-in, but others require a separate purchase and come in single or double-sided. Both will work in the PS5. Overall height of both must come under 11.25mm with the heatsink in the proper position above and below the circuit board. The size below must be less than 2.45mm and less than 8mm above. 

While the new PS5 storage update will expand the storage, there is no guarantee that the same performance from the internal Ultra High-Speed custom SSD will carry over, Sony said. Not even in M.2 SSDs above 5,500MB/s read speeds. Sony also takes no liability for any problems associated with third-party M.2 SSDs. Additionally, requirements may change before the full release since this is a beta feature.

This update comes before a stacked 2022, where many of the PlayStation exclusives announced and unannounced plan to release. It also comes ahead of a rumored PlayStation event sometime in August. Whether or not Sony plans to unveil its Fall and 2022 lineup soon is unknown at the time of writing.

Source: PlayStation.com, IGN