The PS5 Won't Support This Feature At Launch

The PlayStation 5 isn't even out yet, and it's off to a rough start. The console doesn't have quite as much storage space as the Xbox Series X, but that's not such a big deal since it will also sport an internal slot that can fit an SSD. Storage space shouldn't be a huge problem when you can upgrade your gaming platform, but the PS5 won't be able to utilize that feature out of the gate.

Recently, Sony informed The Verge that the ability to increase the PS5's storage capacity will be "reserved for a future update." Even if you try to insert an M.2 SSD into the expansion slot, it won't do anything. Apparently, the slot needs to be activated, probably via a firmware update.

This news might disappoint many gamers because the PS5's 825 GB SSD (664 of which are purportedly free) puts it at a disadvantage when compared to the Xbox One X's 1 TB drive. The gap in storage isn't quite as large the one between the Xbox Series X and Series S — which recently grew because gamers learned they can only use 364 GB of that console's SSD – but it still hurts PS5 audiences who plan on installing a ton of big games.

You might wonder why the delay for the storage upgrade. Shouldn't any old M.2 drive work? Back in March, PlayStation hardware architect Mark Cerny explained that not all M.2 drives are created equal. While you can buy them anywhere SSDs are sold, the PS5 will only support drives that match or exceed its internal SSD's speed (5.5 GB/s), are compatible with the PS5's flash controller, and actually fit inside the slot. Sony has been purportedly hard at work benchmarking drives, and Cerny highly recommends gamers don't purchase any until the company supplies an exhaustive list of supported SSDs. You wouldn't want to waste money on a drive that is too big to fit in your PS5, would you?

Since the PS5 will launch on November 12, you probably want to know how long you will have to wait for that official SSD list. Well, get ready for the long haul because Sony has no ETA. Moreover, several of The Verge's contacts claim benchmarking hasn't even started yet. Comparatively, the Xbox's pricey, proprietary expansion card will be ready and usable on day one, which only increases the console's sizable storage space superiority.

If you had plans to upgrade your PS5 with an M.2 drive the day you got it home, you might want to give yourself a rain check.