The PS5 supports PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs for “future storage expansion” – Sony Confirms

With existing games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare/Warzone now weighing in at over 200GB, we know that these concerns are not illegitimate. Next-generation consoles need storage expansion options, and Sony’s solution to this problem comes directly from the PC market. Sony’s PlayStation 5 console will support M.2 NVMe storage when it releases later this year.  

Below we can see Sony’s PlayStation 5 M.2 slot, which supports PCIe 4.0 SSDs at all standard M.2 lengths, including M.2 30mm, 42mm, 60mm and 80mm. Longer M.2 110mm SSDs appear to be unsupported. 

While Microsoft’s Xbox Series X storage expansion cards are designed to be swappable without the use of tools, Sony’s PlayStation 5 will require users to partially disassemble their consoles to add additional storage drives to their systems. While Microsoft’s storage expansion is more elegant, Sony’s solution piggybacks of the PC SSD ecosystem, ensuring that compatible SSDs will always be readily available. 

Sony’s solution will allow PlayStation 5 users to use larger 2TB and crazy 8TB M.2 SSDs with their PlayStation 5 systems; it is unknown how Sony will ensure that installed SSDs will meet Sony’s PlayStation 5 specifications. Installing sub-standard SSDs could result in a sub-par experience in next-generation games, especially as developers start to utilise the full performance of Sony’s integrated SSD. 

There are perks to the storage expansion methods of both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, with Microsoft offering simplicity and guaranteed performance while Sony offers gamers more options through increased system complexity.

Hopefully, Sony will create a PlayStation 5 certification program for future M.2 SSDs, allowing PS5 users to purchase M.2 SSDs that offer guaranteed compatibility with PlayStation 5 games.