Whether players prefer physical game copies or would rather directly download titles straight through an online store, storage is a critical aspect of any console. The PlayStation 5 is one of the most anticipated next-gen consoles slated to release this holiday season. With the system’s specs readily available, let's break down how much actual space consumers will have on the PS5.

Between the PS4 and the PS5, the latest PlayStation model is an absolute beast. However, when comparing storage, the two are relatively similar in terms of total internal storage. Where the PS5 really shines is its speed and performance. Similarly, while the Xbox Series X is set to launch with about 200GB of additional storage compared to the PS5, the PS5 wins out in terms of efficiency. Plus, Sony’s newest expandable storage SSD will allow players to easily add space on their PS5.

Related: How PS5 Specs Compare to Modern Gaming PCs

The PS5’s internal storage is driven by an all new custom 825GB SSD. The amount of gigabytes is a bit unusual, given that the PS4 (and many other consoles) launch at a standard 500GB and 1TB configurations. This is due to Sony’s new storage system which is meant to communicate much more efficiently with the PS5’s latest architecture. For players who may wish to expand their console’s storage, a NVMe SSD card can be purchased. While this means consumers don’t need any additional assets from Sony, it does mean that there are specific requirements that need to be met for a SSD to work. The PS5 does also allow for external storage via its USB HDD support.

PS5's Expandable Internal And External Storage

PS5

The amount of space a player needs on a console is driven by the amount of games they play. In turn, the exact number of games a PS5 can store is very dependent on the types of titles that are installed. Given that some games can be larger than 150GB (in the case of Red Dead Redemption 2), some players may only be able to download 5 games before additional storage is needed. If the average game is calculated to be around 40GB, then the PS5 can store approximately 20 games and still have a few gigabytes of extra space. With so many options to expand on the PS5's internal and external storage, the fear of "running out of space" feels like a thing of the past. However, for players who would rather stick to the storage space that comes with a console, consider the size of the games often played. Ultimately, the amount of mileage someone can get out of the PS5's internal storage is dependent upon what is downloaded.

There is no exact measurement for how much room the latest PS5 games will take up. Due to Sony’s improvements on the SSD, the overall file size of all upcoming titles will likely be reduced. Since the SSD eliminates the need to duplicate in-game data, the PlayStation 5 can run very quickly and reduce load times while processing less data. However, as next-gen titles contain larger worlds, higher-resolution graphics, and more, file sizes may end up being larger than what was seen on the PS4. Until games begin to launch, how much the PS5 can truly store will remain speculative at best.

For avid console players, the PlayStation 5 will have plenty of internal and external storage options. PS5 owners always have the option to delete and replace titles for additional space, especially if some games are no longer actively played. PlayStation 5 Digital Edition owners may find their storage space filling up faster, as the elimination of the disc drives requires larger file downloads onto the system itself. The PlayStation 5 is set to release this holiday season with an exciting array of launch titles.

Next: Xbox Series X vs PS5 Specs Explained: Which Is More Powerful?