PlayStation 5: Official UI Reveal Seemingly Validates Console’s Underwhelming Usable Internal Storage

The future of gaming is almost upon us, with only weeks to go for the PlayStation 5 launch. Sony has packed the PS5 with powerful hardware that will offer never seen before frame rates at the highest resolutions, with almost no load times virtually. One of the most notable features of the PS5, its lightning-fast SSD (5.5 GB/s raw), plays a significant role.

With the ever-expanding size of next-gen games, the console’s internal storage also becomes an important factor. The PS5 will ship with an 825GB internal SSD storage. However, earlier this month, information posted on an online gaming forum seemed to suggest that a portion of the total internal storage will be inaccessible for users.

The leaked information claimed to showcase the PlayStation 5’s UI, and one such image displayed the 664GB available storage, which is about 80 percent of the 825GB SSD storage. Now, a recent VGC report seemingly corroborates the internal storage limit for the upcoming console.

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Official PlayStation 5 UI reveal seemingly verify 664GB available space on the console

Based on last week’s official PlayStation 5 UI reveal, YouTuber YoungYea detailed how the menu screens matched those provided in the leaks. Therefore, it is likely that the PS5 will reserve this 20 percent of its 825 GB storage for operating system files, leaving 664GB space available for software.

If this indeed is the case, it does not sound like much good news, considering the escalating game sizes for the next-gen titles. However, it is important to note that the leaked information pertains to a PS5 development kit. Therefore, it is possible the available storage space slightly differs in the finished retail product.

The estimated file sizes of PS5 launch titles could pose a real problem by taking up a hefty chunk of the console’s storage. The PlayStation website lists Spider-Man Miles Morales’ standard version will require over 50GB of space, while the ultimate edition packed with a remastered version of the previous title will take up a hefty 105GB. Meanwhile, Demon’s Souls, a remake of the 2009 title, will take over 66GB of storage space.

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Additional storage will become a necessity for next-gen gaming

Sony intends to present players with more flexibility in managing their storage on the next-gen console. Users will get to configure their installations, like choosing between installing a game’s multiplayer or deleting the single-player campaign. However, players will still have to decide between the titles they would like to keep on the console, rather than maintaining a wholesome library.

Perhaps having an expandable storage option will become a necessity. PS5’s internal expandable storage slot requires a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD to function. Sony is yet to list SSDs compatible with the PS5. These expandable drives are likely to cost a fair amount, increasing the overall cost of maintaining the console.

On the other hand, the Xbox Series X is expected to provide around 802GB of usable storage. As for external storage, proprietary 1TB expansion drives will be available for Microsoft’s next-gen console. For now, Sony has released no official statement regarding PS5’s usable storage, excluding system files. More details will probably come out closer to the November 12 launch date.