The PlayStation 5 is a powerful machine, but one of its best features is the instant loading thanks to the integrated M.2 SSD. While that internal drive is not expandable, that doesn’t mean you can’t throw in a secondary drive — we’ve talked about it a few times on our YouTube channel, showing how it’s done, but it’s been the wild west on what drive to choose for the job. Well, Sony put a ring on it with Western Digital, announcing a fully-licensed, tested, and approved M.2 drive for their powerhouse console. The WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD delivers upwards of 7000 MB/s of read speed, ensuring seamless loading and game world / asset streaming, so it should keep up with anything developers have to throw at it. When you look at the expansive worlds of games like Forspoken, Hogwarts Legacy, Stray, God of War Ragnarök, and Gotham Knights you can see why that level of speed is required. Let’s hear what team WD_BLACK had to say about it:
“We’re excited for this new journey with Sony Interactive Entertainment and the opportunity to bring the officially licensed drive to PS5 gamers,” said Susan Park, vice president of Consumer Solutions Product Management, Western Digital. “Western Digital’s WD_BLACK brand was created to bring high-performance products to gamers everywhere. Combined with this innovative partnership, we aim to deepen our current commitment to developing storage solutions that enhance the gaming experience for all gamers.”
I think I said it better. Still, there’s no denying just how powerful this hardware is. The drive will be coming to Best Buy (Available right now, in fact) as a timed launch exclusive, both in stores and online), as well as via the Western Digital online store. In mid-August we’ll see it arrive in other retail stores and online marketplaces. Pricing is about what you’d expect for a high-powered Gen4 SSD, with the 1TB drive coming in at $169.99 USD, and the 2TB setting you back $279.99.
We’ll be looking to get our hands on a drive to test the real-world speeds, as well as ease of installation / fit and finish, so stay tuned right here at GamingTrend.com for all the upcoming news.
Ron Burke is the Editor in Chief for Gaming Trend. Currently living in Fort Worth, Texas, Ron is an old-school gamer who enjoys CRPGs, action/adventure, platformers, music games, and has recently gotten into tabletop gaming.
Ron is also a fourth degree black belt, with a Master's rank in Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū, Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do, Universal Tang Soo Do Alliance, and International Tang Soo Do Federation. He also holds ranks in several other styles in his search to be a well-rounded fighter.
Ron has been married to Gaming Trend Editor, Laura Burke, for 28 years. They have three dogs - Pazuzu (Irish Terrier), Atë, and Calliope (both Australian Kelpie/Pit Bull mixes), and an Axolotl named Dagon!
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