“She’ll be right,” I say as I try to install another game on my PS5’s already stacked hard drive. Alas, I know it’s all in vain and just a few seconds later I get the message “There is not enough free space on the SSD.” I curse Mark Cerny and Sony for limiting the PS5’s SSD to 825GB, which only equates to 667GB of usable storage, and given the size of games these days that could easily be eaten up with just a few games.
It begins the sacrifice process – which game(s) will get the chop to make room today? It can be a real dilemma, as some games might require more than one game being uninstalled to fit in. The amount of time I have wasted playing Tetris (more like Columns) with my console’s storage trying to clear enough space without removing the games I am playing – or might play – is more than it should be.
Of course though, the question needs to be asked – how many games do you actually play at once? And the answer is that it doesn’t really matter, it’s about choice, it’s about being convenient and it’s about time. It’s also about being a hoarder. It doesn’t really matter if we never play a certain game, what does matter is that it’s there ready to go if we ever want to. There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting to play a game only to then have to wait for it to download again after you’ve deleted it.
The PS5 comes with a limited capacity of 667GB of usable storage
Thankfully Sony announced that PS5 owners would eventually be able to expand their console’s storage with a supported M.2 SSD. It took a while but it was finally introduced in September 2021. However, I decided I was going to see how long I could go without upgrading, after all my PS5 wasn’t getting the daily workout I thought it initially would. But even I was getting fed up with having to make room for every new title I got – I mean there’s only so many times you can put off uninstalling Cyberpunk 2077.
Earlier this month I was lucky enough to receive an Aorus Gen4 7000s 1TB SSD and it’s changed my life. Not in that I have a whole new outlook on life way, but more so that I no longer dread new releases because I know I don’t have to spend longer than I should be deciding what game should be sacrificed to Mark Cerny and the PS5 SSD gods.
One of the fears I did have was that I would stuff up the SSD installation, but installing the drive was easy as dying in Elden Ring thanks to a simple and effective guide that can be found on the PlayStation website. It’s worth noting that the only tools you need are a Phillips head screwdriver and a little bit of forearm strength.
The Aorus Gen4 7000s is a great option to expand your PS5’s storage
I tested a few titles running on both the PS5 SSD and the Aorus SSD and found no difference in performance. Games still boot up faster than I can doom scroll social media and open-world games had no issues with loading assets. But the main boon has been being able to instantly access more games in my library without the need to download them time and time again.
For most people, the biggest hurdle is going to be the cost involved. However, while it doesn’t come cheap, the Aorus SSD isn’t as expensive as you might think, with 1TB selling for around $279 at Mwave and other computer stores. Seagate and Western Digital also have options for the PS5, but both are more expensive and honestly, the Aorus more than holds up its end of the bargain.
In video games we often talk about quality of life features – things that just make everything a little easier – and expanding your PS5’s storage does just that. Gone are the days where I have to delete games based on how much storage it eats up, and now that I have more storage to play with I regret not doing it sooner. If you’re still juggling with your PS5’s initial storage, I would definitely recommend pulling the trigger on an expansion SSD, such as the Aorus Gen4 7000s. It may not change your life, but it’ll make gaming just that little bit easier.
Click here for more information on WellPlayed’s review policy and ethics
