@wargazsem-_mlbts said in PS5 will finally allow external HDD for storing PS5 games:
@pennstatefencer said in PS5 will finally allow external HDD for storing PS5 games:
First Major PS5 Update Coming Tomorrow IGN.com
It looks like tomorrow we will finally be able to store PS5 games on external storage. Of course you can't play the game off the external, but having this option is definitely nice if you purchase digital games since you can temporarily move games to save space as opposed to deleting and redownloading later from the store. This has been an Xbox Series feature since launch, so it's about time. Hopefully it works as advertised.
Playstation Extended Storage FAQ
In all honesty....how many games do you play continuously?
Right now I have have The Show, Wreckfest, Disco Elysium, Hunting Simulator 2, Zombie Army, Dirt 5 and Hitman 3 downloaded.
That gives me 270.1 GB in Games and apps.
Media Gallery 1.22GB
Saved Data 6.57GB
Other 40.56GB
Free Space 348.8GB
Hoarding is another problem all together.
@netranger6_xbl said in PS5 will finally allow external HDD for storing PS5 games:
Series X for the win
Poor child
On PS4 I have 229 games that I either purchased or got through Playstation Plus. Most of those are digital, and almost all are downloaded to the external currently plugged into my PS5. Am I playing through most of them on a regular basis? No, but I prefer having them downloaded on the external drive for easy access just like I prefer having physical games for a console I currently use on my media shelf and not packed up in a box in the basement. Ideally I would continue that same practice with PS5 games (which I now can).
The internal drive on the PS5 is 825 GB, but only 667 is available to use and we still don't have the ability to upgrade the SSD while Xbox has had one since launch. Maybe storage space hasn't been an issue for you (your average file size is 38.6 GB based on what you listed) but some games are 100 GB+ each. The ratio of storage space to game file size is pathetic this generation, but it is understandable since the new SSD's are so much more expensive. What isn't understandable is why Microsoft had enough common sense to allow external drives to at least be used as cold storage at launch while Sony had to play catch up. My best guess is that someone high up assumed the general public was too stupid to understand that PS5 games can't be played off an external HDD, and they decided to leave that feature on the cutting room floor to avoid confusion. They likely only revisited the idea after numerous complaints about storage space and some bad press from the media about it, alongside delays in SSD expansion.
While I'm fortunate enough to have high speed internet and no data cap, that is definitely not the case for everyone. It's faster and more convenient to juggle games between the internal and external drives than it is to delete and redownload from the store each time. The experience is still smoother on Xbox since you can just queue up your transfers and then go about your business, whereas on PS5 I think you still need to sit on the transfer screen, but at least it's available.
All of this is kind of a moot point though since the feature is now available. You can use it if you like, and if you don't need it, don't...