Western Digital Release First Officially Licensed M.2 SSD for the PlayStation 5 Console
Western Digital announced a partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) to provide global gamers with the first M.2 SSD officially authorized by PlayStation, the WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD dedicated to the PlayStation 5 game console, allowing players to expand the storage space of PlayStation 5.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 comes in two configurations, a PlayStation 5 Standard Edition with a Blu-ray drive, and a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition without an optical drive. Regardless of the version, the SSD has a capacity of 825GB, with only 667GB of space left for games and other data. For some players, such storage space is not enough. For example, GT7 needs more than 100GB, and Call of Duty even consumes 225GB for a complete installation. At this time, it is necessary to use the M.2 slot equipped with PlayStation 5 to expand the storage space.
Western Digital said that this SSD has been optimized for the PlayStation 5 game console, and has passed multiple scenarios to verify its performance and conducted comprehensive tests. The maximum read speed can reach 7000 MB/s. In the product specification, Western Digital reminds users that this SSD is not suitable for NAS or server-oriented functions. PlayStation 5 game consoles also need to be updated to version 21.02-04.00.00 or later to use this SSD before installation.
The WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD is available in two capacities, 1TB and 2TB, and the corresponding prices are $169.99 and $279.99. Western Digital said that it is currently available through the official online store or Best Buy, and will also be available through other retailers or dealers starting in mid-August 2022.
