PS5 Internal Storage Expansion, More Features Coming Soon Via Firmware Update: Report

KEY POINTS

The update will allow the cooling fans to run faster to prevent overheating of the console
By design, owners can remove the faceplates of the console to access the expansion slot
PS4 games can be played via an external hard drive

PlayStation 5 features that have been software locked since its launch might soon be available. Sony is reportedly planning to distribute a firmware update this summer, which will enable PS5 owners to upgrade the limited storage space of their game system.

The information was revealed by Sony insiders who did not wish to be identified, Bloomberg reported.

In addition to the memory expansion option, it will also allow the cooling fans to run faster to prevent the console from overheating.

By default, the standard and digital edition versions of the PS5 both ship with a proprietary NVMe SSD listed at 825 GB. A portion is used up by the operating system and other essential applications, which leaves users with only 667 GB. The space soon becomes an issue as next-generation titles on average come in at no less than 40 GB.

For example, Activision’s latest “Call of Duty” installment reportedly clocks in at about 133 GB, which, if installed on the PS5, would take up a sizable amount of its internal storage.

On top of processing power, Sony’s system developers engineered the console with an optimized storage medium to address lengthy loading times, Bloomberg reported.

Thus, it would be impractical for the PS5 to read games from an external hard drive like the PS4 as the slower data transfer speeds will bottleneck its overall performance.

However, once the rumored firmware update drops a few months from now, gamers would finally be able to unlock one of the PlayStation 5’s advertised functionality. By design, owners can easily remove the faceplates of the console to access the M.2 SSD expansion slot.

“PS5 features an expansion port that will, in the future, enable players to add M.2 SSD storage to be used for installing and playing PS5 games,” wrote PlayStation senior director for global content, Sid Shuman, on the PlayStation Blog.

He also said information about the types of devices PS5 will support will be announced in the future. On the other hand, PS4 games can still be played via an external hard drive much like how the previous game system did.