PlayStation 5: Firmware update unlocks M.2 slot

Sony launches the internal memory expansion of the PlayStation 5 consoles. A new firmware update unlocks the M.2 slot, but the requirements are extremely strict.

Firmware update for PlayStation 5

Sony’s current console, the PlayStation 5, is equipped with 825 GB of NAND flash memory, which is naturally extremely tight for modern games. Expanding the memory via the internal M.2 slot has not been possible so far – but that is changing now.

Participants of the beta program get access to a new firmware update of the console that unlocks the built-in slot for SSD hard drives. Until now, the slot remained unused.

To get access to the beta program, a free registration on the manufacturer’s homepage is necessary. The only requirements are a minimum age of 18 years, as well as the possession of a PlayStation 5. Especially the latter is currently lacking due to the ongoing supply bottlenecks.

PS5 SSDs with strict requirements

However, not every M.2 SSD hard drive can be used with the PS5, the restrictions are extremely strict, as Sony reveals in its own FAQ. The prerequisite for compatibility is a PCIe Gen4 storage device with transfer speeds of 5.5 GB/s.

The recommendation of a heat sink for the SSD is also recommended according to Sony – both restrictions thus already exclude a large number of current M.2 SSDs. Hardware manufacturer Seagate, meanwhile, confirmed that its newly announced FireCuda 530 SSD is compatible with the PlayStation 5.

It currently starts at 500GB with an URP of €119.90. Four terabytes of memory are already priced at € 899.00. A variant with an active heat sink follows on August 31 and starts at a MSRP of € 139.90 in the 500 GB variant.