Xbox Series X internal SSD has 802GB of usable storage

Xbox Series X Storage Expansion (Image credit: Microsoft)

What you need to know

Xbox Series X launches with 802GB of usable storage, reports IGN.
While the Xbox Series X launches with custom 1TB internal NVMe SSD, the operating system (OS) and system files occupy a portion of the drive.
The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox provides an opportunity to upgrade your onboard SSD storage, available for preorder at $220 in the U.S.

Microsoft launches the Xbox Series X console this November, and with devices now in the hands of select media outlets, we're gaining a clearer understanding of its launch offering. For both Xbox Series X and its affordable counterpart, Xbox Series S, some of the primary gains come from a custom NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) bolstering storage with faster speeds. The Xbox Series X ships with a 1TB internal drive, with reports now claiming 802GB of usable space for your games and content.

While the Xbox Series X ships with 1TB onboard, the operating system (OS) and system files occupy a slice as space, as the case with other modern consoles. It cuts into the portion of quoted space usable for game installs, with a recent hands-on from IGN claiming 198GB remains reserved out of the box. The figure falls in line with the Xbox One X launched in 2017, which saw a similar allocation for its 1TB internal hard drive.

Xbox Series S SSD Expansion Port — Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

The usable space on the Xbox Series S remains less clear, with its smaller 512GB SSD expected to fill up fast when cycling between games. It comes during a time when titles frequently surpass 100GB each, with expandable storage near-essential for added flexibility with your installs. Microsoft claims Xbox Series S titles should occupy 30% less space than Xbox Series X games, although with results from both in-house and third-party titles yet to be seen.

The Seagate Storage Expansion Card is Microsoft's solution for Xbox Series X and Series S, a 1TB external SSD (920GB usable) matching the internal speed. The compact cartridge slots into a dedicated, rear-facing port, with PCIe 4.0 connectivity providing a direct line to the CPU. While USB storage also works, only backward compatible titles run on the drives. Our full guide for Xbox Series X and Series S expandable storage provides additional context for those further questions.

The Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox isn't cheap, with its bleeding-edge specifications resulting in a $220 RRP in the U.S. It's understandable for the SSD technology inside, even if nearing the cost of the Xbox Series S console.

Expand your SSD

Seagate 1TB Game Drive for Xbox Series X, S

Microsoft and Seagate partner up with a dedicated 1TB NVMe SSD expansion card for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. The cartridge slides into the rear, unlocking the same PCIe 4.0 connectivity, with up to 40 times increases over the Xbox One hard drive.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

Xbox Series X: Everything we know
Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
List of Xbox Series X specs
What is the Xbox Series X release date?
How much does Xbox Series X cost?
Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
Best Xbox Series X Headsets

Matt Brown was formerly a Windows Central's Senior Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional consumer technology and gaming coverage, he’s focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.