How Many Games Does the Xbox Series S Hold?
As an avid gamer and content creator focused on the latest gaming hardware, one of the most common questions I see about the Xbox Series S is just how much usable storage it has for games out of the box. The Xbox Series S contains a 512GB internal solid state drive (SSD), but you only get 364GB of usable space to work with for installing games, apps, DLC packs, and more.
At first glance, 364GB may seem quite limiting considering that modern triple-A game file sizes often range from 30GB on the low end up to a staggering 150GB+ for the most visually impressive titles. However, the Xbox Series S leverages cutting edge storage technology to offset its smaller drive size.
Blazing Fast Performance
The Xbox Series S utilizes a custom NVME SSD drive boasting 2.4GB/sec raw read speeds. In my experience testing the latest games on Series S, this ultra fast storage delivers incredible load times even with 100GB+ games. The velocity architecture works wonders!
Storage Compared to Other Consoles
The 364GB usable storage space on the Xbox Series S compares to about 664GB usable on the PS5‘s 825GB drive. And the Xbox Series X dwarfs them both with its 1TB capacity netting about 800GB usable.
However, it‘s important to note that the Series S costs just $299, while the PS5 starts at $399 and the Series X at $499. So there are certainly some understandable storage trade-offs at the Series S‘s very affordable price point while still supporting fantastic next-gen gaming.
Average Game File Sizes in 2022
According to data collected by gaming hardware company Seagate, the average disc size for top Xbox titles in 2022 was around 43.3GB. PS5 game file sizes were found to be generally larger at about 65.3GB on average. Some key statistics:
- Largest Xbox game as of 2022: Forza Horizon 5, 116.4GB
- Largest PS5 Game as of 2022: Call of Duty Vanguard, 148.0GB
- Over 30% of Xbox titles now exceed 70GB
As you can see, modern games demand sizable storage space. So getting the most out of the Xbox Series S involves a bit of creative storage management.
Xbox Series S Storage Breakdown
| Storage Type | Capacity | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Internal SSD | 364GB | 7-15 average sized games |
| External USB HDD | Varies by drive | Stores Xbox One/360/Original backwards compatible games |
| Seagate Expansion Card | 1TB or 2TB | Expands capacity for Xbox Series X |
Seagate Storage Expansion Cards
The awesome thing about the Xbox Series S and X consoles is that Microsoft designed them to support Seagate‘s proprietary 1TB and 2TB expansion cards. These cards slot into the back of the consoles and perfectly match the internal SSD speeds and performance.
So while the Xbox Series S starts with just 364GB out of the box, you have an easy option to boost capacity to 1.3TB+ down the road. A quick example:
- 364GB Internal SSD: 7-15 average games
- + 1TB Seagate Expansion Card: 35+ more average games
For hardcore gamers willing to invest in storage upgrades, you can store a monstrous gaming library across internal and external storage!
Xbox Game Pass Mitigates Storage Pressures
Finally, I think Xbox Game Pass is a perfect companion service for the Xbox Series S. Game Pass grants unlimited access to over 100 curated games for a monthly/annual fee.
The beauty is that Game Pass titles can be instantly streamed to your Xbox without needing to be permanently installed! This on-demand game streaming vastly alleviates local storage limitations. Kudos to Xbox for creating the ultimate game subscription package.
So in summary – the 364GB usable SSD in the Xbox Series S allows for around 7-15 average sized game installs out of the box. Seagate expansion cards let you massively boost capacity when needed. And Game Pass streaming helps minimize installs eating up precious SSD space.
For just $299, I believe the Xbox Series S delivers absolutely incredible next-gen gaming performance and value. With some savvy storage management, you can build a huge Xbox game library! Let me know if you have any other questions.
