Western Digital’s Storage Expansion Cards for Xbox Series X/S Are Available Now

Following a leak that occurred a few months ago, Western Digital and Microsoft have formed a partnership to develop storage expansion cards for the Xbox Series X/S consoles. This collaboration aims to provide Xbox users with additional storage options to enhance their gaming experiences.

The newly introduced storage expansion cards, known as the Western Digital WD_Black C50, come in two storage configurations: 500GB and 1TB. The 500GB variant is priced at $79.99, while the 1TB version retails for $149.99, which is the same price as Seagate’s 1TB storage expansion card. Currently, both configurations are available for purchase on Western Digital’s official website. Best Buy also offers a listing, although it only includes the 1TB model at the moment.

This announcement is significant as it marks the first time that Xbox has unveiled a new expandable storage card option not manufactured by Seagate since the launch of the Xbox Series X|S nearly three years ago. In contrast to Sony’s PlayStation 5, which utilizes M.2 SSDs for expandable storage, Microsoft has opted for a proprietary storage solution for its fourth generation of home gaming consoles.

One notable advantage of the Xbox Series X|S storage option is its user-friendly nature, as the expansion card can be easily plugged into the rear of either console. This stands in contrast to the process involved in expanding storage on the PS5, which requires opening up the console. However, a major drawback for Xbox owners was that they could only purchase an expansion card from Seagate, and even the 512GB option came at a considerable price.

With the introduction of the Western Digital WD_Black C50 storage expansion cards, Xbox users now have a wider range of choices and price points when it comes to expanding the storage capacity of their consoles. This partnership between Western Digital and Microsoft signifies a step forward in offering enhanced storage flexibility and affordability to Xbox Series X|S owners.