Testing the Seagate Game Drive SSD for PS5, an officially licensed PlayStation model

Game Drive PS5 SSD

Packaging

The disc box is compact, which gives a first glimpse of the small size of the device. It features PlayStation’s iconic colors, white and blue, which align with the brand’s visual identity. Several elements immediately catch the eye: the PlayStation logo, confirming that this is an officially licensed product, as well as a PlayStation Plus sticker affixed to the corner, adding a touch of legitimacy. The disc is compatible with the PS5, but also with the PS4.
Seagate clearly indicates the capacity of the model tested here, i.e. 2 TB, and announces a transfer speed of 1,000 MB/s. We also note that the disk benefits from a 3-year warranty. Finally, a nice aesthetic detail: the disc is equipped with a blue light ring reminiscent of that of the PlayStation 5.

In the box we find the external SSD hard drive, a USB-C power cable, a second USB-C to USB-A cable, a user guide, a warranty document, as well as a subscription of 14 days to PlayStation Plus Premium which gives access to hundreds of games from the catalog and other exclusive benefits. There is no carrying pouch but despite its pocket size, it is not intended for travel.

Features

This external hard drive has compact dimensions with a height of 1.5 cm, a width of 8 cm and a depth of 12.25 cm. It offers 2TB of storage capacity and weighs only 167g, combining high capacity with light weight.

• – Disc type : External hard drive
• – Technology : SSD (Solid State Drive)
• – Storage capacity : 2 To (2000 Go)
• – Interface : USB
• – Color : Blanc
• – Dimensions : Length: 1.5 cm, Width: 8 cm, Depth: 12.25 and Height: 12.3 cm
• – Weight : 167 g

Design

Like the Seagate external hard drive for Xbox One, Seagate has placed the PlayStation logo at the top left of its drive. At the bottom right, we also find the Seagate logo, which reinforces the official character of the product and highlights the partnership between the two brands.

On the rear side of the drive, we find the ultra-fast USB 3.2 Type-C port, offering ideal transfer speeds for easily handling large files, as well as a small LED indicating the operating status of the drive. All around, two distinct parts are clearly visible: the lower part on which the disc will rest, and the upper part. Between the two, a blue light strip adds an aesthetic touch on the front of the disc. Everything is perfectly designed, with the exception of one small detail: I would have added small non-slip pads under the disc to avoid any risk of slipping.

Installation

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but the disc is of course fully compatible with PC and Mac. The only difference is disc formatting, which may prevent simultaneous playback on all media at once. In all cases, Seagate recommends keeping the drive 10 cm from the console to minimize electromagnetic interference.

Sur PS4

Even on the PS4 Pro, there is no USB-C port. You will therefore need to connect the disk to one of the Super-Speed ​​USB ports available on the front or back of the console.

On PS5

Depending on which model of PS5 you have, there is at least one USB-C port on the front of the console and one USB-A port on the back. You can therefore connect the disk according to your preferences. Only the speed will vary, as USB-C allows data transfer of up to 10 Gbps.

Configuration

What is surprising is that after connecting the hard drive to the console, it does not display a message as is often the case when installing an internal drive. To check that the disk is recognized, simply go to the storage section of the console where the USB Extended Storage tab appears.

In Extended Storage, the console displays the 2TB Seagate hard drive. The console gives you several options for managing storage space. She suggests using a USB drive formatted as extended storage to move your games and free up space on the console’s internal storage. If you want to play PS5 games stored on the external drive, you’ll need to copy them back to the console’s internal storage, a quicker operation than reinstalling. In contrast, PS4 games can be installed directly to USB extended storage and played from there. Plus, if you’ve ever used a USB external storage drive on a PS4, you’ll be able to use it on your PS5 as well.

In the “Games and applications” section, the console offers to free up space. By selecting your games, you will then be able to choose from all the available media. For me, this includes M.2 SSD or USB drive.

Last thing, but not least: the disc automatically turns off and on with the console. However, if you need to unplug the drive while the console is on, remember to use the option to safely remove the drive.

Seagate Drive Overview