Its Monday and time for Ask Kotaku, the weekly function in which Kotaku-ites deliberate on a single burning question. Then, we ask your take.
This week we Ask Kotaku: Is 512GB enough storage for Microsofts just-announced, next-gen console Xbox Series S?
Alexandra.
In 2020, with games consistently taking in tens of gigabytes and sometimes over a hundred, 512GB is the absolute minimum a “next-generation” system could use with a straight face. And just as with those 8 and 16GB phones, 512GB Xbox Series S owners are going to feel the area squeeze.
The concern asked was “is 512GB enough?” Its sufficient to operate, absolutely. However its insufficient to spare lots of users a continuous struggle to manage storage over the consoles anticipated lifespan, locking them into a continuous cycle of downloading, deleting, and re-downloading games as requirements and impulse dictate. (Or, pay out for an upgrade.) What a hassle.
While noticeably better, its not like the Xbox Series Xs 1TB or the PlayStation 5s 825GB are enormous, either. Were in an irritating period in which the space requirements of high-end games have actually outmatched the affordability of solid-state drive storage. Between these consoles and a long-overdue PC I want to build, I truly hope SSD rates fall quickly enough to reach games somewhat over the next few years.
If it currently is one, cant brick a phone. [taps temple] Image: Loic Venance/ Staff (Getty Images).
Stephen.
I strangely delight in managing downloads to my consoles, and I do think that maxing out area on my PS4 or Xbox One harddrive has actually played a role in encouraging me to just finish a game currently– or just choose to not complete it and let it go– so I can delete it. In that method, a digital storage constraint can be healthy for those of us who attempt to play too lots of video games and require to be conserved from having an unlimited backlog.
2nd caution: 512 GB may not be enough, however if the Xbox One vs. PS4 vs Switch digital storage management experience is anything to go by, an Xbox Series S may a minimum of offer users great tools for dealing with the minimal space. Downloads on PS4 are a debacle of setups, file-copying and a slow user interface bereft of helpful info. Downloads on Switch are likewise uncomfortable to track. The Xbox One, nevertheless, prominently shows the quantity of area you have on your harddrive in the same part of the dashboard that reveals you which apps and video games you have. (Until I inspected again today, it tended to likewise show your download speeds and progress throughout an active download all in that exact same area. I hope they didnt remove that!) Ideally the Series S/X control panel will be as user-friendly.
Goodnight, sweet prince.Screenshot: Sony/ Kotaku.
One area Microsofts Xbox UI might have a leg up on PlayStation 4s. Screenshot: Microsoft/ Kotaku.
It is a metaphor.Photo: Staff (Getty Images).
Ash.
No, its inadequate, but yes, it actually is. Hear me out. With the method brand-new video games are now 80-90 gigabytes apiece, a 512GB hard disk is merely inadequate. However! With cloud storage to protect my development and the ability to redownload video games Ive bought whenever I please, it does not matter. The method I– and I imagine most busy millennials– play games means that even if my disk drive is at capacity (and looking at my PS4, it is) Im never ever concurrently playing all 4 or 5 video games that itll take to fill that thing. When a brand-new video game comes along Im more than delighted to erase to free up space. Mentioning, I need to get rid of Kingdom Hearts III.
Ethan.
When I complete, it kind of looks like a Jenga tower right before its about to fall. “When the dishwashing machine finishes Ill simply take out all the tidy stuff and put them inside and run it once again,” I believe to myself. And then I go to sleep, and ultimately its morning, and now I have to unload the dishwasher and load it up but I havent even had my coffee yet so I do not and before I know it the kitchen areas a mess and in some way were still out of clean forks.
Moral of the story is that if I cant even expend the extra brain power to figure out how to clean up all my meals at when Im not going to be figuring out the finest method to Jenga the shit out of 512GB so I can actually play all the games I desire to play when I want to play them. Many of them are live-service now too, constructed around consultation video gaming: 30 minutes on Rocket League, an hour on Final Fantasy XIV, finish some Destiny 2 bounties, clear out an enemy camp in Ghost of Tsushima.
My PS4 is 500GB and I can barely fit 8 games on it. I have no idea what next-gen will bring however somehow much smaller sized games with fewer updates does not seem like its in the cards and I am not prepared to spend 15 minutes every night handling uploads and downloads and hunting for the Ethernet cord so it doesnt all take an eternity. I essentially already do this on my PC, which for the last 5 years has lived exclusively off of a 256GB SSD. That shit is quick. It also barely fits Phantasy Star Online 2. Im not going to put myself through that for an entire other console gen.
Ari: “June 9, 2014: the minute I understood I d purchase a new Xbox simply for a brand-new Halo.” Photo: Barone Firenze (Shutterstock).
How About You?
Kotakus weighed in, however whats your take? Is 512GB enough for you? Or does the rather little drive put you off a digital-only console like the Series S? Have your say. Well be back next Monday to dispute and ponder on another unpopular problem. See you in the comments!
The method I– and I imagine most hectic millennials– play games means that even if my difficult drive is at capacity (and looking at my PS4, it is) Im never at the same time playing all 4 or 5 video games that itll take to fill that thing. Where it when could hold a robust library of video games, my launch-edition Xbox One presently has space for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Halo 5: Guardians, and a turning handful of smaller sized games, depending on what Game Pass offerings are for any provided month. I chose and caved up an Xbox One for The Master Chief Collection (even though that video game didnt start working till 4 years later). I strangely take pleasure in managing downloads to my consoles, and I do believe that maxing out space on my PS4 or Xbox One harddrive has played a function in motivating me to just complete a game currently– or simply decide to not complete it and let it go– so I can delete it. The Xbox One, however, prominently reveals the quantity of space you have on your harddrive in the same part of the control panel that reveals you which apps and games you have.
Ari.
Video games, of course, have actually ballooned in size over the course of this last console generation. Where it when could hold a robust library of video games, my launch-edition Xbox One presently has space for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Halo 5: Guardians, and a turning handful of smaller sized games, depending on what Game Pass offerings are for any offered month. Seven years from now, will the Xbox Series S have space for whatever version of Halo Infinite were on, and absolutely nothing else?
Truth informed, as long as it has room for Master Chief and pals, thats great enough for me. I purchased the very first Xbox for Halo: Combat Evolved. I purchased the Xbox 360 for Halo 3. I picked and caved up an Xbox One for The Master Chief Collection (although that video game didnt start working until four years later on). Ill practically surely get some manner of next-gen Xbox box for playing Halo Infinite in all its splendor. 512GB is, I d hope, fine enough for that.
