New 1TB Western Digital Xbox Expandable Storage Card to Offer Cheaper Option Than Seagate

As game sizes continue to increase, the limited amount of internal storage on the consoles can quickly become a problem.

New, cheaper expandable storage options for Xbox consoles are on the horizon, as Microsoft appears to be opening up to other manufacturers beyond Seagate. A 1TB Western Digital expansion card for Xbox Series S / X has been spotted at Best Buy priced at $179.99, $40 less than the current Seagate option. Microsoft launched its exclusive Seagate expandable storage cards almost three years ago and despite seeing 512GB and 2TB options, prices have remained high. Hopefully, the addition of a new manufacturer for Xbox expandable storage will lead to more competitive pricing for consumers.

The Western Digital C50 1TB expansion card is a welcome addition to the Xbox expandable storage card lineup, as Microsoft decided to go with proprietary storage for its Xbox Series X / S consoles, which limits the options for consumers. Sony, on the other hand, chose a more flexible approach, offering an M.2 SSD expandable storage slot for the PS5, allowing owners to use a variety of drives available in the market.

While it’s unclear when Western Digital's new expansion card for Xbox will be available, the $40 price drop when compared to the current Seagate option is a promising sign of more competitive pricing. It remains to be seen whether other manufacturers will enter the market, but the addition of another option beyond Seagate is a good start for Xbox Series S / X owners who need to expand their console's storage.