Seagate Game Drive for Xbox Review: Best Storage Solution for Game Pass
If you’re in the market for an external hard drive for your PlayStation, the Seagate Game Drive for PS4 and PS5 is an excellent choice. While it may carry a slightly higher price tag than generic options, it stands out as one of the best storage solutions for PlayStation gamers, offering exceptional performance and a generous amount of space to accommodate many of the best PS4 and PS5 games.
The Seagate Game Drive for PlayStation is far more budget-friendly than Sony’s official storage expansions and is available in larger capacities, such as 2TB and 4TB. However, it does come with limitations tied to its design as an external drive. Specifically, it cannot be used to run PS5-optimized games directly, making its main purpose one of supplementary storage rather than active gameplay.
This drive is ideal for storing massive game files, reducing the need to repeatedly download them, which is particularly beneficial for gamers dealing with slower internet speeds or data caps. It’s also a great companion for PlayStation Plus members, allowing users to keep a significant number of downloadable games ready to go without straining the internal SSD.
Notably, games originally released for the PS4, as well as older PlayStation titles available through backwards compatibility, can be played directly from the external drive. However, loading times will generally be longer compared to playing from the internal SSD. This makes the Seagate Game Drive an excellent solution for players with extensive collections of PS4 games who wish to free up their PS5’s internal storage. PS4 owners also benefit, as this drive seamlessly integrates with their systems to provide extra space for their gaming libraries.
Aesthetically, the Seagate Game Drive for PlayStation is a standout. It features a clean, black plastic casing adorned with subtle PlayStation branding and a sleek blue LED accent. This design complements the black PS4 and PS5 consoles beautifully, although those with the white PS5 Digital Edition or other white console variants may want to consider alternative color options for a more cohesive look.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Price and Availability
- 2TB: $79.99 / £62.75
- 4TB: $134.99 / £105.90
- 5TB: $149.99 / £117.66
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is offered in 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB capacity options, priced at approximately $79.99 / £62.75, $99.80 / £78.29, and $149.99 / £117.66, respectively. Among these, the 4TB variant stands out as the best value for money, frequently discounted to around the $90 range. If you come across such a deal, it’s highly recommended to grab it without hesitation.
While the 2TB option is the most affordable, it’s less practical for gamers with larger libraries or those who plan to store several modern, space-intensive games. The limited capacity can fill up quickly, making the higher-capacity models a much better investment.
Seagate 2TB External HDD
$79.99
Seagate 4TB External HDD
$134.99
Seagate 5TB External HDD
$149.99
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Design and Features
- Blends perfectly with black consoles
- Bright green LED adds a touch of style
- Stands out awkwardly next to white consoles
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a sleek and stylish external hard drive that pairs beautifully with black Xbox consoles. Its black plastic casing has a premium feel and complements the aesthetics of an Xbox Series X or the black Xbox Series S 1TB model. The subtle embossed Xbox and Seagate logos add a professional touch, while the bright green LED strip at the front brings a bit of flair to the design.
While the design is well-thought-out, it may not be ideal for owners of white Xbox consoles. Next to a white Series S or the Xbox Series X Digital Edition, the drive’s black-and-green color scheme might feel out of place. At this price point, which is slightly higher than generic hard drives, part of what you’re paying for is the drive’s aesthetic appeal. If your setup includes a black console, the visual harmony makes the extra cost justifiable. However, for white console owners, Seagate’s white Starfield Special Edition Game Drive (available in 2TB and 5TB capacities) might be a more fitting alternative.
Functionally, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a breeze to set up. It comes with a Micro USB cable that connects effortlessly to any available USB port on your console. As a bonus, the drive includes a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, giving users a chance to explore a vast library of games right away.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Performance
- Faster than downloading games
- Slower than internal storage and SSDs
- Excellent for Xbox Game Pass users
I tested the 5TB model of the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox and found it to be a capable storage solution for managing a game library. While it doesn’t match the speed of the console’s internal storage or external SSDs, it performs admirably for its intended purpose.
In real-world usage, I transferred several games to and from the drive on my Xbox Series S 1TB. A 14.5GB installation of Dustborn took just 1 minute and 54 seconds to move onto the drive, while Mirror’s Edge Catalyst (16.8GB) completed in 2 minutes and 8 seconds. Larger file sizes produced proportionally longer transfer times, with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (40.3GB) taking 5 minutes and 14 seconds.
The biggest games I tested—Dead Island 2 (74.3GB) and Forza Motorsport (104GB)—were transferred in 9 minutes 49 seconds and 14 minutes 19 seconds, respectively. Similarly, transferring back to the internal storage yielded consistent results, such as a 48.1GB copy of Agents of Mayhem in 5 minutes 40 seconds and a smaller 5.2GB game (Rumble Roses XX) in just 39 seconds.
Compared to downloading games, these transfer times are significantly faster unless you have access to extraordinarily high-speed internet. This makes the drive especially valuable for Xbox Game Pass subscribers who enjoy exploring a variety of titles. With this drive, you can save a vast number of Game Pass inclusions and have them readily available, eliminating the need for frequent downloads. It’s a practical solution that enhances your gaming convenience.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Specs
| Price | $79.99 / £62.75 (2TB), $99.80 / £78.29 (4TB), $149.99 / £117.66 (5TB) |
| Capacity | 2TB, 4TB, 5TB |
| Dimensions | 0.8 x 2.99 x 4.47in / 20.5 x 76 x 113.5mm |
| Weight | 249g / 0.55lb |
Should I Buy the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox?
Buy it if…
You want a more affordable storage expansion
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a budget-friendly alternative to the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, allowing you to increase your local storage capacity without breaking the bank.
You’re sick of waiting for game downloads
If running out of storage space constantly forces you to uninstall games and endure long download times, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox offers a practical solution. Store your games locally and return to them instantly without waiting for re-downloads.
Don’t buy it if…
You want to play modern games natively
External hard drives, including the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox, cannot run Xbox Series X|S optimized games natively. If you want to play these games directly from storage, you’ll need to invest in a Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card instead.
Also Consider…
If you’re not entirely convinced by the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox, here are three excellent alternatives worth considering:
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox
- Price: $79.99 / £69.99 (2TB), $134.99 / £116.99 (4TB), $149.99 / £117.66 (5TB)
- Capacity: 2TB, 4TB, 5TB
- Dimensions: 0.8 x 2.99 x 4.47 in / 20.5 x 76 x 113.5 mm
- Weight: 249g / 0.55lb
Toshiba Canvio Flex
- Price: $55.99 / £58.99 / ~AU$85 (1TB)
- Capacity: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Dimensions: 4.3 x 3.1 x 0.6 in / 111 x 80 x 15 mm
- Weight: 150g / 0.33lb
A budget-friendly alternative, the Toshiba Canvio Flex offers a sleek silver design without Xbox branding. It’s compact, portable, and available in capacities up to 4TB, all at a significantly lower cost.
WD Black P40 Game Drive
- Price: $129.99 / £135.84 (1TB)
- Capacity: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Dimensions: 4.2 x 2 x 0.51 in / 106.98 x 50.82 x 13 mm
- Weight: 77.1g / 0.17lb
The WD Black P40 Game Drive is an external SSD that offers superior speeds compared to traditional hard drives. It’s smaller, lighter, and faster than the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox but comes with a steeper price tag and a maximum capacity of 2TB.
Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card
- Price: $199.99 / £179.99 (1TB)
- Capacity: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- Dimensions: 2.1 x 1.25 x 0.3 in / 53 x 31 x 7 mm
- Weight: 30g / 0.06lb
For those who want to play Xbox Series X|S optimized games directly from an external storage device, the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card is the only option. However, its high price makes it a premium choice for gamers seeking top-tier performance.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Looks great with green lighting
- Easy to set up and use
- Decent speeds for a hard drive
- Up to 5TB capacity
- Month of Xbox Game Pass is a neat bonus
Cons
- Branding comes at a premium
- Black aesthetic doesn’t match white consoles
Conclusion
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox offers a solid balance of affordability, capacity, and convenience for gamers seeking extra storage. With up to 5TB of space, it’s an excellent solution for Xbox Game Pass users who need quick access to a large library of games. While not as fast as an SSD or Xbox Series X|S expansion card, its transfer speeds are still impressive compared to downloads.
Its sleek design, especially the green LED, complements black Xbox consoles, but it may clash with white models. Overall, it’s a great option for players looking for extra storage without breaking the bank.
