SanDisk Gives XBOX Series X|S Owners Three New Storage Options, Starting at $109.99

SanDisk is giving XBOX Series X|S owners another storage option with three new expansion cards, although the extra competition is not bringing lower prices. The Optimus GX C50 Storage Expansion Card comes in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities and is built to deliver performance similar to the consoles’ internal SSD. For XBOX owners running out of gaming storage, the new range offers more choice without requiring games to be moved between different drives.

More storage choices

The Optimus GX C50 plugs directly into the dedicated expansion slot on the back of an XBOX Series X or Series S. Its use of XBOX Velocity Architecture provides high-speed, low-latency performance designed to match the internal SSD.

That means compatible Series X|S games can run directly from the card. Conventional external hard drives and SSDs can provide cheaper storage, but many games optimised for the current consoles cannot be played directly from them. Larger game libraries have consequently made storage an important part of current gaming trends.

Using the dedicated XBOX Expansion Slot, the GX C50 lets players add storage without opening the console. That convenience could help put it among the best gaming accessories for owners who regularly keep several large games installed.

The guaranteed storage performance is also useful for game development, as XBOX games can be designed around the capabilities of Velocity Architecture rather than different external drive speeds.

Competition brings no bargain

The 512GB Optimus GX C50 is listed at $109.99, followed by $199.99 for 1TB and $339.99 for 2TB. Those prices are notable when compared with earlier XBOX expansion cards.

Seagate’s original 1TB card launched alongside Series X|S in 2020 at around $220. Its prices later fell, with Seagate listing 512GB for $89.99, 1TB for $149.99 and 2TB for $279.99 following reductions in 2023. Western Digital subsequently entered the market with a 500GB option at $79.99 and 1TB at $149.99.

When Expansion Cards first arrived, additional manufacturers and falling storage costs were expected to help bring prices down over time. Six years later, SanDisk has become the third supplier, but its new cards remain more expensive than the reduced prices offered by Seagate and Western Digital in 2023.

More competition therefore has not necessarily made this part of gaming cheaper. The cards nevertheless represent another example of gaming industry innovations aimed at making storage expansion behave like built-in hardware.

Launch price unclear

Current pricing may not be permanent. VGC reports that SanDisk’s website indicates regular prices of $137.99 for 512GB, $249.99 for 1TB and $424.99 for 2TB. That suggests the announced figures could be introductory pricing, although the company has not provided a timeframe for any increases.

Buyers will also receive one-month trials of XBOX Game Pass Ultimate and Discord Nitro. The cards are listed on SanDisk’s website with a “Notify Me” option rather than a firm release date, so availability has yet to be confirmed. As game development continues producing storage-heavy releases, XBOX owners now have another expansion option, but the convenience still comes at a substantial price.