PS5 Sneakily Unveiled with Reduced Storage Capacity: A Silent Nerf Alert

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PlayStation 5 Faces Potential Storage Reduction in New European models

London, United Kingdom – September 16, 2025 – Gamers in Europe may soon receive a version of the PlayStation 5 with less storage space, according to recent reports. A newly identified “Chassis E” model of the digital-edition PS5 is slated to revert to the original 825GB solid-state drive, a reduction from the 1TB capacity found in subsequent iterations of the console.

A Shift in Storage Capacity

The PlayStation 5 initially launched in 2020 with 825GB of storage. Later models increased the capacity to 1TB to accommodate the growing size of modern games. This shift back to the smaller storage size is currently isolated to the European market.

This change occurs against a backdrop of price adjustments for the PS5, and also its competitors, the Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch. As 2020, all three consoles have experienced price increases, a departure from the traditional industry practice of lowering prices over a console’s lifecycle.

Economic Pressures and Consumer Impact

Sony has attributed the previous price increases to a “challenging economic surroundings.” Industry analysts suggest that the reduction in storage capacity may be another method of managing costs, effectively delivering a less feature-rich product without a direct price reduction. Some observers are characterizing it as receiving a diminished version of the console, rather than benefiting from a price cut.

The average game size has consistently increased in recent years. According to Statista, the average AAA game now requires approximately 70-100GB of storage space. Statista. This means that even with the 1TB version, players often need to rely on external storage solutions or frequently delete and reinstall games.

PlayStation 5 Model	Storage Capacity
Original PS5 (2020)	825GB
Later PS5 models	1TB
Reported “Chassis E” Model (Europe)	825GB

Did You Know? The playstation 5 utilizes a custom-designed SSD to achieve incredibly fast loading times, a key selling point of the console.

Pro Tip: Regularly check for system software updates to optimize your PS5’s performance and storage management.

What do you think about the reports of a storage downgrade? Will this affect your decision to purchase a PlayStation 5?

Understanding SSD Storage in Gaming Consoles

Solid-state drives, or SSDs, have revolutionized the gaming experiance by providing significantly faster loading times compared to traditional hard disk drives. This is particularly important for modern games with large open worlds and complex textures. The speed of the SSD directly impacts how quickly players can jump into games, travel between areas, and experience seamless transitions.

The 825GB and 1TB capacities refer to the total amount of data that can be stored on the drive. Though, a portion of this space is reserved for system software and essential files, leaving slightly less available for games and other content.

Frequently Asked Questions about the PlayStation 5 Storage

• What is the difference between an SSD and a HDD? An SSD is much faster than a traditional HDD, resulting in quicker loading times and improved overall performance.
• Will the storage reduction affect game performance on the PS5? The storage capacity itself won’t directly impact performance, but having less space may require more frequent game deletions and installations.
• Can I upgrade the storage on the PlayStation 5? Yes,Sony allows users to expand the storage using compatible NVMe SSDs.
• Is the storage reduction limited to Europe? Currently, reports indicate that the storage reduction is only affecting PS5 models in Europe.
• What is the “Chassis E” PS5? It is speculated to be a revised model of the digital edition PS5 reverting to an 825GB SSD.

Share your thoughts on this development in the comments below!

Is the decrease in usable storage space on newer PS5 models due to a change in the SSD’s flash memory controller,and does this impact game installation capacity?

The Shifting Landscape of PS5 Storage

Recent reports and teardowns of the newest PlayStation 5 models (specifically,the CFI-2016 and CFI-2017 series) have confirmed a significant,and largely unannounced,change: a reduction in internal storage capacity. While the advertised storage remains at 825GB, the usable space for games has decreased. This “silent nerf,” as many gamers are calling it, impacts how much you can install without resorting to external PS5 storage solutions.

Understanding the Storage Breakdown: What’s Changed?

Initially, the PS5’s 825GB SSD offered roughly 667GB of usable space after accounting for system software. However, the newer models now provide approximately 616GB of usable storage. This represents a loss of around 51GB.

Hear’s a detailed breakdown:

* Original PS5 (CFI-1000/1100): 825GB total, ~667GB usable.

* New PS5 (CFI-2000/2016/2017): 825GB total, ~616GB usable.

The reason for this reduction stems from a change in the SSD’s flash memory controller. Sony opted for a more cost-effective, but less dense, controller. While performance remains largely unaffected – PS5 load times haven’t demonstrably increased – the practical impact on game installations is substantial.

Why the Silent Change? Cost Optimization & Supply Chain Issues

Industry analysts believe this change is primarily driven by cost optimization and ongoing supply chain constraints.The original SSD components were expensive and difficult to source consistently. Switching to a different controller allowed Sony to maintain production volume while reducing manufacturing costs.

This isn’t unprecedented. Companies frequently make minor hardware revisions throughout a console’s lifecycle. Though, the lack of clarity surrounding this change has frustrated many PlayStation 5 owners.

Impact on Gamers: What Does This Mean for Yoru Library?

The reduced storage capacity directly affects how many PS5 games you can have installed concurrently. Modern AAA titles are increasingly large, often exceeding 100GB.

Consider these scenarios:

1. Original PS5: Could comfortably store 5-7 large games.
2. new PS5: May only accommodate 4-6 large games.

This necessitates more frequent game deletions and re-downloads, or investment in PS5 SSD upgrades.

Expanding your Storage: Options and Recommendations

Fortunately, several options exist to mitigate the impact of the reduced internal storage:

* Internal SSD Expansion: Sony officially supports compatible NVMe SSDs for internal expansion. Look for drives meeting the required specifications (PCIe Gen4 x4, read speeds of 5500MB/s or faster). popular choices include the Western Digital SN850 and Samsung 980 Pro.

* External USB HDD: While slower than an internal SSD, an external hard drive provides a cost-effective solution for storing less frequently played games. You can easily transfer games between the external HDD and the PS5’s internal storage. Note: You cannot play PS5 games directly from an external HDD.

* External USB SSD: Offers a balance between speed and cost. Faster than an HDD, but generally more expensive than an internal NVMe SSD.

Real-world Examples & User Reports

Online forums and social media are filled with reports from users discovering the reduced storage capacity after upgrading to the newer PS5 models. Many express disappointment at the lack of interaction from Sony regarding this change. Several tech reviewers have also confirmed the storage reduction through detailed teardowns and testing. The Finnish marketplace, Tori.fi,currently lists used Playstation 5 consoles in Helsinki and Espoo (as of 2025-09-16) ranging from €350 to €450,highlighting the continued demand and resale market for the console. This also suggests users are possibly upgrading or selling older models to finance storage solutions.

Benefits of Upgrading Your PS5 Storage

Investing in additional storage offers several benefits:

* Larger Game Library: Keep more of your favorite games installed and ready to play.

* Faster Load Times (with SSD): Internal SSD upgrades substantially reduce loading screens.

* Convenience: Avoid the hassle of constantly deleting and re-downloading games.

* Future-Proofing: Ensure your PS5 can accommodate the ever-increasing size of new game releases.

Practical tips for Managing PS5 Storage

* Prioritize Games: Regularly uninstall games you’ve finished or rarely play.

* Utilize storage Management Tools: The PS5’s system software provides tools to view storage usage and identify large files.

* Consider cloud storage (for Backups): PlayStation Plus offers cloud storage for game saves, providing a backup in case of storage issues.

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