Sony considering external PS3 hard drive?

By Robert Purchese Published 7 May, 2008

Reeves promotes consumer choice.

SCEE boss David Reeves has admitted he is unsure if Sony will stick to offering only the 40GB PS3 unit.

Speaking to Eurogamer, he hinted towards the possibility of introducing official external hard drives as he delivered his vision of consumer storage choice.

"We launched with 60GB and to reduce the price we went to 40GB. We're not sure we want to stay with that configuration of hard drive, and I think what you're going to see in the future is maybe consumers can choose," Reeves told Eurogamer.

"The PlayStation will stay the same, but consumers can choose whichever size of hard drive they want. They can now, or course, because it's not a proprietary hard drive."

"It might be that we will offer the possibility for people to have a bigger hard drive, but they have that option now. But it does not mean that we have anything in the works to introduce a different model or bigger hard drive built in," added Reeves.

You can plug external hard drives into the PS3 using a USB cable attachment, as Reeves pointed out, as well as buy 2.5 inch SATA (laptop) hard drives and swap them with the one inside your console.

The key in all of this for Sony is simplicity, because it knows that works. It also has a very low system failure rate and is in no rush to upset it.

"We've played the games with the hardware, with different hard drives and things like that, and we want to keep it very, very simple. We know that works," said Reeves.

"We've got a very, very low return rate on the machines that are out; we've got a great supplier, so we'll keep that simple. We're just going to play the tunes with the games, both at retail and online."

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (63) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Inquisitor #1 4 years ago

    He's tying himself in knots trying to explain that one :p

    Good effort but he's sort of given the game away, why even mention something so convoluted if you're not going to do it.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 15:02

  • cyacomini #2 4 years ago

    Here we go again - 120gb drive? That'll be £129.99 squire.

    Sony, Microsoft - auch what's the difference..

  • lambtron #3 4 years ago

    Bring back backcompat.

    That is all.

  • urban #4 4 years ago

    i got a 250gb hdd for mine because the 80gb of music doesn't quite fit on a 60gb hdd =]

    plus, i got it mega cheap £35 on ebay.com

    bless their crippled economy.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 15:11

  • Weebleboy #5 4 years ago

    @cyacomini

    The difference is that Sony let you install any old 2.5" SATA drive, and Microsoft make you buy a proprietary one?

  • JaysonG #6 4 years ago

    C'mon David... BC, Bigger HD and DS3 you know it makes sense

  • BlueDot #7 4 years ago

    Somehow I get visions of messages like "Your hard disk is not an authorised Sony's product. You are not allow to do xyz on it".

  • RazorObsession #8 4 years ago

    i suppose with all the game installations over the course of a lifetime, the ps3 will need a bigger hard drive eventually. i guess thats future proofing PR hes spinning there.

  • X201 #9 4 years ago

    Rob!,
    Typo

    They can now, or course,


  • Zander #10 4 years ago

    Sony have definitely been more user friendly in this department compared to microsoft. Standard hard drives, standard usb cables for charging, standard bluetooth headsets and they even let you install linux (though i am not sure why you'd want to on a console??).

  • f01re #11 4 years ago

    320GB internal for 70 quid...

    http://ww w.scan.co.uk/products/productin...
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 15:49

  • oreillymj #12 4 years ago

    install linux (though i am not sure why you'd want to on a console??).


    Well you can run Firefox & Thunderbird in Linux with all the nice extensions they allow.

    I'm pretty sure you could also download the latest version of flash for PPC have that run also.

  • miiiguel #13 4 years ago

    Zander, they forgot to include the HDMI cable though...
    Or, they might just want give the consumer the choice...

    And, ppl often forget that non-forum users don't want to be bothered with intaling discs on a console.

  • Blerk #14 4 years ago

    I might be being picky here, but where in that story does he even mention that Sony is 'considering an external hard drive'. He says you can update your own internal drive or plug in a USB drive and that at present they're not changing the internal model's size. Did you miss the quote or something?

  • SeesThroughAll #15 4 years ago

    Zander, they forgot to include the HDMI cable though...
    Or, they might just want give the consumer the choice...

    You mean, just like MS forgot to include the HDMI output at launch? Now, it's OK though. Seeing as you bought the 360 three times already, you're bound to have gotten at least one with that option.

    A hundred pounds for a 120GB is a great option though, for all those loyal clients who bought the cheapest alternative.



    Rocks and glass rooftops, you know...

  • drxym #16 4 years ago

    My guess is a slim will appear before the year is out. I wonder if they're sticking with a 40Gb to give more incentive for people to buy a premium slim if / when it appears.

    BTW its incredibly easy to expand the PS3's storage. Any USB storage device will do, or a 2.5" SATA drive if you're confident enough to whip out the old drive.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 16:00

  • Quint2020 #17 4 years ago

    Sort of like the 360 then?

    hopefully more choice than 20gb or your right arm for 120gb

  • miiiguel #18 4 years ago

    SeesThroughAll, err..., I never understood the hdmi thing though..., my Elite output is as nice as my "day one" Premium. About the HD-size, and as I live in Portugal where there's no movie service nor the games need instalation, I never went above 8-10 gb. As a matter of fact I just bought the Elite "because", I didn't really need it... (the other one was a gift from gf who was in US, it doesn't run PAL games though, but it's kinda nice for "historical reasons";).

    And I'm not "loyal" to any company (just to friends, family, and SCP), as I would never (not) buy anything because of such "funny fellings". I was just saying that I found it very strange after all that talk about "true HD" and then it didn't even include a cheap cable, I mean... would they bankrupt if they included a damn cable with the box ?

  • moggsy #19 4 years ago

    He sounds like someone's confused grandad.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 16:14

  • SeesThroughAll #20 4 years ago

    And I'm not "loyal" to any company (just to friends, family, and SCP), as I would never (not) buy anything because of such "funny fellings". I was just saying that I found it very strange after all that talk about "true HD" and then it didn't even include a cheap cable, I mean... would they bankrupt if they included a damn cable with the box ?

    You are aware that they've been losing more money out of hardware costs than all of their competition from day one, though. The scham is indeed obvious to most people, and hasn't helped them that much.

    It's not like they would get bankrupt, but then they get more profit from the overpriced cable. ;)
    Come on, at least there's plenty of cheaper third-party cables to go round, and they will work fine (and in some cases, better) than the ones from Sony.

    SCP? Tambem eu! :D

  • miiiguel #21 4 years ago

    ;)
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 16:16

  • skillian #22 4 years ago

    I might be being picky here, but where in that story does he even mention that Sony is 'considering an external hard drive'. He says you can update your own internal drive or plug in a USB drive and that at present they're not changing the internal model's size. Did you miss the quote or something?

    Er, this is what I thought. The headline seems pretty different to what's actually inside the article :/

  • Zander #23 4 years ago

    @oreillymj

    I just meant why bother - get an actual PC for that stuff!

    @ miiiguel

    Im not trying to get into some fanboy argument (not that i am suggesting you are) but a) ms didn't even make hard drives a standard (which causes developers issues) and b) the xbox isn't even wifi right outta the box! I mean having a moan about sony labeling ps3 "true HD" when ms talk about xbox being "next gen" and not being wireless *out of the box* (even the wii has it!) is a bit odd. Oh and with the non forum comment - at least sony gave you the CHOICE to install a standard hard drive.

    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 16:26

  • tonynibbles #24 4 years ago

    It's true - HDD doesn't matter as you can pick up any drive you like easily enough from where you like. No biggie.

  • zedzee #25 4 years ago

    @ lambtron & JaysonG:

    Couldn't agree more, guys. Between you, you've just mentioned my 3 criteria for getting a PS3.

    If Sony doesn't do it, then they can STUFF themselves for this generation - I'll wait until the next. I've got PLENTY of perfectly good PS2 and PSP games that I want to finish, so they will keep me busy for a long time.

    I'm not what you might call a hardcore gamer that finishes games quicker than the developers might say it will take, but I have been loyal to the PlayStation brand. Until the debacle that was the UK launch of the PS3.

    It was late, too expensive, lacked in specification (in contrast with the Japanese/US models), had limited BC (now none!) and no DualShock3 either! Shambles, pathetic and daylight robbery is all I can say about that.

  • SlackMaster #26 4 years ago


    Hmm, didn't Sony criticize Microsoft for offering choice a little while back, saying that it'd be too confusing for the general public.

    So what he's saying is that's all ok now… and on top of that we're thinking of reducing the size of HDD in future bundles and charging you an arm and a leg for an external drive.

    Why do this if you can already plug whatever drive you want into it? Why not add an update to allow the use of large external USB drives for storage, caching etc?

    Hmm, I'm just waiting until they introduce the lube and ask us to bend over.

  • jaywalker3010 Verified Mastering Manager, Square Enix #27 4 years ago

    Maplins selling a 500GB HD for 69.99.. How effing cheap is that

  • Aretak #28 4 years ago

    "So what he's saying is that's all ok now… and on top of that we're thinking of reducing the size of HDD in future bundles and charging you an arm and a leg for an external drive."

    That's actually not what he's saying at all. I have no idea where Eurogamer got the title of this piece from. It certainly wasn't anything Reeves said there.

  • miiiguel #29 4 years ago

    Zander, I was comenting a PS3 article, was not comparing boxes.

    I can whine about MS not including a rechargeable batteries, if this was a 360 article, because I thing MS should have done it. I think some (? most ?) users, due to "funny feelings" lost their critical spirit. Regarding PS3, it's realy noticeable, maybe due to PS2's background... I have lots of Live mates who have no problems to point 360 faults, but my PS3 buddies have this need to say everything's perfect (one though, once, made an honest comment and said "you gota give us a break, we're used to PlayStations, since we were kids...";).
    I just can't have that kinda relationship with a brand/company, I couldn't even dream of not having a 360 this gen, or a PS2 the gen before. Life's too short for that "thing".
    Edited by 2 at 07/05/08 @ 16:34

  • iancognito #30 4 years ago

    I was comenting a PS3 article, was not comparing boxes.

    Sounds more like you were commenting that the PS3 isn't as good as the Xbox, and having a bit of a moan about it not coming with an HDMI cable by default. I thought this was an article about an external hard drive.

  • miiiguel #31 4 years ago

    @ iancognito, my original post:
    "Zander, they forgot to include the HDMI cable though...
    Or, they might just want give the consumer the choice...

    And, ppl often forget that non-forum users don't want to be bothered with intaling discs on a console. "

    Can you find the Xbox word in there?

    Anyway, I'm outa here, you guys are obsessed with Xboxes. lol.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 16:39

  • Zander #32 4 years ago

    fair enough miiguel, but you cannot really comment on the ps3 or xbox without comparing. They are after all direct competition. Your point would not even had been valid if xbox didn't also supply the HDMI cable. I remember when the inputs used to be AV but no one moaned about not getting a scart cable (because no company supplied both so there was now arguments).

    Anyway yeah there is a lot of bitching it just seem to find MS fan boys worse than PS3 ones.

  • Arwin #33 4 years ago

    External HDDs already work with the machine. All they need to do is support external HDDs for booting games and such and everybody is going to be happy enough I think, if USB 2.0 is fast enough at least.

  • SeesThroughAll #34 4 years ago

    if USB 2.0 is fast enough at least.

    It is.

  • MyPointIs #35 4 years ago

    I'm still angry about the loss of backwards compatibility.

    I'm a spoilt brat who wouldn't mind having a PS3 next to my 360 and Wii. But in order to do that I would have to get rid of my PS2 (and keep the games). Three consoles under the TV it's ok. Four is sick.

  • iancognito #36 4 years ago

    That was your original post miiiguel, but you sent started on about the Xbox, saying about this, which didn't seem much related to a PS3 hard drive:


    I never understood the hdmi thing though..., my Elite output is as nice as my "day one" Premium. About the HD-size, and as I live in Portugal where there's no movie service nor the games need instalation, I never went above 8-10 gb. As a matter of fact I just bought the Elite "because", I didn't really need it... (the other one was a gift from gf who was in US, it doesn't run PAL games though, but it's kinda nice for "historical reasons";).

    The original point from Zander was "Sony have definitely been more user friendly in this department compared to microsoft" which I think is a fair point, but you didn't seem to agree with that either. Perhaps if he'd said MS were great you'd have been happy ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 16:59

  • KayJay #37 4 years ago

    "All they need to do is support external HDDs for booting games"

    This...

    I have a 60GB Launch and that is now Chocca Block with Games, Music, Vid's & Photos. I also have nice Freecom 500GB sitting next to it with the rest of my files but it cant hold the games... :-( If it could I would be larffin...

  • SeesThroughAll #38 4 years ago

    @iancognito:

    He was replying to me, I actually explicitly referred to the 360 first, and my point was that neither manufacturer did a great job on HDMI support.

  • Moz #39 4 years ago

    think he's trying to make it clear to people that they can upgrade the harddrive or use a USB,as i'm guessing alot of jo public don't know this, whilst at the same time letting people know that there will be a Playstation branded USB hard drive (hopefully not a ripp off) and this will also make it clearer to people that your not stuck with just 40Gb

  • sargemat #40 4 years ago

    The amount of install space games are taking up on my PS3 is far to much. Sony do you know how much space it takes up on my 360's hard drve to install 0kb.

  • Beano #41 4 years ago

    An external HDD is a bit silly IMO when upgrading the internal HDDs is cheap and (fairly) easy. But I quess a external HDD is far easier for most users to install and nice enough to give consumers the choice. The 360 HDD upgrade solution is far slicker and user friendly - just a shame it's WAY to expensive.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/08 @ 17:30

  • whoelse #42 4 years ago

    I think by the end of the year, they should definitely have a bigger hard drive in Europe. 80GB is a good start. Games take up so much space. Also id like to see PlayStation 3 branded internal hard drives. I don't think a lot of the consumers realize the hard drive can be upgraded. They see the retailers stocking Xbox hard drives but no PS3.

  • Beano #43 4 years ago

    @whoelse : I agree. Sony should consider offering HDD upgrade kits also. PS3 branded HDD's ready for insertion in the bay with a easy-to-understand guide for doing this. For people who would normally be turned off by reseaching which HDD brand/model to buy but still able to do some simple hardware upgrading.

  • YourMessageHere #44 4 years ago

    I never knew you could use a generic external drive with the PS3. They kept that quiet. I just got a £70 500GB Seagate external disc for my PC, that should hold all the media you could ever want, and leave the internal disc for games, and with some creative cabling will presumably also allow you to save things from a PC to the HD and then play them through the PS3 without any unplugging. Obviously the ideal solution would be to allow game installs on the external drive too, but it's hardly a terrible limitation if you clear your drive of non-game stuff, surely?

  • Beano #45 4 years ago

    "They kept that quiet."

    I belive it's fully described in the manual how to do a HDD upgrade :)

  • JaysonG #46 4 years ago

    @ zedzee

    That's exactly how I feel.

  • Miths #47 4 years ago

    You can't actually install PS3 game data on an external HDD, can you? At least I don't seem to recall that option popping up when I've had my USB disk plugged in (although it has admittedly been a while since I stream media directly from my PC).

    Optional - or even mandatory - game installations can certainly be a good idea if they speed up game load times and performance, but that tiny 40 GB internal disk is really not cutting it with all the PS3 games released with mandatory 2-4+ GB installs.
    To make room for new games, I've several times had to go back and delete data files for games I hadn't played in a few weeks, but wasn't necessarily entirely done with.

    But of course replacing that internal disk with a 120 or 250 GB model is pretty damn cheap (probably a lot cheaper than the extra cost would prove to be if Sony decided to make a eg. a 250 GB PS3 model), so I guess it's probably just a matter of time before I do the upgrade. What's been holding me back so far is really mostly the fear of something going wrong during the disk replacement (whether screwing something up in the disk bay - I've been known to get a bit aggressive with a screwdriver if something appears to be stuck :), or risking corrupted backups of save games, user profiles etc.).

  • KayJay #48 4 years ago

    @jaywalker3010 "Maplins selling a 500GB HD for 69.99.. How effing cheap is that "

    Mind this if you are getting it for your PS3 its NTFS and if i remember correctly you will need to format it to FAT32...

    I am going to go for one of these... 320GB internal

    And one of these to keep my stock 60gb in... Caddy

  • Dizzy #49 4 years ago

    This looks like marketing speak for "we are going to launch a HDD less model".

  • Nill #50 4 years ago

    Since I'm looking to buy a PS3 very soon: did I understand correctly that I'll be able to connect an external third party hard-drive of my choice, and it'll offer full functionality, contrary to what the locked-down, DRMed Xbox 360 would?

  • GamesConnoisseur #51 4 years ago

    " What's been holding me back so far is really mostly the fear of something going wrong during the disk replacement (whether screwing something up in the disk bay - I've been known to get a bit aggressive with a screwdriver if something appears to be stuck :), or risking corrupted backups of save games, user profiles etc.)." Miths

    That fear is understandable, as I had replaced my 60gb hdd with 250 gb last year as knew even 60 gb would not cut it and indeed had 9 gb or so left with several games install in, last year. Sony engineered bastards put the screws on too tight, that the enclosure cage was buckled in and I could not remove 3 or so screws as the threads all worn away!

    Managed after long struggle and much pouring of sweats! Worh it though, got MSO Beta, demos, and most game data/installs in with still 120 gb or so left.

  • Zander #52 4 years ago

    The issue with hdd game installs on ps3 - Couldn't they have sped up the blu-ray drive instead? I mean not like the jet engine dvd drive in the xbox but a comfortable middle ground?? Or is blu-ray too new for multi speed reads?

  • KayJay #53 4 years ago

    Replacing/Changing/Swapping the HDD on your PS3 does not void or invalidate the standard manufacturers warranty.

    Why did "SONY MESSED BIG"?

    Yeah we could moan and cry about the Stock Drives being to small, 40, 60 & 80 GB.
    But allowing the owner to replace thier HDD as easily as it is then surley thats a win...

  • FladgeMangle #54 4 years ago

    @ Dizzy

    That's what I thought too. Probably setting us up for the yet-to-be-announced "slim and shite" PS3s.

  • mcmothercruncher #55 4 years ago

    "DOESNT THAT VOID YOUR WARRENTY SOUNDS LIKE SONY MESSED BIG DONT BE SURPRISSED IF THEY STOP 40G GO BACK TO 80G............."
    What just happened here?!

  • YourMessageHere #56 4 years ago

    @ beano

    I don't have a PS3 so my knowledge of the manual is lacking, but this information vs. the much smaller likelihood of being able to do it with an XBox puts another tick in the "get a PS3" column, and I imagine I'm not the only one. The fact they don't make a selling point of this feature is pretty mysterious, especially given the high number of external HDDs out there nowadays and Sony's drive to convince consumers this is as much a media machine as a gaming machine.

  • Triggerhappytel #57 4 years ago

    Just make the damn machine smaller. It's a big, ugly bastard at the moment.

  • miiiguel #58 4 years ago

    Me prefers a gamesbox pure and simple, don't realy like to go MacGyver on a console, but that's me...

  • 3william56 #59 4 years ago

    "Sony considering external PS3 hard drive?"

    Er, No. because half the games wouldn't work, nor would DLC from the PSN. Or firmware updates. etc. etc.
    As Blerk pointed out - he never said this. Come on, EG, wake up.

    What is much more likely is to ship PS3s with no hard drive, then allow shops to add whatever size HDD the customer wants. Harvey Norman in Australia already does this - can request a 320gb PS3 from the shop and they'll put it together for you before you pick it up.

    Yourmessagehere: the manual has instructions on how to change the drive (and there's vids on the net). It's a cinch - the only issue sometimes is that the carrier for the HDD has tiny screws that are very tight, and prone to stripping when you try to remove the old drive. But you can buy new caddies from Sony, so even that is easy enough.

    Nill: you can use an external HDD for anything except games - can't save game data, downloaded games, or installs to the external drive. Media - movies, music, pics (including downloaded), and system backups are the main use.

  • Shakey_Jake33 #60 4 years ago

    I love Eurogamer to bits, but you guys have really been screwing up with your stories these past few weeks.

    The PS3 already supports external HDD's. It has done since day one. It would be great if they added support for loading of games from an external drive, but he doesn't make any hint that they would do this. And as others have noted, you've also been able to swap the internal drive since day one. There's even an option on the XMB called 'Backup Data' to aid this. They've never 'kept it quiet', you just didn't know for some reason.

    There's no implication that Sony would release an officially-branded external drive, and it would be unnecessary anyway.

    Oh and there will never be a HDD-less PS3, because not only do an increasing amount of PS3 games require HDD installation, but the large majority of other games rely on the HDD for cache. This is possible on PS3 (and original XBox) because of the mandatory HDD. It is not on the 360 because the presence of a HDD cannot be guarenteed.
    Edited by 1 at 08/05/08 @ 08:05

  • penhalion #61 4 years ago

    Actually this drive thing seems to be down to the install of games actually threatening to cause 40gb models to run out of space! Anyone who got GTA or Devil May Cry (and presumably this will be the case with RE5 too) will know that the installs aren't optional.

    Looking at things going forwards, it's plain to see that a 4gb install here and a 7gb install there (just the two games mentioned) is already 11gb gone from the 40 you start with. At that rate you'd need to be uninstalling data (not counting saves, themes, your music, any videos etc. etc.) after buying only a handfull of games.

    Dispite what hardcore gamers say about the ease of swapping for a 250gb drive. The majority of PS3 owners don't know how or even care that this is possible. As a result, this is a major issue the Sony have chosen to do something about at an early stage. So credit where it's due I say.

  • kangarootoo #62 4 years ago

    @kj66246

    Good find dude, that drive caddy is well cheap. IDE and SATA support as well. Nice one. :)


    "DOESNT THAT VOID YOUR WARRENTY SOUNDS LIKE SONY MESSED BIG DONT BE SURPRISSED IF THEY STOP 40G GO BACK TO 80G"

    Is that some kind of turing test perhaps? A computer programmed specifically to try and pretend it is an illiterate internet kid?

  • MuppetThumper #63 4 years ago

    give me solid state. I won't be upgrading my 5 year old laptop until solid state comes as standard. hard drives are things of the past.