Xbox Series S Has 364GB of Usable Storage Space

Xbox Series S' 512GB SSD allows for 364GB of usable space for storage of games, apps, captures, and more. IGN can confirm that 148GB is reserved for the console's operating system and essential system files. While not unexpected, it does lead to questions about exactly how many games players will be able to store on their new console, especially with file sizes ballooning in recent years. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-xbox-series-x-games&captions=true"] We found out earlier this year that the Xbox Series X uses 198GB of its 1TB drive for the same files. On Xbox Series X, that's 19.8% of storage space used before players can touch it, while Series S sees just under 29% of storage space reserved. Hopes will be pinned on Microsoft's promises that Xbox Velocity Architecture will reduce game sizes, and that Xbox Series S games will also apparently come in around 30% smaller than on Xbox Series X, but it feels likely that, like last generation, game sizes will grow over time, which could cause problems for Series S users over time. An (expensive) solution will be the official Seagate 1TB expansion drive, which adds 920GB of usable space to the Series X and S. USB 3.1 external hard drives can also be used to store games, but stored games won't receive the benefits of Xbox Velocity Architecture, which improves load times and performance. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/xbox-series-xs-official-next-gen-walkthrough"] We've reviewed both new Xbox consoles today. We awarded Xbox Series X an 8/10 review, calling it "a quiet, compact, laser-targeted games machine that should make 4K/60fps gaming the wonderful new norm, but it currently lacks must-play games." Series S got a 7/10 review, saying it "could shine as a second console, but it's hard to recommend as your primary gaming platform due to its 1440p resolution and claustrophobic storage capacity." The Xbox Series X and S are coming on November 10. Xbox Series X retails at $499 USD / £449 / $749 AUD, while Xbox Series S comes in at $299 USD / £249.99 / $499 AUD. Xbox Series X and S are currently sold out ahead of launch but, with more units promised, keep an eye on our Xbox Series preorders page - and if you want to know everything about the consoles before you nab one, we have our Xbox Series X and S guide. You can check out the tech specs, features, and comparisons for Xbox Series S, which swaps power for size and price, on our wiki. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.