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Best external SSD for gaming
January 07, 2026
Back in the early days of gaming, storage wasn’t even part of the conversation. Pong didn’t need it, and classics like Tennis for Two ran on room-sized machines with barely enough power to keep the pixels bouncing. Every byte was precious and developers squeezed code into impossibly small spaces because memory was both expensive and limited.
Fast forward to today, and the story couldn’t be more different. Modern titles demand storage the way RPGs demand grinding — constantly. Games like Call of Duty, Cyberpunk and I can easily top 100GB each — and that’s before updates, DLC or mods come into play. It’s a kind of digital lifestyle creep: no matter how much space you start with, your drive eventually feels too small ... just like how closets somehow always end up full.
The good news? You don’t need to delete your favorite games or juggle installs. An external gaming SSD offers a sleek solution with the speed, capacity and portability gamers actually need. High performance external SSDs slash load times, improve responsiveness and let you carry your library anywhere without compromise. And with trusted names like Seagate leading the way, you can expand your storage without sacrificing performance or reliability. That means more games, faster launches and zero interruptions when it matters most.
Seagate SSDs offer the reassurance and expertise of years in the industry, combined with an understanding of exactly what today’s gamers need.
Compact, travel-ready and stylish, One Touch SSD delivers up to 1,030 MB/s transfer speeds and as much as 2TB of dependable storage. It’s lightweight and shock-resistant, with simple USB-C plug-and-play for Windows® or Mac®.
The One Touch SSD allows you to keep game files and large projects close at hand, wherever you play.
Build a premium 1TB game vault and keep every generation of Xbox® titles ready to play. The officially licensed Game Drive for Xbox SSD lets you store Xbox Series X|S games and launch Xbox One titles directly from the drive, so you never have to juggle installs.
USB 3.2 Gen 1 speed delivers quick load times, while a bold Xbox-green LED bar adds an unmistakable glow to your setup. Lightweight and bus-powered, it’s plug-and-play in under two minutes. Just connect the USB cable and take your library anywhere.
The officially licensed Game Drive External PS5® SSD expands your PlayStation® library with 1TB or 2TB of high-speed capacity, letting you store PS5® games and play PS4® titles directly from the drive. Keep in mind, to play PS5® titles, they must be moved back to the console’s internal NVMe storage.
Its sleek design with a PlayStation®-inspired blue LED light strip matches your console, while USB 3.2 connectivity and included USB-C and USB-A adapters give you a plug-and-play setup with no external power needed.
It even includes a 14-day PlayStation® Plus Premium/Deluxe trial to kickstart your next gaming session.
Small enough to fit on a keyring yet tough enough for travel, the Ultra Compact SSD delivers up to 1,000 MB/s transfer speeds with direct USB-C connectivity for true plug-and-play use across PCs, phones, tablets and gaming consoles.
Built with three-meter drop protection, IP54 water and dust resistance—plus a rubberized grip— it keeps your files and games safe wherever you go, while its eco-conscious design uses at least 35% recycled materials.
Lightweight, cable-free and backed by Rescue Data Recovery Services, it’s a durable pocket-sized drive ready for everyday gaming and beyond.
| Model | Capacity options | Interface | Warranty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Touch SSD | 1TB/2TB | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) | Three years | Gamers with moderately sized game libraries who value speed and portability |
| Game Drive for Xbox SSD | 1TB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Three years | Xbox users who want to expand game library storage, especially legacy titles |
| Game Drive External PS5 SSD | 1TB/2TB | USB 3.2 Type-C; USB-C to USB-A adapter included | Three years | PlayStation® gamers who want an external SSD to store PS5® and PS4® games off the console |
| Ultra Compact SSD | 1TB/2TB | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) | Three years | Users who need a super-compact, durable SSD to expand storage of consoles with USB-C ports |
Seagate’s external SSD lineup works across the major gaming platforms. Match each drive’s interface to the fastest available port and follow the platform-specific guidelines below to get the best experience.
You can play and manage games directly from any Seagate external SSD, just connect and go. For help picking the right drive type for your PC gaming setup, consider how port speed and capacity affect load times and transfers.”
For the best performance, match the drive’s interface to the fastest port on your system. For example, use a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port for the FireCuda gaming SSD to get its full 2,000 MB/s speed, or connect the One Touch SSD to a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port to take advantage of its 1,030 MB/s transfer rate.
See our storage recommendations for a high-performance gaming PC.
Use an external PlayStation® SSD to store PS5® games and play PS4® titles directly from the drive, giving you extra space without having to delete older favorites.
Because PS5® games must run from the console’s internal NVMe storage, you’ll move a PS5 title back to internal storage when you’re ready to play it. This method allows players to maintain a larger game library, ready to swap titles in and out quickly.
You can also free up space on your Xbox without deleting other games. An external Xbox SSD can store Series X|S games and play Xbox One or other backward-compatible titles directly from the drive.
Series X|S-optimized games must run from the console’s internal storage or from a Seagate storage expansion card, so when you’re ready to play those next-gen titles, simply move them back internally.
This approach lets players maintain a larger library and swap games in minutes, keeping the internal drive reserved for the titles that need its full speed.
Finding the best internal or external SSD for your PC or gaming system depends on how and where you play. A few key factors will help you narrow the options before you buy: interface, capacity and portability.
Thinking through interface, capacity and portability before you buy can save you time and money. The right match means faster load times, enough space for your entire library, and a drive that fits how and where you play.
With Seagate’s range of external SSDs, you can scale your gaming setup with confidence and keep every title ready when you are.
The faster the connection, the faster your load times. If your PC or laptop supports it, USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Gen 2×2 (and the newest USB4) will let high-performance drives like the FireCuda Gaming SSD reach their top speeds.
For console gamers who simply need a place to keep a growing library, USB 3.2 Gen 1 offers plenty of bandwidth.
Game file sizes keep growing and even mid-range titles can top 100 GB. 1-2TB is enough for most players to keep a healthy mix of favorites installed, while 3-4TB is a better fit if you want room for multiple AAA releases without constant uninstalling and reinstalling.
Think about how often you move your setup. A FireCuda Gaming SSD suits a desk-based rig and adds RGB flair for those who want a visual centerpiece.
The One Touch SSD slips into a pocket for easy travel, and platform-specific drives like the Game Drive for Xbox SSD or Game Drive External PS5® SSD provide plug-and-play convenience, if you mainly play on consoles.
If you’re choosing between an external hard drive and SSD for PlayStation® gaming, SSDs deliver speed and portability while hard drives offer more budget-friendly capacity.
Seagate drives are built for gamers who want their setup to just work. Seagate drives are built to deliver peace of mind as well as performance. Every model is backed by a three-year warranty and, on select drives, Rescue Data Recovery Services, so you’re protected even if the unexpected happens.
The hardware itself is designed for the long haul: durable housing, dependable flash technology and interfaces that keep pace with the fastest ports on today’s PCs and consoles.
Setup is effortless. Just plug in once and start playing. Each drive works across devices without extra drivers or complicated steps.
Each drive — from the RGB-lit FireCuda® to the keyring-sized Ultra Compact — Seagate blends reliability with a sleek design, so your storage expands smoothly and looks good doing it. With Seagate, you can focus on the game, knowing your saves, screenshots, and massive installs are safe and ready whenever you are.
Your gaming library deserves room to grow. Seagate offers an external drive for every style of play, so you can build your powerful PC setup, explore every PlayStation® title or keep an Xbox collection ready to launch. You have the freedom to play the way you want.
With Seagate’s fast performance, dependable warranties and gamer-ready designs, you can spend more time playing and less time managing space. No more deleting old favorites or trying to curate which titles you’re most attached to. Expand for new games or revisit your favorite titles using best-in-class storage.
Ready to expand your world? Shop Seagate SSDs and keep every game at your fingertips.
Expand your gaming library with Seagate SSDs
You can store PS5® games on a Seagate external SSD, but to play PS5® titles, you must move them back to the console’s internal NVMe storage. But, external SSDs can run PS4® games directly, making them ideal for expanding your library without deleting older games.
A Seagate external SSD can store Xbox Series X|S games and play Xbox One or other backward-compatible titles directly from the drive.
Xbox Series X|S games must run from the console’s internal storage or a Seagate Storage Expansion Card, so you’ll need to move those titles back internally when you’re ready to play.
For smooth performance, aim for USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds around 1,000 MB/s, which easily handles most game libraries.
If you frequently transfer very large files or want the shortest possible load times, choose a Gen 2×2 drive with speeds near 2,000 MB/s to maximize performance to experience how an SSD boosts gaming speed and performance.
Casual gamers who keep a moderate collection of titles typically need 1TB to 2TB. If you regularly install multiple large AAA games or capture lots of gameplay clips, consider 3TB to 4TB to avoid constant file management.
Yes, as long as the handheld device supports the drive’s interface. Most modern handheld PCs with a USB-C or USB 3.2 port can connect directly to Seagate external SSDs for fast, portable game storage and quick transfers.
