Its primary use case is to store large game installations between uses, cutting down on the need to constantly redownload files. This makes them particularly suitable for those with slow or limited internet connections. It’s a fantastic fit for Xbox Game Pass too, giving you the option to keep a considerable number of games on hand at a time.
As far as hard drives are concerned, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox also looks superb overall. It’s constructed from a sleek black plastic, decorated with an Xbox logo and a small strip of green LED lighting. It fits perfectly next to a black Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S 1TB console, though owners of white variants like the launch Xbox Series S or recent Xbox Series X Digital Edition might prefer to go for a white alternative to better fit their systems instead.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Price and availability
2TB costs $89.99 / £79.99 4TB costs $134.99 / £116.99 5TB costs $149.99 / £132.99
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is available in 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB capacity options which come in at roughly $89.99 / £79.99, $134.99 / £116.99, and $149.99 / £132.99 respectively. The 4TB model is the best value model, as it frequently receives substantial discounts to around the $90 mark. If you’re able to find it on sale for this price, I would definitely recommend snapping it up.
While it is the cheapest, I would try to avoid the 2TB model as that more limited storage capacity is going to fill up quite quickly – especially if you intend to use it for a few large, modern games.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Specs
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Price
$89.99 / £79.99 (2TB), $134.99 / £116.99 (4TB), $149.99 / £132.99 (5TB)
Capacity
2TB, 4TB, 5TB
Dimensions
0.8 x 2.99 x 4.47in / 20.5 x 76 x 113.5mm
Weight
249g / 0.55lb
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Design and features
Matches black consoles very well Green LED lighting is bright and attractive But looks out of place next to white consoles
As far as external hard drives go, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a stylish choice. It is constructed from sleek black plastic, which is pleasant to the touch and looks perfect placed next to a black Xbox console. In addition to small embossed Xbox and Seagate logos, there is a bright green LED positioned on the front of the drive lending it some extra flair.
I don’t have any complaints about the design, but I will say that it really stands out next to a white console. Given this drive’s price compared to a generic external hard drive, it’s undeniable that you’re paying a little more for the look. This makes sense if you own an Xbox Series X (or the black Xbox Series S 1TB) and want a fully color-coordinated setup, but not when it’s going to look out of place.
There are, of course, other reasons to choose this hard drive like its strong performance but it’s just something that owners of Microsoft ’s white machines should bear in mind. Seagate also makes a white Starfield Special Edition hard drive in 2TB and 5TB capacities, which could be a better choice in purely aesthetic terms.
Setup is easy right out of the box, as the drive comes packed with a Micro USB that can be slotted into a free USB port on the back of your console. It also comes bundled with a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which is a fun little bonus.
(Image credit: Future)
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Performance
Faster than a game download But slower than internal storage Still a good fit for Xbox Game Pass
I tested the 5TB model of this external hard drive and found it to be perfectly sufficient as a game storage medium, though noticeably slower than both external SSD options and the console’s internal storage.
To give some real-world examples of what it can do, I moved a handful of games to and from the drive on my personal Xbox Series S 1TB. Moving to the drive, a 14.5GB installation of Dustborn was transferred in just 1 minute 54 seconds while a 16.8GB installation of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst was copied over in just 2 minutes 8 seconds.
Increasing the file size yielded roughly proportional results, with a 40.3GB copy of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 accomplished in 5 minutes and 14 seconds. The two largest games I tested, the 74.3GB Dead Island 2 and the 104GB Forza Motorsport were then transferred in 9 minutes 49 seconds and 14 minutes 19 seconds respectively.
Speeds were similar moving games back from the drive. A 48.1GB copy of Agents of Mayhem , for example, took 5 minutes 40 seconds while a smaller 5.2GB installation of Rumble Roses XX was fully playable from the internal storage in just 39 seconds.
Unless you have some kind of NASA-level connection, all of these times are going to be significantly faster than an internet download – which is exactly what you want from the external hard drive. This would be especially useful if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber who loves downloading new games to try, as you will be able to keep a vast library of included titles saved and on hand whenever you want to dip back into them.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox? Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider… Consider these three alternatives if you’re not sold on the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox.
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Row 0 – Cell 0 Seagate Game Drive for Xbox
Toshiba Canvio Flex
WD Black P40 Game Drive
Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card
Price
$89.99 / £79.99 (2TB), $134.99 / £116.99 (4TB), $149.99 / £132.99 (5TB)
$55.99 / £58.99 / around AU$85 (1 TB)
$129.99 / £135.84 (1TB)
$199.99 / £179.99 (1TB)
Capacity
2TB, 4TB, 5TB
1TB / 2TB / 4TB
500GB / 1TB / 2TB
512GB / 1TB / 2TB
Dimensions
0.8 x 2.99 x 4.47 in / 20.5 x 76 x 113.5 mm
4.3 x 3.1 x 0.6 in / 111 x 80 x 15 mm
4.2 x 2 x 0.51in / 106.98 x 50.82 x 13mm
2.1 x 1.25 x 0.3in / 53 x 31 x 7mm
Weight
249g / 0.55lb
150g / 0.33lbs
77.1g / 0.17lbs
30g / 0.06lbs
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox
Used for over a month Tested with an Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X Performance compared to other storage devices
I tested the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox predominantly with my Xbox Series S 1TB console, but I also spent a few hours checking compatibility with an Xbox Series X. I tested the external hard drive for over a month, using it as my primary external storage device for all things Xbox.
During my testing of the drive, I compared the performance to that of other hard drives, including the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 and WD Black P10. I also checked how it would stack up against external SSD options, such as the WD Black P40 Game Drive, and the official Xbox Storage Expansion Card.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed December 2024.
