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How we picked: We haven’t tested these ourselves. This guide is built from manufacturer specs, platform support pages, Best Buy prices we checked on September 30, 2026, and patterns in owner reviews.
Your console is full. You deleted one game to fit another, and now you’re eyeing the next big release and doing the math again. That’s the most common gaming complaint of 2026, and it’s about to get louder.
Grand Theft Auto VI arrives on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Even the boxed copy won’t help you: Rockstar says the physical version holds a download code, not a disc, and pre-loading starts November 12. Rockstar hasn’t said how big the game is. Whatever the number, it has to land on your console’s storage.
Here’s the catch. Storage costs a lot more than it did a year ago, because the chips inside SSDs and memory cards are going to AI data centers first. Consoles got pricier too: Nintendo raised the Switch 2 to $499.99 on September 1, citing the same memory costs. So the best gaming accessories this holiday aren’t the flashy ones. They’re the ones that fix a problem you already have, at a price that still makes sense.
The quick answer
Buy storage first. For PS5, get the Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink (1TB). For Xbox, the Seagate Storage Expansion Card (1TB) is the better deal per gigabyte right now. For Switch 2, the SanDisk 256GB microSD Express card doubles your space. If storage is handled, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is the headset to get for PS5, Switch 2 and PC. Under $30, the Sony DualSense Charging Station is the gift nobody regrets.
Who this guide is for
This is for you if you own a PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Switch 2 and want one or two upgrades that make a daily difference, or you’re shopping for someone who does.
Skip it if you’re building a gaming PC from scratch. That’s a different shopping list, and most of these picks are made for consoles.
What your storage really costs now
We divided each storage pick’s Best Buy price on September 30 by its size. Then we priced out 200GB, a round planning number for one very large open world game. It’s our number, not Rockstar’s.
| Pick | Console | Best Buy price | Cost per 100GB | Cost of 200GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 1TB | PS5 | $339.99 | $34.00 | $68.00 |
| Seagate Storage Expansion Card 1TB | Xbox Series X|S | $199.99 | $20.00 | $40.00 |
| SanDisk 256GB microSD Express | Switch 2 | $62.99* | $24.61 | $49.21 |
The surprise: the Xbox card, which used to be the expensive option, is now the cheapest storage per gigabyte of the three. PS5 drives took the biggest hit.
1. Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink (1TB)
Best for: PS5 owners who are out of space
Why we picked it: The PS5 only plays PS5 games from its internal storage or a drive in its M.2 slot. A USB drive can hold them, but you have to copy each game back before you can play. This Samsung drive goes in that slot with the heatsink already attached, and it reads at up to 7,450MB/s, well past the 5,500MB/s Sony recommends. Samsung built it to fit the PS5 slot, so there’s no guessing about thickness.
What’s annoying: The price. At $339.99, one extra terabyte costs more than half a Switch 2. You also need a small Phillips screwdriver and ten minutes, and the RGB lights on the heatsink sit inside the console where nobody will ever see them.
Good to know: Works with the original PS5, PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro. The PS5 Pro already ships with 2TB, so Pro owners may not need this yet. Update your console software before you install it.
2. Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S (1TB)
Best for: Xbox owners, especially anyone on a 512GB Series S
Why we picked it: Xbox Series X|S games need Xbox’s fast storage to run, and this card is one of only two official ways to add it. It plugs into the back of the console like a memory card. No screwdriver, no setup. Games on it load and play the same as on the internal drive, and Quick Resume still works. At $0.20 per gigabyte at Best Buy today, it’s the best storage value in this guide.
What’s annoying: It only works in an Xbox Series X or S. Some owners say it gets warm during long sessions. And Best Buy’s listing has flipped between in stock and sold out in recent weeks, so check before you plan around it.
Good to know: About 920GB of the 1TB shows up as usable space. It carries a 3 year limited warranty. WD’s C50 card does the same job, but we couldn’t find it new at Best Buy on September 30.
3. SanDisk 256GB microSD Express
Best for: Switch 2 owners who buy games digitally
Why we picked it: The Switch 2 has 256GB built in, and it only stores Switch 2 games on microSD Express cards. The regular microSD card from your old Switch won’t do. This SanDisk card doubles your space and reads at up to 880MB/s, and owners say it lives up to that speed in the console.
What’s annoying: 256GB fills up fast with big third party games. The 512GB version exists, but it costs more than twice as much at Best Buy right now. On Best Buy, this card is sold by a marketplace seller, not Best Buy itself, so returns go through that seller.
Good to know: Look for “microSD Express” or “EX” on the package. No adapter comes in the box. Lifetime limited warranty from SanDisk.
4. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless
Best for: One headset for PS5, Switch 2, PC and your phone
Why we picked it: The small USB-C dongle moves between a PS5, a Switch 2 and a PC, and one button flips it to Bluetooth so you can take a call without taking it off. SteelSeries rates the battery at 60 hours. That’s about two weeks of gaming for someone who plays four hours a night, and 15 minutes on the charger buys six more hours. The free phone app has presets tuned for more than 100 games.
What’s annoying: No active noise cancelling, so a loud living room will leak in. It’s wireless only for listening, with no 3.5mm jack option. And this version doesn’t work on Xbox. Xbox players need the Arctis Nova 5X instead.
Good to know: $129.99 at Best Buy on September 30, $20 under its regular price there. The microphone slides fully into the ear cup when you don’t need it.
5. 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller
Best for: Switch 2 and PC players tired of stick drift
Why we picked it: Stick drift happens when the parts that read your thumbstick wear down. The Ultimate 2 uses TMR sticks, which read position with magnets instead of rubbing contacts, so there’s less to wear out. You also get two back paddles, two extra bumpers, triggers you can switch between smooth and clicky, and a charging dock in the box. It costs well under Nintendo’s own Pro Controller.
What’s annoying: It needs a firmware update from 8BitDo’s website before it will pair with a Switch 2. Motion controls and rumble only work on Switch, not PC. It doesn’t work with PS5 or Xbox.
Good to know: On a Windows PC it connects through the included USB-C adapter or a cable, not Bluetooth. We couldn’t find it new at Best Buy on September 30, so Amazon is the only link here.
6. Sony DualSense Charging Station
Best for: A gift under $30 for any PS5 home
Why we picked it: Two controllers click in and charge while you’re not playing, so nobody reaches for a dead controller on game night. It also frees up the console’s USB ports, which matters if one of them is holding a USB drive or a headset dongle.
What’s annoying: It’s PS5 only, and it takes up shelf space. Cheaper third party docks exist, but this is Sony’s own, and it works with the Edge controller.
Good to know: $29.99 at Best Buy on September 30. On Amazon, Sony’s own dock had no standard listing when we checked, and resellers were asking well above Best Buy’s price. So the Amazon button below goes to the PowerA Twin Charging Station instead. It’s officially licensed by PlayStation, charges two DualSense controllers the same way, and costs less.
Side by side
| Product | Best for | Key spec | The catch | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 PRO with Heatsink 1TB | PS5 storage | Up to 7,450MB/s read | Most expensive per GB | Amazon · Best Buy |
| Seagate Expansion Card 1TB | Xbox storage | Plug in, no tools | Xbox only | Amazon · Best Buy |
| SanDisk 256GB microSD Express | Switch 2 storage | Up to 880MB/s read | 256GB fills fast | Amazon · Best Buy |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 | PS5, Switch 2, PC audio | 60 hour battery | Not for Xbox, no ANC | Amazon · Best Buy |
| 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth | Switch 2 and PC controller | TMR sticks, charging dock | Firmware update needed | Amazon |
| Sony DualSense Charging Station | Gift under $30 | Charges two controllers | PS5 only | Amazon (PowerA) · Best Buy |
Don’t buy these by mistake
- A USB drive “for GTA 6” on PS5. Sony’s own support page says PS5 games on USB storage have to be copied back before you can play them. Fine for parking games, useless for playing them.
- A regular USB drive for new Xbox games. Same story. Series X|S games run from the internal drive or an official expansion card only.
- A regular microSD card for Switch 2. If it doesn’t say Express, the Switch 2 won’t store its games on it.
- A PS5 drive without a heatsink, unless you’re adding one yourself. Sony requires a cooling structure in that slot.
How we picked
We started with the problems owners complain about most: running out of space, dead controllers, stick drift and chat audio that doesn’t work across devices. We looked at more than a dozen products, then checked each finalist against its maker’s spec page, Sony’s and Nintendo’s storage rules, and Best Buy and Amazon listings. We read recent owner reviews for patterns like heat, pairing trouble and returns, and searched for safety recalls. We didn’t find any for these picks. Prices were checked at Best Buy on September 30, 2026. We haven’t used these products ourselves.
When to buy
Storage: buy by early November. Memory chip prices are still climbing this quarter, so waiting for Black Friday on November 27 is a gamble, and it lands eight days after GTA VI. If you want the game ready on launch night, the drive needs to be in your console before pre-load opens November 12. Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days on October 6 and 7 is the one sale worth watching before then.
Headsets, controllers and chargers: you can wait. These don’t depend on memory chips the same way, and they often drop around Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November 30). If you’re buying a gift, just make sure it arrives before the holidays.
Common questions
How big is GTA 6?
Rockstar hasn’t published a size yet. The real number will show on the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store when pre-loading opens on November 12. Estimates floating around online are guesses.
Is 1TB enough extra storage?
For most people, yes. It roughly doubles a base PS5 or Series X. If you keep more than eight or ten big games installed at once, 2TB saves you from deleting, but it costs close to twice as much right now.
Will adding a PS5 drive void my warranty?
Sony says a drive that meets its specs and is installed per its instructions shouldn’t affect your warranty. Damage from a bad install isn’t covered, so follow the steps and take your time.
Does the Arctis Nova 5 work with Xbox?
Not this version. Get the Arctis Nova 5X, which works on Xbox and PS5.
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