SanDisk unveils three new Optimus GX C50 expansion cards for Xbox Series X|S, offering faster, officially licensed storage options aligned with Xbox Velocity Architecture to improve game load times and capacity.
SanDisk has added three new Xbox Series X|S expansion cards to its gaming storage line, extending a market that began with Seagate and later opened to alternatives from Western Digital. The new Optimus GX C50 cards come in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions and are designed to match the speed of the Xbox consoles’ internal solid-state drive, according to the company. Pure Xbox reported that the range is expected to reach retailers soon, with the 2TB model listed at £249.99 or $339.99.
The products matter because Xbox Series X|S expansion cards are not ordinary external drives. They plug into the proprietary storage slot on the rear of the console and are intended to run optimised games directly, without the performance penalty that can affect standard USB hard drives or SSDs. SanDisk says the cards support Xbox Velocity Architecture, the storage system used by the consoles to reduce load times and keep gameplay smooth.
That distinction remains important for players with large libraries. External storage can still be useful for archiving games, recordings and downloads, but many Series X|S-enhanced titles will not launch from slower external drives. SanDisk’s pitch is therefore familiar but practical: more space without forcing users to delete games they want to keep installed. The company also says the cards are officially licensed for Xbox, which should reassure buyers about compatibility.
SanDisk has been building a broader Xbox storage range, including other SSD-based products aimed at console users and handheld devices such as the ROG Xbox Ally. The new cards continue a trend towards more competition in a category that was once limited to a single supplier, giving Xbox owners more capacity options at a time when modern releases routinely exceed 100GB.
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