Gears of War: E-Day's install size is huge: These are the best ways to upgrade your Xbox's storage

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Par : Alexander Cope

28 septembre 2026 à 15:45

Get ready, players, because Gears of War: E-Day is nearly here, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best games in the Gears of War franchise and the biggest gaming blockbuster of the year, second only to Grand Theft Auto VI.

However, there is one caveat Xbox players must be aware of before buying it on October 6 (or October 1, if they've secured early access via pre-ordering the game), and that is its required install space of 115GB (as confirmed on its Steam page).

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That’s about one-tenth of a standard Xbox Series X’s 1TB storage space, and that’s just for the base game alone without any DLC. Plus, the developers plan (confirmed by GameSpot) to update Gears of War: E-Day’s Horde Mode with new classes, missions, modifiers, and seasonal content, along with adding other in-game items like gun cosmetics and character skins, so that 115GB install requirement is going to bloat fast.

So, we have sought out the best Xbox Series X|S storage expansion devices, from external SSDs to plug-and-play SSD cards, to help you fit in Gears of War: E-Day while having tons to spare for its post-launch updates and other awesome Xbox Series X|S titles for your Xbox.

External hard drives

Now, granted, finding Xbox external storage upgrades is a lot harder these days thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, jacking up the prices of all things tech-related while making their availability scarcer.

One of the more affordable and available options is external hard drives, which can offer tons of storage space ranging from 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and even 4TB. In addition, they can be formatted to store all kinds of media, not just Xbox games, depending on what platform you intend to use it for.

The drawback is that you can’t play Xbox games directly from an external hard drive, you have to manually transfer them from the hard drive onto your Xbox’s internal hard drive if you wish to play them.

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1TB P40 Game Drive SSD: $209.00

“Western Digital's P40 Game Drive SSD is a stellar external storage upgrade for Xbox Series X|S consoles, and is even better on PC with RGB customization and faster speeds. If you're only getting this for Xbox, though, there may be more affordable options.” ~ Zachary Boddy, former Staff Writer, Windows Central

Windows Central review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐View Deal

T5 EVO Portable SSD 4TB Black: $559.00

“If you specifically need a super portable external SSD for playing your classic Xbox games and storing Series X|S games, then the Samsung T5 EVO is a fantastic pick. It has a slim form factor that can easily fit in your pocket or in a bag. Plus, it's drop-resistant to better withstand jostling on the go.” ~ Rebecca Spear, former gaming staff writer, Windows Central

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Plug & Play expansion cards

Plug & Play expansion cards are scarcer and more expensive, but more convenient Xbox storage expansion units compared to external hard drives.

They fit easily into an Xbox’s dedicated expansion card slot, so they don’t take up desk space, and they let players play games installed on the cards directly without needing to shuffle them into the Xbox’s internal SSD, saving you from tedious file management.

However, you can’t reformat these Plug & Play Xbox expansion cards for other devices, as they were purely designed for Xbox consoles.

1TB Optimus GX C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox: $239.00

The SanDisk Optimus GX C50 is the newest Xbox storage Expansion Card line on the block.

It comes in multiple storage models from 512GB to 2TB, with low-latency performance that matches Xbox Velocity Architecture, so games can be played directly from it. Plus, it’s compatible with Xbox’s Quick Resume feature, so players can swap between multiple games without losing progress.

Plus, it has a free one-month trial membership for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.View Deal

1TB C50 Expansion Card for Xbox: $269.00

“Western Digital's long-awaited competitor to the exorbitant Seagate Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is functionally and practically great, and it has lowered prices.” ~ Zachary Boddy, former Staff Writer, Windows Central

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Storage Expansion Card 2TB Solid State Drive: $279.99

"Microsoft and Seagate partnered up on a slick memory card-style SSD expansion for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, filling demand where standard hard drives simply don't cut it.” Matt Brown, former Staff Writer, Windows Central

Windows Central review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐View Deal

Should I wait for Big Deal Days/Black Friday before buying these expansion devices?

If you don’t mind waiting for discounts, it may be wise to wait until these external hard drives and plug-and-play cards go on sale, as many of them have retail prices that cost hundreds of dollars as of this writing.

However, the RAM crisis is stirring extreme levels of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) behavior in consumers, driving them to buy popular Seagate and WD_Black Xbox expansion cards online until they run out of stock, even at full price.

With this in mind, it may also be a risky but good idea to grab one of these devices quickly because they may sell out before they even get a chance to be discounted during sales events like Amazon's Big Deal Days in October or Black Friday in November.

Are you ready for Gears of War: E-Day?

And there you have all the best options to upgrade your Xbox’s Storage size in time for Gears of War: E-Day. Are you looking forward to playing Gears of War: E-Day? Will you be sticking around to play its Horde Siege mode months after launch to see its post-game updates?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please send them to the comments section below, or our Discord, Reddit, or cast a vote in the poll above.

Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled to launch on Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Play Anywhere support), Xbox Game Pass, and PC via Windows and Steam on October 1, 2026, for early-access players who pre-ordered the game, and then October 6, 2026, for everyone else.

Gears of War: E-Day (Xbox): $69.00

Relive the tragic day that started the long, grueling war between the COGs and the Locust horde in the highly anticipated prequel of the Gears of War franchise, Gears of War: E-Day.

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Clear DirectX Shader Cache in Windows 11: Top Ways

Next of Windows

Par : Afam Onyimadu

8 mars 2024 à 14:19

Windows 11 is a robust operating system with a host of features, especially optimization features. In this guide, we explore one of them, the DirectX Shader Cache in Windows 11, and show you all the different ways to clear it when needed.

What is DirectX Shader Cache in Windows 11?

On Windows 11, the DirectX Shader is the optimization feature for storing pre-compiled versions of special instructions, which are called shaders.

Shaders are tiny programs that your graphics card understands. These programs direct the graphics card’s handling of various graphical effects.

Compiling these shaders may be time-consuming, so the cache increases optimization because pre-compiled versions are easier and faster to access.

Should I Clear the DirectX Shader Cache?

Your decision to clear the cache will depend on you. However, below are some reasons why you may want to do so.

To resolve performance issues – A cleared DirectX Shader cache may resolve some performance issues, including graphical glitches and stuttering.
Freeing up disk space – Even though the cache may not take up much space, clearing it will still free up some extra space on your computer.
To update the cache – If you have just updated your graphics card or installed new games, you may clear the DirectX Shader cache to fill it with new information.

How do I Clear the DirectX Shader Cache?

1. Using the Settings App

1. Lunch the Settings app by clicking Windows + I.

2. Navigate System, then Storage.

Storage Settings on Windows - Clear DirectX Shader Cache Windows 11

3. Select Temporary files.

4. Select DirectX Shader cache and click the Remove Files option at the top.

2. Clear DirectX Shader Cache Using Disk Cleanup

1. Click the Taskbar’s magnifying lens type cleanup, and click Disk Cleanup.

Opening Disk Cleanup - Clear DirectX Shader Cache Windows 11

2. Select your C drive, then click the OK button.

3. Tick the DirectX Shader cache option and click OK.

DirectX shader cache option - Clear DirectX Shader Cache Windows 11

Do I Have to Replace the DirectX Shader Cache After Deleting It?

No, you do not have to replace it. After this cache is deleted, your operating system will automatically fill it with all the needed information.

You should also note that clearing the cache is not something you must do often. It is mainly a troubleshooting step when you face some graphical issues.

A New DirectX Shader Cache

This is all we share in this guide. If you have followed from the beginning, you already know all there is to know about the cache, and you probably already have a new DirectX Shader cache.

Were you able to clear the DirectX Shader Cache in Windows 11? Ask your questions in the comment section below.

FAQs

Does clearing the cache affect system stability?

No, this procedure will not negatively affect your system. This is because the cache is isolated storage with no permanent information.

Is it possible to disable or prevent the creation of the DirectX Shader Cache?

Windows 11 has no official way of disabling this optimization feature.

The post Clear DirectX Shader Cache in Windows 11: Top Ways appeared first on Next of Windows.

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