If you’ve found yourself staring at a storage full notification after trying to install the latest blockbuster game, you’re not alone. From Call of Duty updates that rival the size of entire games to massive open-world RPGs that push past the 150GB mark, today’s video games are enormous. It’s not unusual for a single title to take up more space than an entire library of games from just a decade ago.
But what’s really behind this surge in game file size? Is it all about better graphics and high-resolution textures, or are there other forces at play like audio fidelity, uncompressed assets, open-world design, or even inefficient data management? As gaming technology has advanced, so too have the expectations of players. They want stunning visuals, immersive soundscapes, sprawling environments, and seamless gameplay—all of which come at a cost in disk space.
In this post, we’ll break down the many reasons modern games are becoming so large, explore how development choices affect file size, and examine what this means for gamers moving forward. Whether you’re a casual player frustrated by frequent downloads or a developer navigating the gaming storage demands of modern consoles and PCs, this is a conversation worth having. So, let’s dig in: Why are games really so big now?
Key factors behind growing game sizes.
Let’s examine the key reasons behind the steady growth in game sizes.
High-resolution textures and assets.
Today, many games feature 4K or larger textures, which require much more storage than older games. These high-res textures cover everything from expansive landscapes to detailed character models, adding significant file size.
The level of detail in these textures contributes directly to the immersive experience. Think of how light reflects off a character’s armor to the fine details in a grassy field or cityscape; everything is more visually striking and therefore, more data heavy.
On top of that, game developers use additional techniques like bump maps, specular maps, and normal maps to add even more realism without overwhelming the system.
Games like Monster Hunter Wilds (135GB if you install the high- resolution texture pack) use high-resolution textures and normal maps to create rich, detailed environments.
These advancements in visuals create a more immersive experience and contribute to the growing size of games. As graphics continue to improve, the need for more storage space will only increase.
Audio files and in-game cinematics.
Fully voiced games and those with cinematic sequences dedicate a significant portion of their storage to high-quality audio and video. For example, titles like Titanfall feature expansive voice acting and cinematic cutscenes that help bring the story to life, but these elements require massive amounts of data.
While compressed audio and video could reduce file sizes, developers use uncompressed audio to be sure dialogue, sound effects, and music are as clear and dynamic as possible, enhancing the gaming experience.
But these high-quality audio and video files add substantial size to the game. As cinematic storytelling and realistic sound design become more prominent in gaming, the storage demands for these files will only continue to rise.
Open-world games and expansive maps.
Open-world games are among the most storage-intensive titles, requiring vast amounts of data to create expansive, interactive environments. The sheer size of these virtual worlds—coupled with complex character models, detailed terrain, and numerous interactive objects—significantly increases file sizes.
For example, Red Dead Redemption 2 features a massive open world, with realistic terrain, wildlife, and dynamic weather systems, all requiring extensive data that needs storage. Similarly, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers a vast Mediterranean world filled with detailed cities, forests, and underwater locations.
These rich environments are designed for players to explore seamlessly, but the large number of textures, objects, and map geometry makes the games extremely data heavy.
Extensive localization files.
Games have near-immediate worldwide reach now, so developers often include multiple language options. Each language requires its own text and audio files, including translated dialogue, subtitles, and voiceover recordings, all contributing to the game’s overall storage requirements.
For example, a game that supports multiple regions may include distinct voice files for each language and localized text for menus, subtitles, and in-game interactions. While this localization is essential for reaching a wider audience, it also means each version of the game needs separate, sizable data files to accommodate the translations and ensure players have a fully immersive experience in their native language.
Evolving gamer expectations.
Growing demand for deeper, more immersive experiences has driven developers to build visually striking, feature-packed games that continually push technological limits. As expectations grow, so does the complexity of the games themselves.
Photorealistic visuals, interactive environments, and advanced gameplay mechanics are now standard in many titles, but these enhancements come at the cost of significantly larger file sizes.
For example, the desire for lifelike graphics, dynamic weather systems, and detailed NPC interactions requires massive amounts of data—from textures to complex AI behaviors. But achieving these experiences means developers must store and process huge amounts of data, leading to larger and more data-intensive games.
This trend reflects a broader shift in the gaming industry, where players expect nothing less than cutting-edge technology in their gaming experiences. As gamers continue to seek out games that push the limits of what’s possible, file sizes will keep growing to support these increasingly sophisticated features.
Reduced emphasis on optimization.
With the availability of high-capacity gaming storage and extremely fast internet speeds, developers have less incentive to optimize and compress game files as much as they did in the past. Large storage capacities mean developers can focus more on improving game quality and features without worrying as much about file size.
Fast internet also makes it easier for gamers to download large games and updates quickly, reducing the need for aggressive compression. As a result, game installations have grown in size, reflecting the shift in priorities to deliver richer, more detailed gaming experiences, rather than minimizing file sizes.
Developer priorities and storage advances.
Compression techniques vs. performance.
Many game developers avoid aggressive data compression techniques to prioritize performance. Compressing game files can save space, but it can slow down the load times and affect the quality of gameplay.
With advancements in storage technology, such as affordable PlayStation® storage, developers are less concerned about file sizes and more focused on securing fast, smooth performance. This shift means large file sizes are no longer problematic, since modern storage solutions can handle them without affecting game speed.
Live service games and updates.
Live service games like Fortnite or Marvel Rivals grow over time with regular updates that add new maps, weapons, skins, and features. Each update adds more data to the game, which increases its overall size. As games keep evolving, gamers must have more storage to keep up with all the new additions.
Impact on gamers and storage challenges.
With modern games requiring massive amounts of gaming SSD and hard drive storage, gamers often face several logistical challenges due to limited internal storage on consoles or PCs, including:
- Limited internal storage. Many consoles and PCs don’t have enough space to handle the growing size of the games.
- Needed external drives or upgraded SSDs. Gamers must invest in additional storage solutions to keep their gaming libraries intact.
- Frequent game deletions or juggling. Without enough storage, gamers may find themselves constantly deleting or moving games to make room for new releases.
Fortunately, many games allow players to offload some of their data to external hard drives or SSDs for gaming, so players can enjoy a wide range of titles without the storage headache. Using Seagate FireCuda® allows gamers to enjoy a smoother, more efficient gaming experience while managing their growing game libraries.
Seagate solves the demand for massive game sizes.
With these factors in mind, gamers need reliable storage solutions that can handle large game files, provide fast load times, and keep up with the demands of modern gaming. This is where Seagate comes in, offering a variety of storage options tailored specifically for gamers:
- Seagate FireCuda SSDs. Designed for gamers who need ultra-fast load times, high-resolution asset handling, and seamless gameplay, FireCuda SSDs are ideal for primary storage.
- Seagate Gaming Hard Drives. Perfect for storing large game libraries, updates, and downloadable content, these drives offer affordable, high capacities, making them the ideal choice for secondary storage.
- Seagate External Drives. For gamers needing portable, plug-and-play functionality, Seagate external drives are compatible with PCs and consoles like PS5™ and Xbox®—making them ideal for storing additional games on the go.
Seagate gaming storage solutions are designed to help you manage your ever-growing game library while promoting fast, reliable performance. Plus, you can expand to include other data heavy applications, like storage for video editing. Explore the range of Seagate external hard drives and SSDs to take your gaming experience to the next level.
