Game updates, extras and leftover files can inflate storage use
Modern games can take up far more space than their store listings suggest, and uninstalling them may not remove every file they leave behind. The extra storage use comes from updates, downloadable content and optional assets, as well as recordings and other files created while playing.
The article compares the original Tomb Raider’s roughly 100MB requirement with 40GB for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, a 400-fold increase. It gives examples of large launch updates: Fallout 76’s 54GB PS4 patch on top of a 45GB install, and a 48GB to 52GB first update for The Division 2. On PS5, Astro Bot can also generate 63 trophy videos; on PC, shader caches, screenshots, saves, settings and mods may remain after an uninstall.
In short
- Store listings show only the base game size.
- Updates, DLC and recordings can add many gigabytes.
- Saves, caches and mods may remain after uninstalling.
Explained simply
Video games have grown from small programmes into large collections of graphics, sound and other data. A game’s store listing may show only its basic installation size; updates, extra content and optional high-resolution files can add more after download.
The amount used can also change as someone plays. Consoles may save short videos of in-game achievements, while computers can store screenshots, saved games, settings, modified game files and temporary graphics data. Some of these files may remain after the main game is uninstalled.
This matters for anyone managing limited space on a console, computer or storage drive. Knowing which files belong to the game, which were added later and which are personal recordings can help explain why the available space differs from the listed size.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Engadget as “Why your games take up way more drive space than expected (even when uninstalled)”.