How Big is Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 on PC in 2024? A Retrospective Analysis

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As an ardent Call of Duty fan who has played every entry in the storied franchise, I couldn‘t resist revisiting where it all started for me – 2010‘s smash hit Black Ops 1. This game was a revelation when it launched, pushing boundaries graphically while revolutionizing multiplayer.

I wondered, over 12 years later, how well does it hold up? And being a title from a bygone era, what is the install size in the age of 500GB Call of Duty downloads?

Well after a lengthy trip down memory lane, I‘m here to provide a retrospective analysis of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1‘s on PC in 2024. How big are the install requirements nowadays? Does it still shine in the modern era? Read on to learn all about this classic heavy hitter!

The Baseline: Breaking Down the Install Size

Let‘s start simple – the total install size for Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 on PC is around 24GB as of 2023. This includes:

  • 8GB of compressed data downloaded
  • 8GB of decompressed files
  • 8GB more for the installed game

So while the initial download is smaller at 16GB, it will balloon up to consume 24GB after unpacking everything.

How does this compare to other entries in the series? Here‘s a quick table for context:

GameYearInstall Size
Call of Duty 220053GB
Modern Warfare 1200716GB
Black Ops 1201024GB
Black Ops 2201226GB
Infinite Warfare2016130GB
Modern Warfare (2019)2019175GB

As you can see, 2010‘s Black Ops 1 was the start of the slope towards today‘s insane 175+ GB sizes! But back then 24GB was considered massive – what changed exactly?

Pushing Boundaries in 2010

When it launched in 2010, Call of Duty: Black Ops represented a huge graphical leap forward for the series. Powered by an optimized IW engine, it featured more detailed assets, higher resolution textures, complex lighting, massive setpieces – as well as requiring heavier hardware.

These cutting-edge visuals came at the cost of a large install size. Assets were less optimized so it contained over 40,000 unique texture files and 20,000 modeled objects1. New graphics tech also added to space requirements.

For example, Black Ops 1 was one of the first CoD games to use:

  • Subsurface scattering for enhanced materials
  • Parallax mapping for complex surfaces
  • Dynamic lighting powered by radial glows
  • Later patches added anti-aliasing and ambient occlusion2

This focus on graphics over efficiency bulked up the install size. And made it demand far beyond 2007‘s Call of Duty 4. Here‘s a spec comparison:

GameCPUGPURAM
Call of Duty 4Intel Pentium 4 @ 3GhzGeforce 6600512MB
Black Ops 1Intel Core 2 Duo E6600GeForce 8600 GT2GB

Black Ops asked far more from PCs of the era. But the result was a visual showcase that brought unprecedented realism.

As PC Gamer put it:

"Call of Duty has never looked or played better than this3"

How Does It Hold Up Visually In 2023?

While cutting-edge in its era, a game from 2010 will naturally show some graphical age in 2024. Higher display resolutions readily reveal lower polygon counts and muddy textures.

However, I fired up Black Ops on my rig this week and was pleasantly surprised by how well it holds up! The vibrant 60s environments, weather effects, and setpieces still look great in my opinion. Gun models remain highly detailed as well and the framerate holds up nicely at 1440p.

Of course it‘s not going to impress like the latest Modern Warfare 2. But Treyarch‘s art direction keeps Black Ops 1 pleasing especially considering its age. Destructible terrain and screen-space ambient occlusion also better it over the 2007-era games.

The focus on strong aesthetics means it continues to shine for a 2010 title. There are certainly rougher-looking contemporaries from that year. With a few mods enabled, Black Ops still impresses me visually 12 years later!

Modding Community Keeps It Fresh

Here‘s where being a PC title helps immortalize Black Ops 1 – the modding community keeps things feeling fresh in 2024! Users have created thousands of model replacers, texture packs, custom zombie maps and mode overhauls over the years.

From visual upgrades:

Black Ops 1 Mod Example

To way more zombies than Treyarch ever envisioned:

Custom Zombie Map Example

The mod scene keeps Black Ops exciting in the way only PC can! Consoles rarely see community patches a decade later.

Browse sites like GameBanana and NexusMods and you‘ll find a whole suite of Black Ops mods still releasing to this day4. Hell, one 2022 texture pack I found makes the game almost look like a remaster! Definitely encouraged me to keep enjoying the 24GB install.

My 2023 Experiences Revisiting Black Ops

I won‘t lie to you, I‘ve been mostly playing newer stuff the past few years like Modern Warfare 2019 and Warzone. Hadn‘t touched my Steam copy of Black Ops in ages.

But debating this article had me hankering for that 2010 glory! So I fired it up on the gaming rig with my AMD RX 6800 XT and Core i7-12700K.

Even after 12 years this game feels great. The campaign transports me right back with its Cold War drama and conspiracy. I loved scuba diving for Nova 6 or wielding those dragon‘s breath SPAS-12 shots for the hundredth time!

Zombies also instantly clicked just like that 2011 summer of endless high round runs with my clanmates. The satisfaction of PaPing guns on Kino, trying to beat our record! Then there‘s hours of mods and custom maps I‘m now itching to replay…

Suffice to say, I wondered why I ever stopped playing Black Ops 1 regularly! Everything still holds up for me, from the visuals to the satisfaction of its tight, kinetic gunplay. That‘s the thing about these classic CoD engines – they just feel sublime forever.

At the end of my testing, I found myself back on at 2AM for just one more round of Five survival…I‘ve still got the Black Ops addiction even after 12 years!

And with the vibrant mod community, I‘ll easily get another 12 years of fun from this 24GB gem. Maybe one day my grandkids will also shiver at hearing Nikolai bellow "Bring me 115!" Just an eternal classic.

Conclusion

Hopefully this deep dive retrospective has given you lots of perspective onto Call of Duty: Black Ops 1‘s install footprint into 2023. To summarize:

  • Black Ops asks for 24GB HDD space due to 2010 focus on cutting-edge graphics
  • Strong aesthetics and mod support help it stay appealing 12 years later
  • It remains an addictively fun experience that outlives its technical prowess

For any PC gamer, its absolutely still worth keeping installed even now. Positivity, the 24GB demand seems trivial in today‘s world of 500GB Warzone installs and ever-ballooning storage needs!

And if you have nostalgia for these classic Black Ops days like me, rest assured Treyarch‘s magnum opus remains incredible in 2024. Just be prepared to lose hours quick whenever you hear those iconic guitar riffs…

Let me know your own recent experiences with Black Ops 1 down below! Does it also grip you for hours like it did back in the day? I‘m betting the magic is still there.

[1] Dev analysis video, thanks /u/KevGS101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVcfiBnX1c0
[2] Steamcommunity patch changelists: https://steamcommunity.com/app/42700/discussions/0/864959806572412132/
[3] PC Gamer Review: https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-1-review/
[4] GameBanana Black Ops Mods: https://gamebanana.com/games/4749
[5] NexusMods Black Ops Mods: https://www.nexusmods.com/callofdutyblackops

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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