How Many Minutes is a 50 MB Gaming Video?
As a passionate gamer and content creator, I often get asked how long a 50 megabyte video file translates to in minutes of actual footage. The answer can vary dramatically based on the video resolution, frame rate, codecs and other factors that determine file size per minute. But generally, a 50 MB video will be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long.
What does video length have to do with gaming? Well as creators, we want to share exciting game moments and commentary without producing excessively large files that are difficult to store, upload and share. Understanding the relationship between file size and minutes of footage lets us export properly sized videos for different platforms.
The Evolution of Game Video Sizes
Back when I first started uploading gaming videos over a decade ago, 480p or 720p resolution was standard. File sizes were smaller, but so was storage space and internet speeds. Nowadays, gaming footage is commonly 1080p, 1440p or even 4K as display and graphics tech improves:
| Year | Popular Game Resolution | Video Size Per Minute |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 480p | 50-100 MB |
| 2014 | 720p | Around 175 MB |
| 2023 | 1080p/1440p | 175-400 MB |
As a creator trying to capture PC or console games at high graphical settings, storage needs expand rapidly. A 1 TB external SSD was sufficient back in 2015, but today I need 8-12 TB to hold raw recordings before editing and upload.
Online platforms have also increased limits over time, allowing larger videos. But optimized compression is still vital to avoid excessively long buffering times for viewers.
Perfect Video Sizes for Different Platforms
Depending on your audience and goals, you may want to export videos optimized for certain platforms:
YouTube
Video upload limit capped at 128 GB! But realistically keeping under 1 GB (10-20 minutes for 1080p) makes it easier for viewers to stream without endless buffering.
Twitch
Bitrate recommendation is 6000 Kbps for 1080p at 60fps. I use Twitch inspector to test stream quality.
Keep videos under 2:20 minutes with 500 MB max size for stable mobile playback.
Using video compressor software I can shrink large files like 4K 60fps footage into these platform limits without noticeable quality loss.
Estimating Gaming Video Length Precisely
While the average HD gaming video consumes 150-300 MB per minute, certain games require faster frame rates and higher bitrates. Here‘s a breakdown:
| Game Genre | Resolution | Frame Rate | MB per Minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMORPG | 1440p | 60fps | 375 |
| MOBA | 1080p | 60fps | 250 |
| FPS | 1080p | 120fps | 450 |
| Indie | 720p | 30fps | 100 |
You can precisely calculate video lengths using the bitrates above. For example at 375 MB per minute, an 18 GB MMORPG video would be 18000 MB / 375 MB per minute = 48 minutes.
I tested this formula on some recordings I exported lately and found it matched up almost exactly with the actual duration.
Best Practices for Exporting Game Videos
When exporting gaming videos, I always think about end platform and audience first. For YouTube, I usually record commentary audio separately then combine it in editing software before exporting. My standard 1080p export settings are:
- H.264 or HEVC codec
- 1920×1080 progressive resolution
- 50-60 fps frame rate
- Target bit rate around 15000 to 20000 kbit/s
- Max render quality
This generates nice looking vids under 500 MB per minute, ideal for presenting new game updates, conducting reviews or general sharing. For storage/quality tradeoff I use two pass variable bitrate encoding.
Resolution can bump up to 1440p for footage without camera movements. Or down to 720p for mobile viewing. I‘ll tweak codecs and frame rates accordingly.
Advanced users can further run the rendered video through video optimizer software for customized compression without perceived quality loss. This lets you shrink large files down 50-80% smaller. Just be careful with ultra fast encoding methods that introduce compression artifacts.
So back to the original question – based on typical 1080p game footage consuming 175-400 MB per minute, a 50 MB video would likely be between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long.
Understanding video data rates helps gaming creators size and optimize videos correctly for sharing awesome game moments without endless buffering or downloads. I hope this guide gave some useful estimates and best practices! Let me know if you have any other questions.
