Sticker Shock: Making Sense of MW2‘s 51GB Update
I spilled my coffee when I saw Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 wanted to download a 51 gigabyte update. As a hardcore COD fan, I‘m no stranger to beefy patches, but this one seemed extreme.
What could possibly account for over 50GB? Is a small novel‘s worth of data really necessary for some gameplay tweaks and bug fixes? Well, yes and no. While the update size is eye-watering, there are technical reasons why these patches keep ballooning.
The Growth of COD Updates
First, some context: COD update sizes have steadily increased over the years as the games themselves expand:
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But why do this year‘s updates dwarf even ones from recent previous titles? There are a few technical factors at play:
- Higher Resolution Assets: With 4K gaming standard, texture and image quality has dramatically increased filesize.
- New Engines: MW2 uses an upgraded engine with deeper integration, meaning more files touched with each patch.
- Overwriting Data: Alterations require redownloading entire bundles of game data rather than small edits.
This means MW2‘s install size will continue ballooning as technology progresses.
What‘s Actually In This 51GB Update?
Breaking down exactly what gameplay improvements are included can help ease the pain of the long download:
- Engine Optimization: Ironically, a primary goal is improving overall efficiency.
- New Map: Fan-favorite Ashika Island for standard multiplayer.
- Weapon Tuning: Damage tweaks for better balance across the arsenal.
- Bug Fixes: Myriad stability issues resolved.
- Quality of Life Upgrades: UI and UX refinements.
So there are compelling content additions on top of nuts-and-bolts improvements – all contributing to the update‘s overall size.
Projecting the Future of Updates
Based on the exponential development of COD so far, we can expect update sizes to continue ballooning:
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Here are my best practices for surviving these downloads:
- Schedule Overnight: Download when bouncing data caps won‘t interfere.
- Upgrade Router Firmware: Newer models have better traffic shaping.
- Pause Streaming & Gaming: Halt other internet activity draining bandwidth.
There may also be methods to shrink updates by isolating changes rather than replacing whole files in the future. Faster internet speeds will help ease the pain as well in coming years.
The Silver Lining
At the end of this data-hogging tunnel is a significantly improved Modern Warfare 2 experience once the update finishes. Optimization should solve gameplay issues. The new map will add variety in multiplayer. Overall stability stands to improve substantially.
For MW2 devotees like myself, this means smoother fragging despite the headache of managing such a massive download. I can‘t wait to try out all the enhancements included!
Have you installed this major update yet? What‘s your experience dealing with these ever-expanding COD patches? Let me know in the comments!
