Why Marvel‘s Avengers PS5 Install Size Tops 180GB
As a sprawling superhero game, Avengers pushes hardware limits in graphics, physics, AI, and scale – leading to a massive 180+ GB install on PS5 consoles. For gamers still adapting to new storage constraints, this single title occupying over 25% of usable space raises questions. Why such a massive footprint? And what explains the 75GB difference from the PS4 version? As an industry analyst and gameplay expert, I‘ve investigated the technical drivers behind this supersized game pack.
Key Factors in the Large Install Size
Higher Fidelity Assets
With 5 heroes playable across various mission types, Avengers needs robust world assets – all enhanced for next-gen systems. Higher resolution textures, detailed character and environment models, physics interactions, destructible objects, and cutting-edge visual effects all accumulate. These assets take up significant space.
Diverse Game Modes
Alongside single player campaigns, Avengers has co-op missions, multiplayer hubs, regular live service updates, and more. Different modes can‘t efficiently reuse all assets, multiplying requirements. These interconnected systems allow exciting gameplay but have downsides for install footprint.
Many Duplicated Character Assets
With Black Widow, Hulk, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, and others as distinct playable heroes, the game can‘t fully reuse character models, textures, animations, effects, or voice-over files across missions. Managing assets for 5+ protagonists exacerbates install size.
| Hero | polys | textures | animations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Man | ~500k | 2048×2048 | >500 |
| Hulk | >1 million | 4096×4096 | >800 |
Table showing relative complexity of assets for sample heroes
How Avengers Compares to Other AAA Games
Looking at other recent AAA open world titles helps provide context on Avengers‘ size. Games with vast scope tend to demand more storage, but efficiencies and compression matter.
| Game | PS5 Install Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel‘s Avengers | 181 GB | 5 heroes, multiplayer |
| CoD Modern Warfare II | 125GB | 150 player matches |
| The Last of Us II | 78GB | Asset reuse in world |
| Ratchet & Clank | 33GB | Arcade assets |
Table comparing genre leaders by install size
Avengers isn‘t such an outlier, but efficiency varies across titles and engines. Asset duplication and sprawling online systems appear primary drivers here.
Future Storage Challenges
Given ongoing content updates and a likely Xbox Series X|S release, Avengers will keep expanding – perhaps reaching ~250GB by late 2024. With new console adoption growing post-shortages, meeting player demand for AAA games without storage woes is an industry priority.
But take heart – while built-in SSDs are still small, storage flexibility has greatly improved this generation.
Recommendations for Managing Avengers Storage
⁃ Consider buying a compatible PCIe 4.0 SSD like the WD_Black SN850 for your PS5‘s expansion slot. Pricey but extremely fast.
⁃ For cold storage, transfer Avengers to a high capacity external HDD. Just move it back to play.
⁃ Remove unused mode packs after completing campaigns. Multiplayer elements take up significant space.
⁃ Disable auto-game updates and manage these manually.
Balancing performance and budget, the 1TB WD Black SN850 is a solid pick thanks to excellent read speeds. Combined with an external drive, this gives breathing room for 1-2 more AAA games.
The install size dilemma is an inconvenience today but will improve over time through compression tech, asset reuse, and bigger internal drives. Yet as games push creative boundaries, storage management remains part of the playbook.
