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How Big is Call of Duty on PS4? A Deep Dive into Storage Requirements

The Call of Duty franchise, a behemoth in the gaming world, is notorious for its massive file sizes, and the PlayStation 4 versions are no exception. So, how big is Call of Duty on PS4? The answer is, frustratingly, it depends. It depends on the specific Call of Duty title, whether you have all the DLC packs installed, and the number of updates the game has received. Generally, you can expect a Call of Duty game on PS4 to range from 50GB to upwards of 175GB, or even more. Let’s break down some of the most popular titles:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: With all DLC and save files, can take up to 80-85GB.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019): Initially around 175GB, but with updates, it can balloon even further.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War: Around 95GB on PS4, but can increase significantly depending on installed content.
Call of Duty: WWII: Approximately 59GB for the digital download.
Call of Duty: Warzone: While technically free-to-play, Warzone requires significant storage, often between 83-101GB when downloaded as a standalone title.

These numbers highlight a critical issue for PS4 owners: storage space. The base PS4 typically comes with a 500GB hard drive, of which a significant portion is occupied by the operating system. This leaves relatively little space for multiple large games like Call of Duty. This has led to many players having to uninstall other games to make room for the latest Call of Duty releases and updates. This can be frustrating for many users who might have other games that they would like to play.

Understanding the Bloat: Why are Call of Duty Games So Big?

Several factors contribute to the enormous file sizes of Call of Duty games:

High-Resolution Textures: Modern games, especially those targeting high-end consoles, utilize detailed textures for character models, environments, and weapons. These textures consume a substantial amount of storage space.
Multiple Game Modes: Call of Duty titles typically offer a variety of game modes, including single-player campaigns, multiplayer modes, cooperative modes (like Zombies), and the battle royale mode, Warzone. Each mode has its own set of assets, maps, and gameplay mechanics, adding to the overall file size.
Extensive DLC and Updates: Call of Duty games are constantly updated with new content, including maps, weapons, operators, and game modes. These updates can significantly increase the game’s file size over time.
Uncompressed Assets: Some speculate that developers don’t always optimally compress game assets, leading to inflated file sizes. The desire to maintain visual fidelity may override the need for efficient storage.
Shared Assets: Warzone, in particular, shares many assets with Modern Warfare, meaning even standalone Warzone downloads are substantial.

Managing Call of Duty File Sizes on Your PS4

While you can’t magically shrink the size of a Call of Duty game, you can take steps to manage storage on your PS4:

Uninstall Unused Content: Many Call of Duty games allow you to uninstall specific game modes or content packs you don’t use. For example, if you only play multiplayer, you can uninstall the single-player campaign to free up space.
Delete Unplayed Games: If you have games you no longer play, consider uninstalling them to make room for Call of Duty.
Upgrade Your Hard Drive: The most effective solution is to replace the PS4’s internal hard drive with a larger one. A 1TB or 2TB drive provides significantly more storage space, allowing you to install multiple large games without constantly uninstalling.
Use an External Hard Drive: The PS4 supports external hard drives, allowing you to expand your storage capacity without replacing the internal drive.

The Future of Game Sizes

As technology advances, game sizes are likely to continue to increase. The push for higher fidelity graphics, more complex game worlds, and persistent online experiences will undoubtedly demand even more storage space. Game developers must find more efficient ways to compress game assets and manage file sizes to avoid overwhelming players’ storage capacity. Initiatives such as Games Learning Society can play a key role in educating future developers and exploring innovative approaches to game design and optimization. You can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Call of Duty on PS4: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many Call of Duty games can I fit on a 500GB PS4?

Realistically, a 500GB PS4 (after accounting for the operating system) can fit around 6-10 Call of Duty games, depending on the size of each game and any installed DLC.

2. Is Warzone free on PS4?

Yes, Warzone is free to play on PS4.

3. How big is Warzone on PS4?

Warzone on PS4 requires approximately 55-101GB of storage space, depending on updates and if it’s a standalone installation or integrated with another Call of Duty title.

4. Can I play Call of Duty without installing the entire game?

Some Call of Duty games allow you to selectively install certain game modes or content packs to reduce the initial download size.

5. Why is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare so big on PS4?

Modern Warfare is large due to its high-resolution textures, multiple game modes, and frequent updates.

6. Will Call of Duty always be available on PS4?

Microsoft has committed to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation for at least 10 years following their acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

7. What’s the smallest Call of Duty game?

Among older titles, CoD Classic has the smallest size, at only 1.3 GB.

8. How can I check the size of a Call of Duty game on my PS4?

Go to Settings > Storage > System Storage > Applications to see the size of each installed game.

9. Does the PS4 Pro run Call of Duty better than the standard PS4?

Yes, the PS4 Pro generally runs Call of Duty at a higher resolution and frame rate compared to the standard PS4.

10. Is it worth upgrading my PS4 hard drive for Call of Duty?

If you frequently play Call of Duty and other large games, upgrading your hard drive is highly recommended.

11. Why is Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War so big on PS4?

Similar to Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War has high-resolution assets, multiple game modes, and substantial updates, contributing to its large file size.

12. What happens if I don’t have enough space for a Call of Duty update?

You will need to free up storage space by uninstalling games or deleting unused content before you can download and install the update.

13. Can I use an external hard drive to play Call of Duty on PS4?

Yes, you can use an external hard drive to store and play Call of Duty games on PS4.

14. Are Call of Duty games getting bigger over time?

Yes, generally, newer Call of Duty games tend to be larger than older titles due to advancements in graphics and increased content.

15. What is the largest Call of Duty install size?

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War takes up a massive 175 GB of storage space, it also goes up to a whopping 250 GB if you want the best graphics the game can offer.

How big is Call of Duty on PS4?