A lot of buzz has been going around about the file size for the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, coming in at a whopping 300 GB. That’s more than triple the size of some stunning games out there.
What’s even crazier is when you compare it to another 2024 Xbox exclusive, Flight Simulator, which is just 150 GB. This game on the other hand, literally has the entire world presented in a very high graphical fidelity.
Why Exactly Is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 So Massive?
A big chunk of it comes down to the graphics and technical fidelity. The developers are going all out with ultra-high-definition textures, intricate character models, and super-detailed environments. Another reason is all the content packed into the game. We’re talking about a beefy campaign mode, multiplayer maps, zombies mode, and possibly even more extra content.
Reminder that Microsoft: Flight Simulator has the whole fucking map of the Earth at 150GB and is somehow smaller than COD: Black Ops 6 which is going to be 309.8GB pic.twitter.com/RlWkY9DZPj
— NikTek (@NikTekOfficial) June 10, 2024
With all these modes, there’s a lot to store on your hard drive. Plus, there’s likely a ton of audio files, voice acting, and cutscenes that eat up space. But even then, it shouldn’t be more than around 100GB, given the scope of other similar high-fidelity games.
The main reason for this inflation seems to be due to the Call of Duty HQ App, which combines Warzone and Modern Warfare II and III into one launcher. Due to this, all the different games have shared assets, hence inflating storage space even when you don’t need certain features for a game.
The HQ is designed to integrate with various other titles, pulling in assets, data, and updates from each one. This means that instead of having standalone files for each game, you’ve got this massive hub that includes everything. While this is great for seamless transitions and quick access, it means a lot of data gets bundled together, inflating the overall size.
Flight Simulator 2024 Has a Whole World at Half the Size
Flight Simulator 2024 is shaping up to be an absolute beast, but not because of its file size. It’s a beast because it literally lets you fly anywhere in the world. The whole planet is your playground to freely explore with all the iconic landscapes and landmarks, and it’s all crammed into just 150 GB. That’s like half the size of Black Ops 6.
The magic behind this is how the game handles its data. Instead of storing everything locally on your hard drive, it streams a lot of the world’s data from the cloud. This means you get to experience the entire world without needing to have every single bit of data downloaded onto your system. It’s a pretty clever way to keep the file size down while still delivering an detailed and massive game.
Another thing is that the developers have focused on optimizing the game to run efficiently without taking up too much space. They use advanced data compression techniques and smart coding to make sure that you get a stunning experience without it being a massive burden on your storage.
What do you think of Black Ops 6 taking up so much unnecessary space? Let us know in the comments.
