If you are a PC gamer, you may have noticed that game file sizes are getting bigger and bigger every year. Some of the most popular games of 2023 are over 100GB, which can take up a lot of space on your SSD and a lot of time to download. How can you deal with this challenge and enjoy your games without compromising your storage or bandwidth?
One option is to reduce the game file sizes on your PC by using compression tools, deleting unused files, and moving games to external drives. According to Windows Central, there are several ways to do this, such as using CompactGUI, a free tool that can compress games without affecting their performance; deleting unnecessary files like language packs, mods, or DLCs that you don’t use; and moving games that you don’t play often to an external hard drive or a cloud storage service.
Another option is to upgrade your SSD to a larger and faster one that can store more games and load them faster. PC Gamer recommends some of the best SSDs for gaming in 2023, based on performance, capacity, price, and reliability. Some of the top choices are the Samsung 980 Pro, the WD Black SN850, and the Crucial P5. PC Gamer also explains why SSDs are better than HDDs for gaming and how to install them on your PC.
A third option is to optimize your PC for gaming by updating drivers, tweaking settings, cleaning up disk space, and overclocking your CPU and GPU. TechRadar covers how to do this in detail, and also suggests some software tools to help you with the process. Some of the tips include updating your graphics card drivers, adjusting your power plan, disabling unnecessary background processes, defragmenting your disk, and using MSI Afterburner or Intel XTU to boost your CPU and GPU performance.
Of course, these options are not mutually exclusive. You can combine them to get the best results for your gaming experience. However, you should also be aware of the potential risks and drawbacks of some of these methods, such as data loss, overheating, or instability. You should always backup your data before making any changes to your system, and monitor your temperatures and voltages while overclocking.
Game file sizes are unlikely to shrink anytime soon, as developers keep pushing the boundaries of graphics, audio, and gameplay. However, as a PC gamer, you have some options to cope with this challenge and enjoy your games without sacrificing too much.