Welcome, soldier! So, you're looking to dive into the epic World War II action of Call of Duty: Vanguard, but you're a bit worried about your hard drive space? You've come to the right place. The Call of Duty franchise has a well-deserved reputation for being a storage hog, but with Vanguard, the developers made a conscious effort to change that. Let's break down exactly how much GB you'll need and how you can manage that precious storage.
Step 1: Identify Your Platform - PC, PlayStation, or Xbox?
The first and most crucial step is to figure out which platform you're playing on. The file size can vary significantly between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. The developers introduced new technology to help with file sizes, but the implementation can differ. So, let's see which console you have. Are you ready to clear some space?
Step 2: Check the Initial Download Size
This is the size of the game when you first download and install it. It's important to know that this is just the beginning.
PC (Battle.net/Steam)
Initial Download: The initial download size for the PC version is around 61 GB for the full game. If you only want to play Multiplayer and Zombies, you can install just those modes, which requires a smaller download of about 36 GB. This is a great feature for players with limited bandwidth or storage.
Required Space: The required space on your hard drive can be a bit larger than the download size. You'll need at least 36 GB for the multiplayer and zombies-only installation, but for the full game, you'll need a whopping 177 GB of available space to accommodate all game modes and updates.
PlayStation 4 & 5
PS5 Download: The initial download for the PlayStation 5 is about 64.13 GB, but you'll need approximately 89.84 GB of required space on your SSD.
PS4 Download: For the PlayStation 4, the download size is around 54.65 GB, requiring about 93.12 GB of space on your HDD.
Xbox Series X/S & Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S Download: The download for the Xbox Series X/S is around 61 GB, with the same amount of required space.
Xbox One Download: On the Xbox One, you'll be looking at a download size of about 56.6 GB, with the same required space.
Step 3: Understand the 'On-Demand Texture Streaming Tech'
Activision made a big deal about their "on-demand texture streaming tech" that was introduced with Vanguard. This is a game-changer. Instead of downloading all the high-resolution textures for every map and every asset in the game, the game will stream them as you play. This means your initial installation is smaller, but you'll need a stable and fast internet connection to benefit from it fully.
Sub-heading: The "Hi-Rez Assets Cache"
On PC, you have the option to enable a "Hi-Rez Assets Cache." This is an optional disk space that can be used to store high-resolution assets for better visual quality.
For Minimum/Recommended Specs: This cache can take up to an additional 32 GB of space.
For Ultra 4K Specs: If you're playing on a high-end rig with a 4K monitor, this cache can balloon to up to 64 GB!
So, be mindful of this optional feature when you're looking at your total storage usage. You can turn this off in the game's settings if you need to free up space.
Step 4: Prepare for the Future - The Inevitable Growth
Here’s the thing about Call of Duty games: they never stay at their launch size. As new seasons, maps, operators, and weapons are added, the file size will grow. It's a tale as old as time for the franchise. While Vanguard started off smaller than its predecessors, you can expect it to expand over time with content updates.
The Call of Duty Cycle: Be prepared for large seasonal updates that can add several gigabytes to the game's total size. This is a normal part of the live service model.
Managing the Monster: The good news is that you can often manage the install by selectively uninstalling certain components you don't use, such as the campaign or specific texture packs.
Step 5: Check Your System Requirements
While you're at it, make sure your PC can handle the game. Here's a quick look at the minimum and recommended specs for the PC version:
Minimum PC Requirements:
OS: Windows 10 64-bit (latest update)
Processor: Intel Core i3-4340 or AMD FX-6300
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470
Video Memory: 2 GB
Storage: 36 GB at launch (Multiplayer and Zombies only)
Recommended PC Requirements:
OS: Windows 10 64-bit (latest update) or Windows 11 64-bit (latest update)
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
Video Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 61 GB at launch
10 Related FAQs: Quick Answers
How to check the current file size of Call of Duty: Vanguard on my console?
You can check the file size by navigating to your game library, selecting Call of Duty: Vanguard, and checking the game information or storage details.
How to reduce the file size of Call of Duty: Vanguard on PC?
You can disable the "Hi-Rez Assets Cache" in the game's settings to free up a significant amount of disk space. You can also uninstall the campaign mode if you're only interested in multiplayer or zombies.
How to uninstall specific modes in Vanguard on a console?
On PlayStation and Xbox, you can often manage the installation by going to the game's file management or storage settings within the console's menu and deselecting the modes you don't want.
How to free up storage space on my PlayStation 5 for Vanguard?
You can delete other games, applications, or saved data from your console's storage. You can also use an external SSD to expand your storage capacity.
How to expand the storage on my Xbox Series X/S for games like Vanguard?
You can purchase and install an official Xbox Series X/S expansion card for seamless gameplay or use an external USB hard drive for storing older Xbox One games and transferring Series X/S games to play them.
How to know if my PC can run Call of Duty: Vanguard?
Compare your PC's hardware specifications (CPU, GPU, RAM) with the minimum and recommended requirements listed in this guide. You can also use websites like "Can You RUN It" to automatically check your system.
How to get the best performance from Vanguard on PC with limited storage?
Keep the "Hi-Rez Assets Cache" disabled and ensure you only have the modes you plan to play installed. Lowering in-game graphics settings can also help with performance.
How to find out if my Call of Duty: Vanguard is updated?
Your console or PC launcher (Battle.net/Steam) will typically notify you of any available updates. You can also manually check for updates in the game's menu.
How to tell the difference between download size and required space?
The download size is the data you need to download to install the game. The required space is the total amount of storage the game will occupy on your hard drive after installation and during gameplay. This can include space for patches, updates, and temporary files.
How to know if a future update will increase Vanguard's file size?
Generally, major seasonal updates will increase the file size. Follow official Call of Duty social media channels and news outlets for announcements about update sizes and content.
