Welcome, soldier! So, you're looking to dive into the world of Call of Duty: Vanguard, but you're a bit worried about the dreaded file size, right? It's a valid concern! After all, the Call of Duty franchise has a reputation for being an absolute storage hog. But don't you worry, because this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how big the game is, why it's that size, and how to manage it. Let's get you ready for battle!
Step 1: Discovering the Initial Download Size - The First Objective
Alright, before you even think about installing the game, you need to know what you're up against. The download size is the first hurdle, and thankfully, for Vanguard, it's a bit more manageable than some of its predecessors at launch.
For PC players, you can expect the initial download to be around 50GB. This is a significant improvement over previous titles like Modern Warfare and Black Ops Cold War which could easily break the 100GB mark for the initial download.
On PlayStation 4, the download is approximately 54.65 GB, but it requires about 93.12 GB of free space for the installation.
For PlayStation 5, the initial download is around 64.13 GB, needing a total of 89.84 GB of space.
Xbox One players will be looking at a download size of about 56.6 GB.
And finally, for the next-gen Xbox Series X/S, the download is about 61 GB.
Remember, these are the launch sizes. The total size on your disk can and will grow.
Step 2: Understanding the Full Installation Size - The Real Challenge
Now, here's where things get a little more complex. The download size isn't the final size on your hard drive or SSD. The full installation, once all game modes are installed and uncompressed, is significantly larger.
Sub-heading 2.1: The PC Storage Requirements
PC players have some control over their install size, which is a major benefit.
Multiplayer and Zombies Only: If you're a multiplayer fanatic and a zombie slayer, but don't care about the single-player campaign, you can install just those components. At launch, this required around 36 GB of space. This is a fantastic option if your storage is limited.
All Game Modes (Campaign, Multiplayer, Zombies): To get the full experience, including the cinematic campaign, you'll need a lot more space. The total size on your drive for all modes is around 177 GB. That's a massive jump from just the multiplayer and zombies components!
The Hi-Rez Assets Cache: For PC players with powerful rigs, there's an optional "Hi-Rez Assets Cache" that can add another 32 GB to 64 GB of data for high-resolution textures. This is where the game can truly start to eat up your storage. You can turn this on or off in the game's settings.
Sub-heading 2.2: Console Installation Sizes
Console players don't have as many options to pick and choose components, so the total size on the disk can be quite large.
PlayStation 5: The total installation can reach up to 123.1 GB or even more. Some reports have seen it go higher with updates.
PlayStation 4: The required space for the full game is around 93.12 GB.
Xbox Series X/S: The installation size is around 61 GB at launch, but like other platforms, this can increase with updates.
Xbox One: The required space is about 56.6 GB at launch.
Step 3: Why is it So Big? - The Technical Breakdown
You might be asking, "Why in the world is a game this big?" It's a great question, and the answer lies in several key factors:
High-Quality Assets: Call of Duty: Vanguard features stunning visuals, from detailed character models and weapons to sprawling, destructible environments. All of this high-fidelity artwork and textures take up a lot of space.
Multiple Game Modes: The game isn't just one mode. It has a full-fledged single-player campaign, a robust multiplayer experience, and a dedicated Zombies mode. Each of these modes has its own unique maps, assets, and code, all of which contribute to the total size.
Uncompressed Data: A significant portion of the file size is due to uncompressed assets. To ensure fast loading times and smooth performance, the game stores many of its files in an uncompressed state. This makes them easier for the console or PC to read quickly, but it comes at the cost of disk space.
Future Updates and Seasons: This is a crucial point. Call of Duty titles are "live service" games, meaning they are constantly updated with new content, including maps, weapons, operators, and seasonal events. Each update adds more data, and the file size will inevitably grow over time.
Step 4: Managing Your Storage - The Practical Guide
So, you've seen the numbers, and your jaw might have dropped. Don't panic! Here's a step-by-step guide to freeing up space for Vanguard and future games.
Sub-heading 4.1: On PC
Uninstall Old Games: This is the most straightforward solution. Go to your game launcher (Steam, Battle.net, etc.) or your Windows "Add or remove programs" settings and uninstall games you no longer play.
Delete Unnecessary Files: Go through your downloads folder, your desktop, and any other folders where you store large files. Get rid of old installers, movies, or other data you don't need.
Use a Disk Cleanup Tool: Windows has a built-in "Disk Cleanup" tool that can help you clear temporary files and other junk data.
Consider an External Hard Drive or SSD: If you're constantly running out of space, investing in an external hard drive or SSD is a great solution. You can move less-played games to the external drive to free up space on your main drive.
Sub-heading 4.2: On Consoles
Delete Unused Games and Apps: Go to your console's storage settings and look at the list of installed games and applications. Delete anything you're no longer using.
Manage Game Data and Add-ons: Many games, especially Call of Duty titles, have a "Manage game and add-ons" option where you can delete specific content like campaign packs, multiplayer packs, or high-resolution texture packs. If you only play multiplayer, you can often delete the campaign to save significant space.
Clear Saved Data and Screenshots: While they don't take up a ton of space, old saved game data and media like screenshots and video clips can add up. Consider backing them up to a USB drive or cloud storage and then deleting them from your console.
Invest in an External Storage Solution:
PS5: You can add an M.2 SSD to expand your internal storage.
Xbox Series X/S: You can use an official Xbox Expansion Card or a USB 3.0 external HDD for storing games.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some quick answers to the most common questions about Vanguard's size:
How to check the file size of Call of Duty: Vanguard on my PC? You can check the file size by right-clicking the game in your Battle.net launcher, selecting "Show in Explorer," and checking the properties of the game folder.
How to reduce the file size of Call of Duty: Vanguard on my console? You can reduce the file size by going into the game's settings or your console's storage management and selectively uninstalling game components like the campaign or Zombies mode if you don't play them.
How to free up space on my PS5 for Call of Duty: Vanguard? Go to Settings > Storage, and then you can delete games, apps, saved data, and media files to create more room.
How to install only the multiplayer mode in Call of Duty: Vanguard on PC? During the installation process on the Battle.net launcher, you'll be given the option to choose which components you want to install. Just select Multiplayer and Zombies, and uncheck the Campaign.
How to download Call of Duty: Vanguard faster? Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection. You can also try pausing other downloads, closing applications that use bandwidth, and using a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi.
How to check the free storage on my Xbox Series X/S? Navigate to My games & apps, select "Manage," and then "Manage Storage devices" to see a breakdown of your storage.
How to know if my PC meets the storage requirements for Vanguard? You can check the official system requirements on the game's store page on Battle.net or Steam and compare the required storage with your available disk space.
How to fix the "not enough storage" error when installing Vanguard? The most common solution is to free up disk space by deleting other games or files. You may also need to clear your console's cache or expand your storage with an external drive.
How to uninstall the campaign for Vanguard after installation? On PC, you can manage the installed content through the Battle.net launcher. On consoles, look for a "Manage game and add-ons" option in your library or storage settings.
How to find and delete the Hi-Rez Assets Cache on PC? The Hi-Rez Assets Cache can be managed within the game's graphics settings. You can turn this feature off to save disk space if needed.