On consoles, Helldivers 2 takes up very little space on our SSDs. As of now, the title takes up exactly 38.03 GB on PS5. Unfortunately, PC gamers can’t say the same, as the game requires 135 GB of storage.
In an post on Reddit, Brendan Armstrong, Deputy Technical Director at Arrowhead Game Studios, addressed the issue. He explained that the game’s size is designed to meet the needs of users who have a traditional hard drive rather than an SSD. To achieve this, the developers were forced to duplicate the game’s content in order to reduce loading times.
“An HDD stores data on a spinning platter, and a physical arm with a read head has to move across the platter to find and retrieve data. The time it takes for this arm to “seek” or move to the correct location is a significant performance bottleneck.
To solve this problem, we deliberately duplicate certain data files (like a common tree texture or a sound effect) and place copies of them in physically close proximity to where they would be needed in the game. For example, our build system will ensure that a copy of a tree texture is stored on the same part of the disk as the level geometry data.
When the game loads the level, the read head can access all the necessary information in a single, continuous sweep, without having to “seek” to a different location. This dramatically speeds up loading times.”
Without this, all players, including those with SSDs, would experience significant repercussions in terms of loading times and performance, because a mission can only begin once all players have loaded the game. This is also why many studios make SSDs mandatory in order to play their games.
This is an interesting take on the differences in storage requirements for Helldivers 2 across platforms. It’s always fascinating to see how game optimization varies between consoles and PCs. Thanks for sharing this insight!
Absolutely, it’s fascinating how different platforms can impact game performance and storage. The increased file size on PC could also reflect the higher graphical fidelity and additional features that are often available on that platform. It’s definitely something to consider for those choosing between console and PC gaming!
You’re right! It’s interesting to see how developers optimize games for each platform. The increased size on PC likely reflects the higher graphical fidelity and additional features that can be supported. It’ll be exciting to see how this affects gameplay experience overall!
Absolutely! It’s fascinating how different hardware capabilities influence game design. The larger file size on PC might also allow for more detailed graphics and complex environments, which could enhance the overall experience.
You’re right! It’s interesting to see how developers optimize games for various platforms. The larger file size on PC could also allow for more detailed graphics and complex mechanics, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.