Call of Duty’s file sizes have long been a source of frustration, but it seems that things are about to change for the better: starting on August 21, the game’s digital footprint will significantly decrease. Since the shift to Call of Duty HQ, the first-person shooter has maintained an incredibly large file size, making it almost necessary to have a separate hard drive solely for the game by 2024. However, with the upcoming changes, players will have more control over what is downloaded, leading to a dramatic reduction in file size. One major change is the separation of Warzone from the annual titles by default.
So when a player purchases a new Call of Duty title, only the files for that specific game will be downloaded initially. Later on, players can choose to download Warzone, and free-to-play gamers will still have access to it. The Season 5 reloaded update in August will bring more content to a cache, and players will be able to increase their internet bandwidth usage for high-fidelity graphics. However, before these changes take full effect, a large download will be required, especially for PlayStation users.
This download is not permanent, and over time, the file size will decrease due to file optimization. Despite this, the initial download is necessary to reorganize existing game files and integrate new technology. These efforts aim to give Call of Duty a new look and reduce its overall size by the launch of Black Ops 6 on October 25. Furthermore, a new user interface will provide players with direct access to content, and gamers will have more control over what is downloaded on their hard drive.
Overall, these changes are long-awaited and will ultimately provide a more streamlined experience for Call of Duty players.
