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GTA 6’s Massive Storage Demands Could Push Next-Gen Consoles to the Limit
When Grand Theft Auto V was released in 2013, it had a substantial install size of 36 GB. Rumors suggest that Grand Theft Auto VI could exceed 100 GB, which poses a challenge for players with smaller SSDs. Given the next-gen graphics and AI-driven non-playable characters that Rockstar Games is developing, combined with the vast open world, it's hard to believe that 100 GB will be sufficient. Players may need to uninstall other games to accommodate this installation.
The Expansion of Video Game Dimensions
AAA games have grown substantially in size during the last few years. Modern Warfare III (2023) needs 200GB of storage space while Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) requires 150 GB. A 100GB storage requirement seems realistic if GTA 6 includes a map that surpasses the combined area of Vice City and Los Santos.
Ultimately, game industry analysts are optimistic that Rockstar can take advantage of high-quality compression technology and SSD technology to manage this file size. However, when you consider the graphics, such as 4K resolution with textures, ray-tracing, and real-time physics, I think it will be fascinating to see when the actual install takes place in the download space.
SSD vs. HDD: The Future Storage War
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S use NVMe SSDs for fast load times. However, both have base models that are 825GB (PS5) and 512 GB–1 TB (Xbox), which will leave very little room after required system files.
Options for this include:
- Expandable storage through updating PS5 with NVMe drives and Xbox proprietary card options.
- Cloud gaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Plus Premium).
- Selective installation will allow users to install optional HD texture packs.
A Rockstar insider has said that GTA 6 will supposedly use Direct Storage on PCs, which should reduce loading times, as long as users have a high-speed SSD.
Will Compression Save the Day
Rockstar has a proven history of reducing file sizes. Some examples include
- Grand Theft Auto V's efficient use of reused assets decreased the size!
- Red Dead Redemption 2's smart use of texture streaming.
Though new technologies like Oodle Kraken and Nanite (Unreal Engine 5) will be useful, the benefits lost will be more than the photorealistic visuals.
Future of Game Installs
With the evolution of internet speeds, some believe there will be a transition toward models that emphasize streaming. However, the single-player aspect of GTA 6 indicates that a large local installation is most likely to happen.
Organizing Your System for GTA 6
Considering the hardware capability of GTA 6, gamers need to know the following:
- Get a 1 TB+ SSD: An important consideration for PS5/Xbox Series X owners.
- External HDD for games with less demand: Use externally for less demanding games.
- Cloud Gaming Internet Bandwidth: In case of a problem in the storage aspect.
- Anticipating Specifications: Rockstar can provide information regarding optimizations before release.
Final Verdict: Will Your Storage Survive GTA 6
GTA 6 will likely be one of the storage-hungry games of all time, potentially going over 100GB, given its innovative graphics and large, open world. While Rockstar may innovate new optimization methods, gamers will still have to bear the memory upgrade or retain game deletions for space.
At its very best, one must be willing to run high-speed SSDs and wait for Rockstar updates. Compression, modular installations, and even cloud support are all viable options, but regardless of the techniques that may come to the surface storage-wise, GTA 6 will push it to a level that neither the game developers nor gamers have ever been to.