Whether PS5, Xbox, or gaming PC: Every gamer has a mass storage device installed to install games and more. But is 1 TB adequate for gaming in 2022?
If you want to play games, you have to install them on a storage medium. Here, users can now choose between traditional hard drives (HDDs) and a Solid State Drive (SSD).
HDDs are significantly cheaper than SSDs, but they are also slower and more prone to damage from shocks and movements.
But how much storage space do you actually need in 2022 if you want to play modern games? Is 1 TB still enough today, or do we need more storage?
If you want to play state-of-the-art titles and MMOs, you need a lot of space
Which games are large? In particular, many modern games and MMOs require a lot of space. Here are 5 games that many users are currently playing and require considerable storage:
- CoD: Modern Warfare & Warzone requires nearly 200 GB of storage in total. However, if you only want to fight in Warzone, the game shrinks to around 90 GB.
- The new co-op shooter Back 4 Blood requires around 40 GB on your computer.
- The MMORPG New World requires about 50 GB of disk space.
- For Final Fantasy XIV Online, you need 80 GB of free storage space with the new expansion.
- Destiny 2 is also quite large at 105 GB.
Textures in particular require a lot of space on your hard drive
Why are games so large today? Textures, videos, and audio files require a lot of space when you want to install games. In particular, textures are taking up more and more space because gamers want their game to look stunning.
However, this is noticeable in storage hunger: High-resolution textures, clothing that moves with every breeze, or hairstyles where you can count every hair. Then there are special features like ray tracing. But this requires space on physically limited mass storage.
As if that wasn’t enough, some games now offer high-resolution texture packs. Because your graphics card shouldn’t get bored, and even the last rock must look sharp. This makes games visually better, but the storage demands also increase.
Why don’t you just delete games? Many gamers likely know the problem: Games can be uninstalled in a few moments, but downloading them again can take several hours depending on the connection.
Therefore, there are many users who keep games installed even when they are not playing. Because some simply don’t want to download dozens of gigabytes of data again and wait days.
1 TB of storage space could become tight in the long run
Basically, it depends on what kind of gamer you are. If you have two or three favorite games that you mainly play, then your hard drive won’t fill up quickly. Even when games get a bit larger or receive regular big updates like Call of Duty: Warzone or Apex: Legend. For example, a large update for CoD: Warzone became a problem for console players because the game simply became too big.
However, if you want to play significantly more games or just enjoy trying out new things, it makes sense to buy a mass storage device with 2 TB directly. Otherwise, you’ll have to regularly delete games.
If you record video material while gaming or use other programs with high storage needs, 1 TB will also likely be tight.
A combination of HDD and SSD has become established among many users. A small SSD for the operating system and basic programs, and an HDD for games and data. However, the SSD for Windows should also not be too small. Because many games store save files, screenshots, or settings in the documents folder on the Windows partition.
