What is the story about?
What's Happening?
Arrowhead Studios, the developer of Helldivers 2, is actively seeking solutions to address the game's large installation size on PC, which is about 150GB. This size is significantly larger than on consoles due to data duplication aimed at optimizing performance for players using mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs). Brendan Armstrong, Arrowhead's deputy technical director, explained that the duplication is necessary to reduce loading times for HDD users, as these drives have slower data access speeds compared to solid state drives (SSDs). The studio is currently unable to accurately gauge how many players still use HDDs, but estimates suggest it could be around 12% of the PC gaming population. Arrowhead is exploring ways to reduce the file size, including improving data compression and engine optimization.
Why It's Important?
The large installation size of Helldivers 2 on PC highlights the ongoing challenges developers face in optimizing games for diverse hardware configurations. As the gaming industry transitions from HDDs to SSDs, developers must balance performance optimization with file size management. This issue is particularly relevant for players with limited storage capacity, as large game files can restrict their ability to install and play new titles. Arrowhead's efforts to address this challenge could influence industry standards and practices, potentially leading to more efficient game development processes and improved player experiences. The outcome of these efforts may also impact future hardware requirements for PC gaming.
What's Next?
Arrowhead is planning updates to gradually reduce the game's file size by removing unused assets and optimizing data storage. However, these changes may not be immediately noticeable due to the addition of new content. In the long term, the studio aims to enhance its game engine and apply advanced compression techniques to further minimize data duplication. The success of these initiatives will depend on balancing reduced installation sizes with acceptable loading times, particularly for players using older hardware. The gaming community and industry stakeholders will be closely monitoring Arrowhead's progress in addressing these technical challenges.
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