As technology advances, the biggest PS4 games get bigger, with file sizes that increasingly worry even the larger hard drives out there. It’s understandable as bigger textures, detailed animations, larger levels and more take up bigger and bigger chunks of your HDD. Which is obviously problematic if you’re trying to play more than one MEGA GAME. Once you’ve downloaded a few big titles there’s a balancing act to what you keep, install or delete.
Obviously one solution is to investigate the best PS4 hard drives (opens in new tab) and add some more space to your PS4. But even then you can soon find yourself butting up against size restraints. To help you plan ahead if you’re having trouble we’ve prepared this list of some of the biggest PS4 games to give you a heads up on how much space you might need to make to play them. Especially as that download might not fully represent the final game once patches and additional content have also been added in. If you’re hoping to enjoy some of the upcoming PS4 games (opens in new tab) heading your way then check our list of the biggest PS5 games and see how much space you need, or could save.
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Destiny 2 PS4 file size – 165GB
It’s no surprise that Bungie’s shared world shooter sequel is this big after two and half years of updates, expansions, and patches. Think about all the loot, engrams, and emotes crammed into those Gigabytes, and you can see why this live service is struggling to keep a reign on its own memory requirements.
For reference, the size of a standard PS4 hard drive is 500GB, so if you’re planning to pick up Destiny 2 late in the day, you better make sure you’re not keeping too many other games on the go without a decent hard drive attached. In better news (or worse, depending on how you see it), the pace of updates for Bungie’s latest adventure is at least slowing, so it can’t get too much bigger from here on out.
Warzone PS4 file size – 110GB
Currently, a raw Warzone only install will sit at around 110GB on your drive. However if you start adding in Modern Warfare and Cold War you can soon see that head north of 200GB. It’s one of the more problematic games for size as patches and updates – especially with more than the basic components installed – can soon see a basic PS4 struggle to find the space to run it.
Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 file size – 105GB
Move over Black Ops 3, there’s a new data sheriff in town! Red Dead Redemption 2 (opens in new tab) may not be available yet, but thanks to fine print spotted on a PS4 Pro bundle packaging we know that it requires 105GB of space (opens in new tab), shooting it straight to the number one slot on this list. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that Rockstar’s first current-gen focused project will be heavy on the storage, especially considering how expansive the world is going to be, but it’s still eye-opening to consider how much hard drive space you’ll need so you can saddle up and explore the Wild West.
NBA 2K22 PS4 file size – 100GB
If you want to play some Basketball then prepare to clear more than courts as NBA 2K22 has a quite the chunky install. At around 100Gb it’s one of those games that makes you think about what you really need to keep on your hard drive. Chances are something’s got to go if you want to fit it on.
Black Ops Cold War PS4 file size – 95+GB
Black Ops Cold War will cost you at least 95GB of space. However, because of its Warzone integration and split modes between campaign, multiplayer and Zombies that can vary depending on how you manage the installation. It’s a fair whack what you decide though.
The Elder Scrolls Online PS4 file size – 85GB+
Entire worlds take up a lot of space and with several expansions to include The Elder Scrolls Online will start with at least 85GB of your drive. Depending on what else you install that could easily start to nudge towards 120GB though so choose wisely, traveller.
The Last of Us 2 PS4 file size – 80GB
It’s one of the most visually impressive games on PS4 so it should be a surprise that it comes with a fair amount of hard drive real estate. So you’ll need at least 80GB to see how Ellie and Joel’s journey ends, which isn’t that bad when you see how much of an emotional rollercoaster it’ll take you on.
Battlefield 4 PS4 file size – 71GB
Coming in at 31GB, the standard edition of Battlefield 4 (opens in new tab) is certainly substantial, but not ridiculously so. However, if you’re looking to pick up the premium edition of the game, which includes all five DLC packs plus every free update and map DICE has released over the last four years, you’re looking at a 71GB piece of software taking up its residence in your HDD. If you own a 500GB PS4, that’s almost a fifth of its hard drive for a single game, and a relatively old one too. Seeing as most Battlefield 4 players tend to play the fan favourite maps from the base game anyway (Siege of Shanghai 24/7 servers are still going strong on consoles), you may want to think long and hard before hitting the install button on this one.
The Elder Scrolls Online PS4 file size – 86GB
Zenimax managed to recreate the whole of Tamriel as one massively multiplayer, richly detailed shared universe, so the HDD clearance caveats were always going to be mega. But as a constantly evolving MMO, the Elder Scrolls Online has only continued to grow with age. The huge Homestead patch of February this year injected another 20 gigabytes into the proceedings, but that was only the start of it. The recently released Morrowind expansion, which adds an entire new region to the game, brought with it a lusty Argonian maid’s worth of memory, which is a lot to take on for the simple pleasures of indulging in Elder Scrolls 3 nostalgia.
GTA 5 PS4 file size – 76GB
Ever wondered how Rockstar managed to make Los Santos appear both visually impressive, physically robust and geographically immense? The answer appears to be memory. Lots and lots of memory. Considering the detail, scale and endless entertainment value of Grand Theft Auto 5, at least you’ll know that all 76 gigabytes of the game are being put to good use by Rockstar. That said, it’s worth pointing out that, on PS4, Grand Theft Auto 5 is essentially a remaster of a last-gen title – Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar’s first full current-gen experience, is packing even more raw data.
Hitman 3 PS4 file size – 60-70GB
Hitman 3’s file size can vary a little as you can also download and play the previous two games from within the threequel. While IO Interactive performed some wizardry to reduce file sizes you could still end up with three games worth of hard drive space inside 47’s last adventure.
Ghost of Tsushima PS4 file size – 50-65GB
Ghost of Tsushima started at a respectable 50GB, but updates and new content – including the multiplayer Legends mode – adds another 12-15GB to the final package. Not the biggest game but the extra space could catch you out if you’re balancing every bit of storage.
Uncharted 4 PS4 file size – 63GB
Another Naughty Dog game makes the cut, although this time the numbers are a bit more understandable. Uncharted 4 (opens in new tab)’s photo-realistic visuals and smooth-as-butter action aren’t able to run on empty, you know, but those 63 gigs are what’s keeping Drake’s face looking so emotive and the explosions he creates so jaw-dropping. Naughty Dog has also spruced up Uncharted 4 with a fair bit of free and paid content for multiplayer, which all adds to the overall total.
Continue to Page 2 for more hard drive-busting installs.
Battlefield 1 PS4 file size – 52GB
War is clearly a big deal, as Battlefield 1 (opens in new tab) marks the second game in the series to show up on this list. At 52GB, it doesn’t quite yet match the sky-high magnitude of its predecessor, but DICE’s WW1 shooter could well be on its way to overtaking Battlefield 4’s franchise record, as a handful of expansions and updates are due to release over the course of the next few months. Any committed Battlefield 1 veterans should therefore be keeping a watchful eye on their PS4 memory banks, because the game’s digital dimensions are only going to keep expanding from here on out.
The Last of Us Remastered PS4 file size – 47GB
“You have no idea what loss is” states Joel, rather bluntly, to Ellie at one point during Naughty Dog’s storied apocalypse tale. Oh I think I do, Joel. As it happens, I’ve lost almost 50 gigabytes of my hard drive space just so I can play this very game. The Last of Us (opens in new tab)’ original PS3 release came in at just under 30GB, which means those extra 17 gigs on PS4 are there to either accommodate Ellie-focused DLC ‘Left Behind’ or beef up the game’s already immaculate visuals. To Naughty Dog’s credit, it’s almost worth plugging in an external hard drive just to enjoy The Last Of Us’ breathtaking views alone.
Tired of deleting games from your PS4 hard drive? You can quadruple your storage space – and more – with our guide to the best PS4 external hard drive (opens in new tab).