How Big Are PS5 Games Compared to PS4? What You Need to Know

If you’ve been swapping discs between a PS4 and a PS5, you probably noticed the storage warning flashing far more often on the newer console. The simple answer: PS5 games tend to be heftier. But “heavier” can mean a lot of things—file size, installation requirements, and even the way updates are handled. Below we break down the key factors that make PS5 titles larger, and what that means for your hard drive, SSD, and overall gaming experience.

Why PS5 Games Are Usually Larger

Several technical upgrades drive the size difference:

• Ray Tracing Assets: Real‑time lighting and reflections require high‑resolution texture maps that can double the usual file footprint.
• Higher‑Resolution Audio: 3D audio formats like Tempest Engine store more sound channels, adding megabytes per hour of gameplay.
• 4K Textures and Models: Developers ship assets designed for 4K displays, meaning each texture can be 4–8 MB instead of the 1–2 MB typical on PS4.
• SSD‑Optimized Data: The PS5’s ultra‑fast SSD encourages developers to stream larger chunks of data, which translates to bigger install packages.

Typical Size Ranges

Here’s a quick snapshot of what you’ll find on the two platforms. Numbers are averages; individual titles can vary widely.

PS4

• Indie and smaller titles: 1–3 GB
• Mid‑range games (e.g., “The Last of Us Remastered”): 15–30 GB
• AAA blockbusters (e.g., “Red Dead Redemption 2”): 50–70 GB

PS5

• Indie and smaller titles: 2–5 GB
• Mid‑range games (e.g., “Spider‑Man: Miles Morales”): 30–50 GB
• AAA blockbusters (e.g., “Horizon Forbidden West”): 80–100 GB

Notice the jump? Even an indie game can be twice the size of its PS4 counterpart because of the higher fidelity assets.

What This Means for Your Storage

Most PS5 owners start with an 825 GB SSD, which translates to roughly 667 GB of usable space after the system software. If you’re eyeing three or four big titles, you could hit the limit faster than you expect.

Here are a few practical tips:

• Prioritize installs: Some games allow you to launch directly from the disc while only the essential data is installed. Use this to free up space for other titles.
• Archive older games: The PS5 can move completed games to the internal storage of a compatible external USB drive, freeing up SSD space without deleting your progress.
• Consider a second SSD: Sony’s M.2 expansion slot supports up to 4 TB, but you’ll need a compatible model and a bit of technical comfort.

Are All PS5 Games Bigger?

Not necessarily. Some developers deliberately keep file sizes modest to reach a broader audience. “Sackboy: A Big Adventure,” for instance, hovers around 8 GB on PS5—a size more typical of a PS4 title. In contrast, “Demon’s Souls” swells past 70 GB because it rebuilds every texture from the ground up.

The takeaway? Look at each game’s official specs before you buy, especially if you have limited storage.

Impact on Updates and Patches

Because PS5 games start larger, their patches can be sizable as well. A 2 GB patch on a PS4 might be 4 GB on a PS5, simply because the base assets are bigger. This can affect:

• Download times on slower internet connections.
• Available storage during the update process—some patches temporarily need double space.

Plan updates for off‑peak hours or use a wired connection for a smoother experience.

Future Trends

As developers get more comfortable with the PS5’s hardware, we can expect a gradual shift:

• More titles offering “High‑Resolution” and “Performance” modes, each with different size footprints.
• Potential adoption of streaming‑friendly formats that could reduce on‑disk size while keeping visual fidelity high.
• Continued emphasis on SSD‑friendly data structures, meaning future games could become even more data‑intensive.

In short, the trend points to bigger installations, but also smarter ways to manage them.

Bottom Line

The PS5’s power comes with a storage price tag. Expect most modern games to be 1.5‑2× larger than their PS4 equivalents, largely due to 4K textures, ray‑tracing assets, and richer audio. By staying aware of each title’s size, archiving wisely, and possibly expanding your SSD, you can keep the gaming experience fluid without constantly juggling space.