Modern games take up more and more space. On PS5, sometimes it is enough to install three or four recent titles to saturate the internal storage. Productions exceeding 100 GB have become commonplace, especially in AAA games.
Sony seems to have understood the problem. According to information relayed by TechSpot, the company has filed a patent describing a “resource streaming” technology capable of significantly reducing the size of files installed on the console.
A compromise between classic download and cloud
Unlike traditional cloud gaming, this technology does not involve running the game remotely on servers. Sony specifies that this is not an extension of the streaming game, but a hybrid system. The principle is simple: only the executable code and the essential startup resources would be downloaded initially. The whole thing might only weigh around 100MB.
The main logic of the game would be stored locally on the console. On the other hand, certain additional resources, notably higher quality visual elements, would be dynamically retrieved via the Internet as the player progresses. In other words, instead of installing a game’s entire files from the start, the console would only download what is necessary at the precise moment you need it.
A response to the explosion of 100 GB files
The PS5’s internal storage quickly shows its limits when dealing with large titles. While some developers, like those of Helldivers 2 on PC, have found ways to optimize the size of their games, the majority of AAA productions continue to increase in weight. This modular approach could limit the space occupied on the hard drive, while maintaining a fluid gaming experience. The stated objective is to avoid the inconveniences associated with pure streaming, such as latency or quality degradation in the event of an unstable connection, while benefiting from increased flexibility in resource management.
A promising solution but dependent on the Internet
However, this technology relies on a stable Internet connection. For competitive multiplayer games like Fortnite or Call of Duty, downloading resources simultaneously could impact latency.
Games as a service, often among the most storage intensive, represent a particular challenge. On the other hand, for single-player games, this method could considerably reduce the footprint on internal storage.
It is important to remember that this is currently a patent. Sony may choose not to implement this technology in its future games. However, the filing of several patents in recent years relating to the reduction of file sizes shows that the manufacturer is aware of the frustration of players.
As titles become ever more technically ambitious, intelligent resource management could become a central issue for the next generation of games on PS5.