Activision is making big changes to Call of Duty’s file management system. As a long-time player and industry observer, I’ve seen firsthand how the game’s massive file sizes have frustrated the community. Now, Activision is taking steps to address this issue ahead of Black Ops 6’s release.
The Problem and the Solution
Call of Duty games have become notorious for their enormous file sizes, often exceeding 100GB. This has been a major headache for players, especially those with limited storage space on their consoles or PCs. The upcoming Black Ops 6 sparked concerns when rumors suggested it might require 300GB of space. While this turned out to be false, it highlighted the ongoing issue.
Activision’s new approach aims to give players more control over what they install. The company plans to separate different game modes and allow players to choose which components they want to download. This means you’ll be able to install just the parts of the game you actually play, saving valuable storage space.
What’s Changing and When
The changes will roll out in several phases over the coming months, leading up to Black Ops 6’s launch on October 25, 2024.
- August 21: The first major update will separate Call of Duty: Warzone from the mainline games. This means when you buy a new annual title, you’ll only download files for that specific game by default. Warzone will become an optional, separate download.
- August 30: Another update will continue to streamline the file system.
- Mid-October: Further optimizations will be implemented.
- October 25: Changes will coincide with the Black Ops 6 launch.
- Season 1 Update: The final phase of this overhaul will be implemented.
Activision promises these updates will result in smaller download sizes for future Call of Duty releases. In fact, they’ve stated that Black Ops 6 will have a smaller initial download than Modern Warfare III.
This new system should benefit all Call of Duty players. You’ll have more control over what you install, potentially freeing up significant storage space. The streamlined interface should also make it easier to access the specific game modes you want to play.
However, it’s important to note that these changes won’t happen overnight. The transition period might be a bit confusing and potentially frustrating for some players. To compensate for any inconvenience, Activision is offering a free pack of Battle Token Tier Skips and 2XP tokens at the start of Season 5 Reloaded.
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While these changes are primarily focused on file size management, there’s more exciting news for Call of Duty players. Black Ops 6 is set to launch on October 25, 2024.
- An invite-only trial will run from August 30 to September 4 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.
- An open beta will be available from September 6 to September 9.
These file size changes represent a significant shift in how Activision manages Call of Duty’s massive content library. It’s a welcome move that should make the games more accessible and less demanding on our storage devices.
