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Download Size and Installation - Version 26 vs Version 27
May 23, 2026, 04:12 PM
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11Download Size Overview22Crimson Desert is a large open-world action-adventure game that requires significant storage space across all platforms. Pearl Abyss officially recommends reserving at least 150 GB of free space before installing, regardless of platform. The game launched on March 19, 2026, with preload available starting March 17, 2026.44Actual download sizes vary by platform due to different compression methods, optimization approaches, and storefront packaging. The download you pull from Steam, PlayStation Store, or the Xbox Store is compressed, so the file you transfer over the internet is smaller than the final installed footprint on your drive. During installation or unpacking, the game decompresses to its full size, which is why Pearl Abyss asks players to budget more space than the raw download figure.66Download Size by Platform88The following table reflects confirmed download and installation sizes as of the March 19, 2026 launch. These numbers include the base game but do not include the day-one patch, which adds roughly 3.1 GB on top.1010PlatformDownload SizeInstalled SizeNotesPC (Steam)~93 GB (compressed preload)~121 GBOfficial system requirements list 150 GB minimum storage. The preload downloads as encrypted, compressed depot files (~93 GB). At launch these unpack to roughly 121 GB. SSD required.PC (Epic Games Store)~123 GB~121 GBSame content as Steam. Epic does not use the same compressed preload format, so the download itself is larger but the final installed size is comparable.PlayStation 5 (Digital)~123 GB~123 GBDownload from the PlayStation Store.PlayStation 5 (Physical)~125 GB total~123 GBDisc contains approximately 77 GB. A mandatory 48.24 GB download is required before the game can launch, even for offline play. After installation, the game runs offline from the disc.Xbox Series X|S120.98 GB~121 GBPre-orders may show a 340 MB placeholder file initially. Restart the console to trigger the full download.Mac (App Store)~167.9 GB~150 GBThe Mac App Store lists a 167.9 GB download, larger than other platforms. Requires Apple Silicon (M2 Pro or later). Uses MetalFX Upscaler.1212The recommended 150 GB figure from Pearl Abyss accounts for the base game plus headroom for the day-one patch and future updates. The actual installed footprint is somewhat smaller than the download size on most platforms because downloaded files are compressed and expand during installation.1313Steam Preload and Unpacking1515Steam distributes preloaded games as encrypted, compressed depot files. For Crimson Desert, the preload weighed approximately 93 GB. These files sit in the depotcache folder inside your Steam library directory and cannot be played until launch time.1717When the game officially unlocked on March 19, 2026, Steam decrypted and decompressed the depot files in place. This unpacking process expanded the game to its full installed size of roughly 121 GB. During unpacking, Steam temporarily needs both the compressed files and the decompressed output on disk at the same time, so the peak disk usage can reach approximately 200 GB or more before the compressed files are cleaned up.1919Players with limited SSD space should be aware of this temporary spike. If your drive runs out of space mid-unpack, Steam will pause and display an error. Free up additional space (or move other games to a different drive) before the unlock window to avoid delays. The unpacking process itself takes anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes depending on your SSD speed and CPU, with NVMe drives completing fastest.2121Day-One Patch2323Crimson Desert's day-one patch (version 1.00.02) is 3.1 GB in size. It was released on March 19, 2026 for Steam at launch. PlayStation 5 received the patch on March 20, 2026, rolled out in two parts (versions 1.00.01 and 1.00.02). Xbox, Epic Games Store, and Mac App Store received it shortly after.2525If you pre-loaded the game, the patch downloads automatically the next time you launch the Steam client or start the game on console. The patch includes the following changes:2727Patch Contents2929A tutorial quest at the start of Chapter 3 teaching players about Abyss Gears and how to equip themAdjusted QTE difficulty when captured by enemies (gradually increases based on number of captures)Improved Housing mode usabilityFixed an issue where certain quests would not progress properlyFixed the bear's instant-kill damage and adjusted overall bear damageCutscene fast-forwarding speed improvements (recently viewed cutscenes can now be skipped more quickly)Skills menu reorganized by weapon type for easier navigationNPC dialogue, voice, and reactions refined to feel more naturalNew finishing blow added for Kliff, plus a new follow-up skill for Damiane and a follow-up attack for OongkaBosses can no longer attack players who are in the middle of a revive animationVarious animation, lip-sync, visual clipping, and voice acting fixesPerformance and stability optimizations across PC and console3131Preload Schedule3333Preload became available on March 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM PT (6:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM UTC / 11:00 PM CET). This gave players approximately 48 hours to download the game before launch. Preload was confirmed for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.3535The Mac version on the App Store did not offer a preload option. Mac players needed to download the full game starting at launch time.3737The global launch occurred on March 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM UTC simultaneously worldwide. Players who pre-loaded could begin playing immediately at launch time, though Steam users still needed to wait for the unpacking process to finish before the game became playable.3939Why the PS5 Disc Requires a Large Download4141The physical PS5 version ships with roughly 77 GB of data on the Blu-ray disc. However, a mandatory 48.24 GB update must be downloaded before the game can launch. This requirement applies even to players who plan to play entirely offline after installation.4343The reason for this is straightforward: PS5 Blu-ray discs have a maximum capacity of approximately 100 GB, which is not enough to hold the full game. The additional 48 GB covers content that did not fit on the disc, along with launch-day optimizations and texture streaming improvements finalized after the disc manufacturing deadline. Players purchasing the physical edition should plan for a total of approximately 125 GB of data transfer (77 GB from the disc plus 48 GB over the internet) and ensure they have an internet connection for the initial setup.4545Offline Play and Download Estimates4747Once the full installation is complete, the game runs offline from the disc without any further internet requirement. You only need to be online for the one-time setup, future patches, and any online features.4949At a 50 Mbps connection, the 48 GB download takes roughly 2 hours. At a 100 Mbps connection, it takes about 1 hour. At a 25 Mbps connection, expect roughly 4 hours. Players with slower connections should start the download well before they intend to play.5151SSD Requirements5353An SSD is strongly recommended for all configurations and is effectively required for the best experience. The game relies heavily on asset streaming for its massive open world built on the BlackSpace Engine. Running the game from a mechanical hard drive will cause noticeable texture pop-in, longer loading times, and potential stuttering during fast travel or horseback riding.5555Storage TypeExperienceNVMe SSDBest experience. Minimal loading screens, smooth texture streaming, fast travel in seconds. Recommended for the full 150 GB allocation.SATA SSDGood experience. Slightly longer loading screens than NVMe but still smooth during open-world traversal and combat.HDD (mechanical)Not recommended. Texture pop-in during traversal, long loading screens (30 seconds or more), and potential stuttering in dense areas like Hernand City.5757The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S both use internal NVMe SSDs, so console players meet this requirement by default. PS5 owners using expanded storage via an M.2 SSD slot will have comparable performance. Console owners using USB external drives for expanded storage should note that Crimson Desert must be installed on the internal SSD (or an NVMe expansion card) to run. The game cannot be played from a USB hard drive.5858PC System Requirements (Storage Context)6060SpecMinimumRecommendedStorage150 GB (SSD)150 GB (NVMe SSD)OSWindows 10 64-bitWindows 10/11 64-bitGPUNVIDIA GTX 1060 / AMD RX 5500 XTNVIDIA RTX 2080 / AMD RX 6700 XTRAM16 GB16 GBCPUIntel i5-8500 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600XIntel i5-11600K / AMD Ryzen 5 56006262The 150 GB minimum represents the installed game size with some buffer. The 150 GB recommended figure adds headroom for patches and shader caches. For a full breakdown of hardware requirements across all quality settings, see the dedicated System Requirements article.6363Platform Availability6565Crimson Desert is available on the following platforms at launch:6767PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 ProXbox Series X|SPC via SteamPC via Epic Games StorePC via Xbox App (Microsoft Store, Xbox Play Anywhere)Mac via the Mac App Store (Apple Silicon M2 Pro or later required)GeForce NOW (cloud streaming, no local storage required)6969The game supports FSR 3/4 and DLSS 4/4.5 on PC, PSSR on PS5 Pro, FSR 3 on base PS5 and Xbox, and MetalFX on Mac. Full voiceover is available in English, Korean, and Simplified Chinese, with subtitles in 14 languages. For cloud streaming through GeForce NOW, no local download is needed at all, making it the only option that avoids the large storage requirement entirely.7171Installation Tips7373TipDetailsBudget extra space during installation: The installer (and Steam's unpacking process in particular) may need temporary working space well beyond the final install size. On PC, budget at least 200 GB of free space on your target drive during installation to account for the peak disk usage during decompression. After unpacking completes, the game settles to roughly 121 GB.Use an SSD: Both PC and console versions benefit from fast storage. Loading times and texture streaming are noticeably better on NVMe drives. The game's open world relies on continuous asset streaming, so HDD performance is noticeably worse.Verify after install: On Steam, right-click the game, go to Properties, then Local Files, and select "Verify integrity of game files" if you experience crashes on first launch. On Epic Games Store, click the three dots next to the game and choose "Verify."Keep space for patches: Post-launch updates are expected regularly. Having an additional 20 to 30 GB of headroom avoids having to shuffle files later. Pearl Abyss has indicated post-launch patches will continue.Physical PS5 owners: Ensure your internet connection can handle the mandatory 48 GB download before you can play. At 50 Mbps, this takes roughly 2 hours. At 25 Mbps, plan for about 4 hours. The game works offline after this initial installation.Xbox placeholder file: If your pre-order shows only a 340 MB file, restart your console to trigger the full 120.98 GB download. This is a known Xbox behavior for pre-ordered titles.Steam Cloud save conflict: If save files revert after an update, temporarily disable Steam Cloud sync in the game's properties, save manually, then re-enable it. This forces your local save to take priority.Mac users: The Mac App Store download is larger than other platforms at approximately 167.9 GB. Ensure you have sufficient free space on your internal or external SSD before starting the download. The Mac version requires Apple Silicon (M2 Pro or later) and macOS 15.0 or newer.GeForce NOW alternative: If your local storage is limited, consider playing through GeForce NOW cloud streaming, which requires no local download. You only need a stable internet connection and a compatible device.7575Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues7676IssuePlatformSolutionDisk space error during unpackingSteam (PC)Free up an additional 50 to 80 GB on the same drive. Steam needs temporary space for both compressed and decompressed files simultaneously during the unpack process.Download stuck at 340 MBXboxRestart the console completely (hold the power button for 10 seconds). The full 120.98 GB download should begin after reboot.Game won't launch from discPS5 (Physical)The mandatory 48.24 GB update must be downloaded before the disc version can launch. Connect to the internet and let the update install fully.Slow download speedsAll platformsPause and resume the download. On Steam, change the download region in Settings. On console, try a wired ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi.Crash on first launchPCVerify game files through your launcher. Update your GPU drivers to the latest version. Ensure your SSD has at least 10 GB of free space beyond the game's installation.Intel Arc GPU not workingPCCrimson Desert does not currently support Intel Arc GPUs. Pearl Abyss has acknowledged this and recommends refunding if you only have an Intel Arc card.
