NetEase Games has decided to shrink the install size of Marvel Rivals to save valuable space on storage drives. The upcoming Update 9.5 will optimize assets and compress textures to drop the PC version by 40 GB and console editions by 15 GB. But players will have to endure a massive patch download first while the system repacks the shooter files.
Storage space is becoming a premium commodity as solid state drives remain expensive. While many publishers continue to release bloated games that easily cross 100 GB, some developers are actively trying to trim the fat. This file compression strategy from NetEase represents a direct response to players who are tired of managing tight storage limits on their machines.
The file shrinkage will vary depending on your platform. PC players see the biggest benefit, with the install footprint dropping from around 80 to 100 GB down to 40 to 60 GB. Console players on PlayStation and Xbox will see a drop of 15 GB, bringing the final size down to between 50 and 60 GB. Even though the console reduction is smaller, it offers a welcome relief for those managing crowded game libraries.
The optimization arrives with Update 9.5, which NetEase Games warns will be a beefy download. The patch needs to unpack, restructure, and repack the multiplayer files from the ground up to achieve the smaller footprint. The game is currently playable on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. A portable version for the Switch 2 is also in the works, though NetEase has yet to announce an official launch date for that port.
