Few things can push your data cap to the limit quite like downloading modern video games. But with careful planning and smart choices, you can still enjoy your favorite hobby without breaking your data budget.
7
Call of Duty Is Not For You
Call of Duty games are huge, with an average size of around 120-150 GB. These massive file sizes can quickly consume your monthly data allowance in a single download. The updates can also be substantial, ranging from 20 to 30 GB each.
So if you don’t want to blow past your data cap, stay away from Call of Duty and similar games with large file sizes. Platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store tell you how much space you need, so make sure you scour the store description to see how much space is required before you download. Remember, you can always cancel the download if you get a nasty surprise.
To get an idea of the game’s file size if you’re not sure, you can always search the web for it. For instance, you can search “god of war ragnarok file size PS5” and see what information comes up.
6
Choose the Right Games
When working with a data cap, make sure every game you download counts. You can research games by watching YouTube reviews or checking their critic scores on websites like Metacritic and OpenCritic. This way, you’ll avoid wasting precious data on games that might not be worth your time and bandwidth.
Just be sure not to lean too heavily on professional critics. Follow them up by checking the comments sections of videos, reading user reviews, and absorbing the general discussion around the game on websites like Reddit. You generally want to stay away from games that both users and critics agree suck, but beware of the sort of toxic video game discourse that results in review bombing.
5
Disable Automatic Updates
As mentioned earlier, some games have large updates. It’s best to control that process by disabling automatic updates so they don’t chew through your data cap. This is easy to do on platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Steam by venturing into your platform’s settings menu.
On PS5, head to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Then, toggle off the “Download Update Files Automatically” option. Next, go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings and toggle off the “Auto-Download” option.
On Xbox, go to Settings > System > Updates and uncheck the “Keep My Console Up to Date” and “Keep My Games & Apps Up to Date” options.
On Steam, open the game’s library page, click the gear icon below the banner, and select “Properties” from the menu. Next, select “Update” on the left side menu and set the Automatic Update dropdown to the “Only Update this Game When I Launch It” option.
This will avoid you downloading updates for a game that you perhaps have lost interest in, or have even completed.
4
Do You Need Those HD Textures?
Some games have optional HD texture packs that require an additional download, and these can cost you gigabytes of extra data. For instance, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is about 87 GB for the base game and an additional 44 GB for the high-resolution textures. If you are focused on gameplay like I am, you don’t need these textures and can skip downloading them.
Even if the higher-resolution textures are appealing to you, think long and hard about whether the additional download is worth it. Given the example above, you could download many indie games and even several triple-A games for the same download “cost.”
3
Don’t Stream Games
While cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now save you the hassle of downloading games, streaming is generally considered data-intensive. You can consume 6-8 GB per hour at 1080p and 60 FPS. Even at lower resolutions, streaming games will quickly deplete your data cap. That’s why it’s best to stick to games you can install to avoid excessive data usage.
2
Physical Games Are Your Friends
If you want to save yourself a massive download in the first place, consider buying the physical versions of games instead of digital ones. You’ll probably need to download an update when you put the disc in the drive, but it’s still often better than downloading the full game. Furthermore, discs can be cheaper depending on where you get them, which is an added bonus.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a golden rule. Some games have very little data stored on the disc, which can result in full game downloads so watch out.
1
Invest in External Storage
Investing in external storage for your gaming device can also save you data in the long run. When your main storage drive is full, you can move games to the external drive instead of deleting them and then stressing about redownloading them later on. This works best for games you have a vested interest in, that you know you will be playing again before long.
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By following these tips—from choosing the right games to managing updates and storage—you’ll be able to make the most of your limited data while maintaining a great gaming experience.
