Marvel Rivals is shrinking its file size by up to 57 percent on PC and 20 percent on consoles ahead of the Season 9.5 update, according to developer NetEase. Creative director Guangyun Chen announced that a massive texture compression overhaul will reduce the PC footprint by a staggering 40GB and console installs by roughly 15GB without sacrificing visual fidelity.
Storage Reductions on PC and Consoles
Solid-state drive space comes at a premium, making file optimization a welcome relief for players managing tight storage limits. According to NetEase, console players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox will see their install sizes drop from 73GB down to roughly 58GB. Meanwhile, PC users experience an even more dramatic reduction, shedding 40GB from the game’s total footprint. These adjustments translate to a roughly 20 percent decrease on consoles and over 57 percent on PC.
Despite shrinking significantly, the developers state that visual quality remains completely intact across all platforms.
Texture Compression Overhaul Details
The file size reduction arrives as part of the upcoming Season 9.5 update, scheduled to go live on August 7th. According to creative director Guangyun Chen, the engineering team implemented a comprehensive texture compression overhaul to achieve these space savings. “Without sacrificing a single pixel of visual fidelity, we are drastically shrinking the game’s footprint on your hard drives,” Chen stated in a video detailing the patch.
Players should note one specific requirement before diving into the new patch. Because NetEase is completely repackaging the game’s assets, the initial download for Season 9.5 will be larger than a standard content drop. However, once the download finishes, the final install size on disk will be much lighter than before.
Pro Tip: Ensure you have enough temporary free space on your SSD for the initial download on August 7th, as the repackaged assets require room to unpack before replacing the older, larger game files.
Game Performance and Community Reception
Marvel Rivals has maintained strong momentum since launching at the end of 2024. According to internal metrics and platform tracking, the title remains among the most-played games on both PlayStation and Xbox, supported by a steady stream of content updates tied to major Marvel Cinematic Universe releases.
Despite strong player counts, the community has experienced some friction recently. A major update introduced user interface changes that left many players frustrated, which subsequently knocked the game’s user score down to “mixed” on Steam. Developers have historically maintained an active dialogue with the community regarding feedback, leading players to hope for a swift resolution to the UI concerns.
Did you know? Marvel Rivals coordinates several of its seasonal content drops and character additions directly alongside major theatrical releases from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to keep gameplay tied to current media events.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Marvel Rivals Season 9.5 update release?
The update is expected to go live on August 7th.
How much storage space does the update save?
The PC version shrinks by 40GB (over 57 percent), while PlayStation 5 and Xbox installs drop by roughly 15GB down to around 58GB.
Why is the initial download larger than usual?
According to creative director Guangyun Chen, the developers are completely repackaging the game’s assets for the texture compression overhaul, which temporarily increases the download size before settling into a much lighter final footprint.
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