Modern game releases often require huge downloads, pushing storage limits and testing players’ patience. With file sizes still climbing, Sony has introduced a new idea to manage the issue, though it’s unclear how well it will work in practice.
As games grow larger by the year, Sony appears to be preparing a different approach. A patent recently logged with the World Intellectual Property Organization reveals plans for an “asset streaming” system that could spare players from downloading enormous files the moment a game launches.
Under the proposed system, the initial install would be limited to the executable and a compact set of core assets, potentially totaling around 100MB. This lean bootstrap package would replace the multi-gigabyte installs that dominate modern releases. With projections indicating that Grand Theft Auto VI could require up to 300GB of disk space, the storage burden has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
The system would depend on a steady internet connection, but Sony stresses that it is distinct from conventional cloud gaming models. The patent points out that cloud gaming often struggles under weak or unstable network conditions, where significant latency and delayed video frames can make a title effectively unplayable.
The hybrid streaming framework maintains local execution of the game’s core systems on the console. An initial 100MB bootstrap package, distributed via physical media or digital storefronts, would supply baseline assets, including low-resolution textures. Subsequent high-fidelity assets would be incrementally streamed over the internet as the player advances.
The approach is designed to preserve responsive gameplay while lowering the upfront hurdle created by enormous download sizes. It follows a separate Sony patent filed in 2024 that also addressed game storage demands, signaling the company’s recognition that modern releases have expanded dramatically and that internet bandwidth is increasingly a limiting factor for online services.
Basic asset streaming is already standard in some online games, including Diablo III, which maintains a continuous connection to Blizzard Entertainment infrastructure. However, such systems can suffer from latency and reliability issues, particularly under unstable network conditions. Although Sony’s approach could ease storage demands, it does not entirely remove the performance risks associated with streaming technologies.
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