The file size of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has been a topic of discussion since the game's launch. Every week the game receives an update increasing the file size even more, and fans are left wondering why the game is so big as it keeps getting bigger.
One Reddit user has the answer, and it is not Infinity Ward's fault. Several factors play into the Modern Warfare file size and most of them are out of the developer's control. Many problems are simply a sign of a next-generation game on last-generation technology.
The first thing that fans need to remember is the hardware limitations of HDD drives in a PS4, Xbox One, or PC. Most developers duplicate files across the HDD so that the game has shorter loading times. This is so that when the spindle is searching for information, it has multiple places to find it. The second most impactful detail is the size of the maps themselves. The maps in Modern Warfare are much larger than in other titles, resulting in more storage space.
The Reddit fan points out that the graphical quality alone can cause a ton more storage space to be occupied. In an interview, Infinity Ward stated that they could render five times the number of polygons on-screen than in previous titles. This means that all the extra polygons take up extra space resulting in larger game files.
One of the terms thrown around often is File Compression. The Reddit user explains in their post that although Modern Warfare files can be compressed to save space, they also been to be decompressed when actively being used. The more compressed the file is, the more CPU resources are needed to decompress it. This takes time and can lower framerates. He points out that Infinity Ward probably uses a very light form of compression to keep the framerates high.
The short version is that the file size is large for the benefit of the user. Any changes in the size would result in players losing game quality in graphics, frame rate, loading times, or elsewhere. Infinity Ward has very little control over the size of the game when fans want 4k textures and limited loading times. The amount of CPU needed to run the game at 60fps alone accounts for a majority of the file size concerns.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
Source: MetalingusMike (Via Reddit)