
The evolution of the video game industry has been remarkable over the past few decades. Since its inception, advancements in technology have propelled game development at a staggering pace. Each new console generation typically signifies notable technological progress, and while these leaps may not be as evident today, the expansion in the scale and complexity of games continues to push boundaries. This is clearly illustrated by the recent announcement for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
According to an initial listing on the Apple Store, the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows will require a substantial 123.2GB of storage space on Mac devices. Ubisoft, the game’s developer, has emphasized the extensive content of this installment, and this file size reinforces that claim, as it is over three times larger than the previous Assassin’s Creed game.
File Size Comparison of Assassin’s Creed Shadows with Previous Entries





The following table provides an overview of storage requirements for the Assassin’s Creed series based on Steam’s approximate download sizes:
File Size (PC) |
|
---|---|
Assassin’s Creed |
8GB |
Assassin’s Creed 2 |
8GB |
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood |
8GB |
Assassin’s Creed Revelations |
12GB |
Assassin’s Creed 3 |
17GB |
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag |
30GB |
Assassin’s Creed Rogue |
12GB |
Assassin’s Creed Unity |
50GB |
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate |
40GB |
Assassin’s Creed Origins |
42GB |
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey |
46GB |
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla |
160GB |
Assassin’s Creed Mirage |
40GB |
Assassin’s Creed Shadows |
123GB |
Reviewing the last 18 years of the Assassin’s Creed franchise reveals distinctive trends in file sizes. The initial era—from the original Assassin’s Creed in 2007 to Assassin’s Creed Rogue in 2014—saw relatively modest requirements, with most entries taking up only 8-17GB. However, starting with Assassin’s Creed Unity, the storage demands surged significantly, with most games requiring between 40-50GB, marking a sharp increase.
Notably, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla stands as an outlier with a staggering file size of 160GB, far surpassing its predecessors. This has raised eyebrows among fans, with many suggesting that the game mandates the installation of sizeable DLCs, regardless of individual purchases. Despite Ubisoft’s efforts to streamline Valhalla’s file size over time, extra content has continually compounded its storage footprint.
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows boasts an impressive 123GB file size, it is crucial to note that it falls short of Valhalla’s record but still exceeds the vast majority of earlier installments. This new entry will likely be more than three times the storage required for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and about 15 times the size of the original game. Currently, the 123GB measurement pertains to the Mac version, although console and PC versions are expected to have comparable requirements.
Assessing Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Size Against Other AAA Titles
File Size (PC) |
|
---|---|
Assassin’s Creed Shadows |
123GB |
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 |
128GB |
Grand Theft Auto 5 |
120GB |
Halo: The Master Chief Collection |
43-160GB (depending on games installed) |
Mass Effect Legendary Edition |
120GB |
Red Dead Redemption 2 |
150GB |
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth |
155GB |
In a comparative landscape against other AAA titles, the file size for Assassin’s Creed Shadows appears relatively reasonable at 123GB. While this size may still seem overblown for a single gaming experience, it reflects the current trend where modern AAA open-world games often require extensive space, making it increasingly challenging to find titles that demand noticeably less.
Leave a Reply ▼