Borderlands 4 may be cutting back on the quips, but it isn’t trimming its footprint. The newly posted PC system requirements list a hefty 100GB of SSD storage, underscoring how even “leaner” blockbusters continue to demand serious drive space.
The requirement aligns with a broader shift across big-budget releases: SSDs are fast becoming the baseline, and install sizes north of 80GB are commonplace as developers pack in higher-fidelity assets, denser worlds, and expansive post-launch plans. For PC players, it’s another reminder to audit storage before looting Pandora again-even if the punchlines are lighter this time.
Despite cutting the gags Borderlands 4 still calls for a 100GB SSD install and here is why
Shaving down the one-liners does little to trim what’s really bloating the install: assets and streaming tech. The PC spec’s call for an SSD and roughly 100GB reflects a pipeline built around high-fidelity art and fast asset delivery, not chatter. Expect ultra-grade texture sets, dense environments, heavier materials and effects, and cinematic cutscenes running at higher bitrates than last gen. Modern open-zone design also leans on duplicated asset variants and precompiled shaders to keep traversal seamless, which pushes storage up even when script volume goes down.
- High-res textures and materials for Ultra/4K presets that dwarf VO files in size.
- Cinematics and UI across multiple aspect ratios, often stored at higher bitrates for crisp playback.
- Localization packs with multi-language audio and subtitles bundled at install for frictionless switching.
- Stream-friendly asset layouts that duplicate or pad files to minimize pop-in on fast travel and combat.
- Precompiled shaders and caches to reduce hitching, trading disk space for smoother frame times.
Compression helps, but studios balance it against CPU load and in-game stutter; lighter compression paired with SSD bandwidth means quicker scene changes and fewer decompression spikes. There’s also the live-service reality: space reserved for day-one patches, seasonal content, and hotfixes, so the install doesn’t balloon unpredictably after launch. In short, the storage budget is being spent on visual clarity, streaming reliability, and future updates-areas where trimming dialogue density simply doesn’t move the needle.
High resolution textures cinematic caches and multilingual audio are the real storage culprits
Punchline trimming doesn’t shrink gigabytes. The 100GB SSD spec is largely driven by art and media payloads: ultra-detailed texture packs for crisp 4K presentation, cached cutscenes to eliminate playback stutter, and expansive localization banks that enable a simultaneous worldwide release. Modern engines also front‑load shaders and streamable world data to smooth traversal and combat, pushing the install footprint well beyond the size of the executable itself.
- Ultra-detailed texture bundles: typically 30-40GB for 4K assets and materials.
- Cutscene cache/pre-rendered video: roughly 6-12GB at high bitrate to avoid hitching.
- Localization audio (VO + subtitles): about 8-15GB when multiple languages ship together.
- High-fidelity music and spatial SFX: another 3-6GB, depending on codec and sample rate.
- World streaming data, meshes, and shader binaries: around 10-18GB to reduce pop‑in and compile stalls.
- Patch cushion and installer overhead: a pragmatic 5-8GB for day‑one updates.
There’s room to be smarter about footprint. Players stand to reclaim space if the studio offers modular installs-separate downloads for high-res textures, optional movie packs, and pick‑your‑language audio-rather than a monolithic bundle. Until then, check the launcher for language toggles, uninstall unused VO after pre‑load, and watch for compression passes in early patches. The storage ask is, effectively, an investment in immediate texture clarity, smooth narrative playback, and multilingual accessibility-features that thrive on the low‑latency throughput of an SSD.
Installation advice skip ultra texture packs on Full HD opt out of extra languages and prune optional cinematics
PC specs point to a hefty install, but you don’t need to give up half your SSD to play smart. On Full HD displays, resist the temptation to pull down Ultra texture packs-they’re tuned for 4K pixel density and mostly inflate storage and VRAM use with marginal gains at 1080p. Opt for “High” or “Balanced” textures and enable any in-game texture streaming to keep bandwidth brisk and loading stutter-free. Likewise, the installer often defaults to a kitchen-sink approach: trim what you won’t see or hear to claw back double-digit gigabytes without touching core assets or performance.
- Skip Ultra/4K texture packs on 1080p; select High textures for near-identical clarity at a fraction of the size.
- Opt out of extra languages (voice + localized audio) if you’re sticking to one; keep subtitles only if needed.
- Prune optional cinematics such as 4K/60 video files, recaps, or behind-the-scenes reels that the launcher flags as add-ons.
- Untick standalone hi-res shadow or HD audio packs if they’re split out from the base install.
- Use platform “selective download” options (Steam/Epic) and double-check the Optional Content boxes before hitting Install.
- After installation, clear any leftover temp download caches and keep at least 15-20% SSD headroom for patches.
These cuts don’t touch gameplay or frame pacing; they just pare back space-hogging assets intended for higher resolutions or multilingual audio pipelines. The payoff is faster patching, shorter verification times, and a leaner footprint that keeps your SSD agile-without sacrificing image quality on a 1080p panel or the snappy loads you bought that SSD for.
Upgrade guidance for smooth play favor fast NVMe drives leave generous free space for patches and future DLC
Storage is now a performance component, not just a capacity checkbox. For the 100GB install target, prioritize a modern PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD with robust sustained throughput and a DRAM cache to keep asset streaming snappy and shader compilation hiccup-free. PCIe 3.0 NVMe drives will do in a pinch, but the faster queue depths and read speeds of Gen4 (5,000 MB/s and up) can shave seconds off loads and reduce traversal stutter, especially if DirectStorage-style I/O is in play. Traditional SATA SSDs are serviceable for minimum spec, yet they leave performance on the table-and HDDs are a bottleneck in 2025.
- Best: PCIe 4.0 NVMe (1TB+), TLC NAND, DRAM cache, 5,000-7,000 MB/s reads
- Good: PCIe 3.0 NVMe (1TB), TLC, 3,000-3,500 MB/s reads
- Acceptable: SATA SSD (avoid QLC for sustained writes)
- Avoid: Mechanical HDD for installs or streaming
Plan beyond day-one. That 100GB footprint can swell fast with texture packs, hotfixes, and DLC, and patching often requires temporary duplication during decompression. Keep 20-30% free space on the game drive or at least 50-100GB of headroom above the base install to prevent slowdowns and failed updates. A 1TB NVMe leaves sensible breathing room; 2TB if you juggle multiple big releases.
- Enable TRIM and leave a slice unallocated for over-provisioning to sustain speeds
- Use a dedicated library on the SSD; move captures and backups to secondary storage
- Periodically clear obsolete shader caches and download leftovers
- Monitor drive health (SMART) and avoid running past 85-90% full
If Borderlands 4 is dialing back the chatter, its hardware demands aren’t joining the quiet. The posted PC specs still call for 100GB on an SSD-a reminder that modern asset pipelines, high-res textures, and cinematic audio are the real drivers of footprint, not quip counts. It also places Borderlands 4 squarely in the new normal where solid-state storage is baseline and triple-digit installs are table stakes.
For players, the takeaway is practical. Plan for a sizable preload, keep an eye out for optional texture packs or modular installs, and expect day-one patches to nudge totals. We’ll update if Gearbox revises the requirements, but for now, fewer jokes won’t mean fewer gigabytes-make room.
