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God of War Ragnarök requires 190 GB of available SSD storage on PC. That figure, listed by PlayStation, Steam and the Epic Games Store, is an installation requirement—not a guarantee that your internet connection will transfer exactly 190 GB.
For a smoother installation, aim for roughly 220–250 GB of free space on the SSD you actually plan to use. The extra room gives the launcher and Windows space for downloading, unpacking, verifying and updating the game.
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What does the 190 GB requirement mean?
The official number means the launcher expects at least 190 GB available on the destination SSD. It should not automatically be read as the game’s exact download size.
- Storage requirement: Space the launcher wants available on the installation drive.
- Download size: Data transferred over the internet. Compression, packaging and launcher-specific processes can make this different from the storage requirement.
- Temporary working space: Additional room used while files are unpacked, checked or replaced.
- Final footprint: The space occupied after installation and current updates finish.
In other words: Ragnarök requires 190 GB of available SSD storage, but that does not prove the download itself is exactly 190 GB. Do not begin with only 190 GB free if you can avoid it, particularly on a system drive.
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Why is the PC version so large?
The PC release arrived on September 19, 2024, and includes the full game, the Valhalla add-on and patches released since the original launch. In reporting that quoted developer comments, Santa Monica Studio also explained that the PC build’s larger footprint reflects the practical trade-off between reducing storage use and the relatively low cost of storage.
High-resolution assets, language and audio files, PC-specific data, patches and different packaging choices may all contribute. However, there is no official public breakdown assigning a particular number of gigabytes to any one factor, so claims that a single texture pack or language file explains the entire size should be treated cautiously.
How much free space do you really need?
| Free space on the destination SSD | Advice |
|---|---|
| Less than 190 GB | The installation is unlikely to begin or complete. |
| 190–210 GB | Close to the listed requirement, but risky during unpacking or verification. |
| 220–250 GB | A sensible practical target for a less stressful installation. |
| More than 250 GB | Comfortable, especially if Windows, applications and other games share the drive. |
These ranges are practical guidance, not additional official system requirements. Epic specifically warns that installation and verification can need more space than the announced game size. Future patches may also change the footprint.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Most importantly, check the same drive selected in Steam or Epic. Having 250 GB free on C: will not help if the game is being installed to a nearly full D: drive.
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Check your available space in Windows
- Open File Explorer.
- Select This PC.
- Check the free-space bar for the SSD that will contain the game.
For a more detailed cleanup view in Windows 10 or Windows 11, open Start > Settings > System > Storage. Review Temporary files, Large or unused files, Unused apps and Cleanup recommendations. Microsoft’s free-space guide provides the relevant options.
You can also configure Storage Sense from the Storage settings page. Review what it will remove before enabling automatic cleanup: depending on its configuration, it can manage Recycle Bin contents, Downloads and cloud content. Storage Sense primarily manages the system drive, normally C:, so inspect other destination drives separately.
Safe ways to make room
Use the least destructive options first:
- Uninstall games you can redownload later.
- Move videos, photos and other large personal files to another drive.
- Empty the Recycle Bin only after checking its contents.
- Remove temporary files through Windows Storage settings.
- Move another game library to a larger internal SSD.
- Add a compatible internal SSD if your PC has an available slot.
- Use a reputable external SSD if your launcher and PC support installing and running games from it.
Do not delete folders inside Windows, Program Files or a launcher directory manually. Do not remove save files without checking the relevant cloud-save settings first. In particular, Epic says uninstalling the Epic Games Launcher also removes installed games from the computer, even though owned games can be downloaded again; save retention depends on the game and account setup.
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- Open Steam and start the game installation.
- In the installation prompt, select a Steam library on an SSD with enough free space.
- Confirm the drive shown by Steam before accepting the installation.
- Keep the PC powered on and prevent it from sleeping during the download.
- Do not move the game or change the library location while installation is running.
If an installation is interrupted, restart Steam and let it resume. Check that the destination drive is connected, still has the same drive letter and retains sufficient free space. Pause and resume once if necessary, but avoid repeatedly cancelling and restarting the process.
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If the installed game behaves incorrectly, use Steam’s file-integrity check. When moving an existing Steam installation, use Steam’s own storage-management tools where possible. Steam’s official moving-installation guide describes the supported procedure, including restarting Steam and verifying files afterward.
Installing through the Epic Games Store
Choose a different installation drive
- Open Epic Games Launcher.
- Open Download Manager from the lower-left corner.
- Select Download Settings.
- Under General, choose Change beside the default install directory.
- Select an SSD with at least your target amount of free space.
Those labels follow Epic’s documented path, although launcher interfaces can change. Epic’s instructions are available in its guide to changing the default installation directory.
Verify the installation
- Open Library.
- Select the three-dot menu beside the game.
- Choose Manage.
- Select Verify.
Epic says verification checks for damaged or altered files and repairs them without affecting saved data. It cannot fix a failing SSD, an unstable USB connection or a drive that is still short on space.
How long will a 190 GB download take?
The following are theoretical lower-bound estimates for a sustained connection transferring 190 GB:
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| Connection | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| 25 Mbps | 16 hours 53 minutes |
| 50 Mbps | 8 hours 27 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | 4 hours 13 minutes |
| 300 Mbps | 1 hour 41 minutes |
| 1 Gbps | 30 minutes |
These figures exclude Wi-Fi variation, server congestion, protocol overhead, disk-write speed and decompression. They also assume a 190 GB transfer even though the official requirement is storage space, not a verified download size.
Make the download less stressful
- Use wired Ethernet where practical.
- On Wi-Fi, use a strong 5 GHz or 6 GHz connection near the router.
- Pause other downloads, cloud-sync jobs and game updates.
- Schedule the download overnight if your connection is shared or metered.
- Keep the PC awake during installation.
- Avoid demanding disk-heavy applications during unpacking or verification.
- Make sure the SSD is healthy and not nearly full.
A low network graph does not always mean the download has failed. The launcher may be unpacking or writing files locally. Internet bandwidth controls transfer speed; SSD performance matters more during writing, verification, decompression and game loading.
There is no guaranteed reason to change DNS servers, use a VPN, disable security software or install a third-party “download booster.” Those steps can create new problems and should not be your default fix.
What to do when the launcher says there is not enough space
- Check the exact destination drive shown by the launcher.
- Confirm that the drive is connected, formatted and functioning normally.
- Free substantially more than 190 GB—ideally reaching the 220–250 GB target.
- Restart the launcher and recheck its default installation directory.
- Use the launcher’s resume, repair or verification options rather than deleting random files.
- If using an external drive, check its cable, USB port, connection stability and drive letter.
- If the installation remains stuck at “Installing” or “Verifying,” check the drive for errors and consult Steam or Epic support.
A stall at “Verifying” can result from local decompression, insufficient temporary space, damaged files or drive errors, not just a slow internet connection.
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- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
Can you install it on an HDD?
The official PC requirement specifies an SSD. An HDD may be selectable on some systems, but it does not meet the published storage-medium requirement and is not the normal solution to recommend.
A secondary internal SATA SSD is usually more practical than an external HDD. A secondary NVMe SSD is compact and fast, but requires a compatible, available M.2 slot. An external SSD can be suitable if the computer has a fast enough connection, the drive remains connected and the launcher supports that setup. Do not buy a PCIe 5.0 SSD specifically for this game: the official requirement calls for an SSD, not a particular PCIe generation.
Should you buy a larger SSD?
Freeing space is best if you have unused games or large files you can move. For a longer-term PC gaming library, a compatible 2 TB internal SSD is generally more comfortable than a 1 TB drive, but compatibility matters more than headline speed.
Before buying, check whether your desktop or laptop supports NVMe or SATA, whether an M.2 slot or 2.5-inch bay is available, the physical dimensions and any heatsink clearance. An external SSD is a useful no-tools option for laptops and portable libraries, but verify the computer’s USB capability and use a reliable cable. Avoid choosing an external HDD simply because it offers cheaper capacity; the game’s official requirement is an SSD.
Account and storefront note
The September 2024 launch announcement said a PlayStation Network account was required for the PC version. The current PlayStation PC support page describes PlayStation account linking as optional. For present-day planning, follow the current support page; the older requirement is historical launch information.
Quick Recap
Final pre-download checklist
- Confirm the game is going to an SSD.
- Confirm that the selected drive has at least 220 GB free, preferably more.
- Check the launcher’s destination path—not just free space on
C:. - Pause other large downloads and cloud-sync activity.
- Keep the PC awake and the external drive connected, if applicable.
- Back up important personal files and review cloud-save settings before deleting anything.
- Use Steam or Epic’s official verification tools if the process fails.
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