Xbox One to offer "Shrinkable Games" According to the Last Update

During the last update, there have been some changes in the interface and a hint that Xbox will now have a "shrinking" option for games.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

I wished PlayStation had this 😁

[BrianOBlivion]

Me too. I think it's a brilliant idea and I really hope Sony takes notice.

When LightBox split up Starhawk's multiplayer and campaign into separate downloads on the PS3, I was hoping that all big games would start to follow suit.

[goken]

it's really a good idea, playstation should definitely do this.
then Xbox can take it one step further by removing any story elements of a game... you know seeing how Xbox fans don't like anything with story

[madpuppy]

funny.....

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[rainslacker]

I think PS has something like this where you can just download parts of a game. I don't think it works for physical games and I don't think it allows so many options. I think it's entirely dependant on the dev what's offered though. I think KZ:SF allowed you to download just the SP or MP portion if that's all you wanted. Not sure about deleting one part when you were done with it though.

This seems more robust though.

[trouble_bubble]

Would be best for games like COD that are edging closer to 90GB once the season's over. Be nice just to uninstall the SP all together.

[Cobra951]

It's actually very smart, and has nothing to do with further compression. Digital Foundry explains the whole thing here:
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Examples:
- Won't download 4K textures to normal XBO
- Download audio only in user's selected language

[Goldby]

its sad though if they have to make it a feature that regular xbo's dont download 4k textures. should be something just implemented

[NotoriousWhiz]

Hopefully, the one X can also have the option not to download 4k assets, for those that don't own a 4k tv.

[Death]

What is the difference between a feature that prevents 4K assets from downloading to a regular Xbox vs something that is just implemented? Watch the video.

[rainslacker]

Think it's the developer's responsibility to flag files as suitable for different devices. Some games have shown limited functions such as this, typically with language files.

Kind of hard to just say "don't download the 4K textures", because there really isn't anything that officially makes up a 4K texture, and it's quite possible that some of the "HD textures" would still be used. Its also possible that some of those "4k textures" could be used in the 1080 version.

The idea that textures are all suddenly bigger across the board to account for UHD is not a reality. Textures don't actually come in 4K sizes like that. They'll be as big or as small as they need to be for their intended purpose. No reason to make a texture 4 times bigger if it won't show any advantage when rendered at a 4K resolution, as objects and resolution aren't intrinsically linked. Keeping texture files smaller when possible is a great way to boost performance for other things which will be more noticeable, and this is where optimization of graphics often starts, as it's a quick way to free up memory for other things.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

The option to install only singleplayer or multiplayer would be cool. However, it maybe a bit more complex, than it appears.

[yeahokwhatever]

"4k textures" lol wtf.

[timlot]

Don't worry. Its something PS4Pro doesn't use.

[yeahokwhatever]

- The output rasterized image resolution is "4k".
- A texture is an image placed onto a mesh(usually) to give it more detail and color than would be economical performance-wise if done in triangles alone.
- A "4k" texture would be a texture whose dimensions are 3840x2160 (I guess?).
- A "4k" texture would also look better in 1080p screen over a lesser texture on a 1080p screen(especially as you got closer to it).
- Removing high quality textures from a game because of output resolution is asinine and would also hurt the experience for 1080p users for no real reason.

You can try this yourself if you want if you don't believe me. Look at your TV from 10 feet away. You will not see pixels. Then look at it with your nose pressed against the glass. You will see pixels. Did real life just change the texture of your screen? No. I assure you that isn't the case. You were able to see more detail because the pixels appear larger due to their limited proximity from your face. Better textures will look better at any resolution. Its fact. "4k textures" is a marketing gimmick. For Sony, Microsoft, PC, wherever you hear it. Better textures are better.

PS. I really don't know why you thought you'd try to bag on the PS4Pro. Its currently the most powerful console on the planet by a country mile. A much larger gap than the eventual one created between the XB1X and Pro. If you're into pixel counting, I suggest a PC. My own PC is already about 3x faster than the XB1X, and thats just counting the GPU. God only knows how much faster it is than my OG XB1. It's not even the fastest thing out there dude. You also get access to XBOX using a PC. Its just a feature of Windows now.

[rainslacker]

@timlot

Neither does the X1X. There is no such thing as a 4K texture. There is no reason to make all textures in 4k, or even 1080. In fact, most textures are 256, 512, 1024, or 2048. Textures are mapped onto an object, not to the screen itself. When it comes to rendering, a texture just isn't rendered at it's full size, and the texture itself will either be upscaled or downscaled based on how many pixels are required to fill the screen space of the object in question. More often than not, even at UHD resolutions, 1024 is more than sufficient. The only reason to use higher res textures after that is for complex objects like character models which have a lot of parts.

The actual rendered screen has nothing to do with texture size. Texture size and quality has more to do with the actual graphical settings level, and how it will look when finally rendered. The larger the file, and the more detail put in which makes them harder to compress, is an entirely different aspect of the rendering process.

To dispute your mocking, PS4P can indeed use higher quality images, but may not be able to render the screen at the same resolution.

This whole idea of "4K textures", and the people that go on about how it's so important are praising the wrong thing, and it just shows that they aren't really informed on the rendering process, which makes it funny they try to make it seem like it has to do with the resolution itself.

@yeahok

"- A "4k" texture would be a texture whose dimensions are 3840x2160 (I guess?)."

Nope. Size doesn't matter in this case. All textures run in variables of 8 bit numbering. 256, 512, 1024, 2048, etc. There is absolutely no reason to make every texture a 4Kx4K. That's just wasteful. The average size of a character model texture is 1024x1024 or 2048 x 2048. The reason they might get that big is because of all the parts involved in the character needing their own space on the object mesh. It's also not uncommon to use multiple textures of different parts of the same object.

Making everything bigger just takes up memory, and if that was done, you'd quickly see that extra memory in the X1X quickly diminish.

As I said above, the higher res/quality textures are more to allow for more graphical detail. Basically what is replaced under certain slider variables in PC games now. That's all that's affected. Resolution isn't even part of the equation, it just means less of the texture is ignored when downscaled based on camera placement, or less has to be inserted when more of the texture is used for rendering. Otherwise, a 4K rendered object can handle the interpolation of the pixels within the texture much faster than reading an overly large texture.

[yeahokwhatever]

@rainslacker

that's precisely why i put "4k" texture in quotes and said "i guess" and "would be". I was trying to point out that its not really even a thing. I've got a good degree in game development and 15 years of XP. :-P

[KillBill]

If only we could get something like this for BF1 DLC. So tired of downloads being required that has no effect for me when I don't own the DLC. They need to do the 2 separate updates where DLC paid components are different from shared addition items.

[DJustinUNCHAIND]

This is a fantastic idea and I hope all devs and console makers implement this type of system.

[Rhythmattic]

Agreed. Great Idea.

[rainslacker]

Long overdue IMO. With games nowadays coming with things like multiple audio files, and now multiple texture packs to handle different resolutions and capabilities of the GPU, it makes more sense to give more options to the player, particularly since game sizes are going up faster than the default hard drive size of the consoles themselves.

An hour of DTS audio for instance can be close to 4GB in size. No reason to have 1-2 hours of wasted space for the french sound track if you don't need it.

Ability to remove SP and MP portions of the game is also pretty good for those who don't bother with one or the other, or don't play parts of both continuously.

Things like this have been available on PC forever now. Even Windows has been doing this since Windows 95, and even before for language packs. Surprised it wasn't done sooner in consoles themselves. To date, it's usually just been implemented at the developer level on the rare occasion where it happens.

[Obscure_Observer]

@rainslacker

"Long overdue IMO."

Yeah. Because you though of it before. You´re just jealous because Microsoft though of it before Sony. Doesn´t matter how you try to downplay it, this feature will be a saving grace for Xbox One and Xbox One X owners.

Just watch Sony follow suit.

[rainslacker]

@obscure

Wow. Even when i give MS credit for doing something, you act like I'm hating on them. MS was one of the first to do this kind of stuff in Windows when we loaded operating systems off of floppy discs or CD's.

I'm not criticizing MS, nor am I trying to make it into something between MS or Sony. I'm giving credit where it's due, and saying I'm glad something like this has come along to remove the extra stuff that any particular user doesn't need.

I hope Sony follows suit. I don't care who thought of it first. Just agreed that it was overdue as per the original poster.

And yeah, I have thought to myself before...."how come when we download our games, we aren't given the options to remove stuff that we don't use?" Never brought it up in general discussion, because it's not a topic that would be routinely visited.

You guys act like I'm some MS hater diehard or something, but maybe you should read some of my comments when MS comes up with new stuff. Half the time, I actually do praise them for it when I actually believe it's something good. I don't try to discredit good things that companies do, even if I'm not happy with that company. Every company has a fair chance to do good things, or do bad things. I believe praising the good to be just as important as criticizing the bad because otherwise, how will the companies know when the right things are actually appreciated? It might seem I'm more negative about MS around here, but that's because most of the discussions that come up, are centered around the bad things they do.

So, spare me your console war rhetoric. I have nothing to be jealous about, and whether or not Sony implements something similar in the future won't really affect me either way.

[chris235]

seriously, with such a weak console generation like the current one i fail to fill up my 1tb hdd in my ps4. i download a lot as i'm a fan of digital only distribution but the good titles are so few that there is no need for shrinking stuff. the ability to re diwnload is already more than enough. i almost never re download older games in my library.

i am ignoring most sequels, every remaster and reheat and many indies that seem subpar. and i still got more to play than i got time for.

[BrianOBlivion]

"weak" ...pffft.

I generally dislike digital downloads, especially for AAA games, so I almost exclusively buy hard copies if they are available on disc without an always online requirement.
That being said, I've still managed to almost completely fill my 2TB HD with over 130 digitally downloaded current gen games (not even including PS Plus games, PS2 games, demos or the half-dozen installed games). I've got another 85 games on my shelf with a PS4 label on the case. This generation has been fantastic so far.

You sir, are missing out.

[Destiny1080]

great idea, it might save you 50 to 100gigs per TB but the reality is your still going to need a big hard drive

[AizenSosuke]

A wonderful idea, hopefully all companies take note.

[MunchMiller00]

Wow. That last time I even heard of disk compression being used, was..... the mid 90s maybe? It's hilarious that this is even being considered.

Maybe start optimizing games better, and allow some flexibility in your storage options you f**kin morons. F**k I hate M$.

[Kribwalker]

It's not compression. They are talking about allowing you to only install parts of games you play (single player or multiplayer only if you wanted) as well as assets and languages you don't need

[testerg35]

Oh he just wanted to blame MS for something again. Let him vent. Makes him feel good.

[yeahokwhatever]

oh, so like call of duty on steam?

[aconnellan]

So what flexibility in storage options are Sony currently implementing that would mean a feature like this shouldn't be on PS4?

[rainslacker]

It's more like file reduction. Not compression. Compression isn't used anymore because it's too slow compared to using uncompressed files. Plus, there is so little compression for most media/art files already, it's just not worth it.

[ILostMyMind]

It is not an original idea and it is shameful that companies no do this already. Congratulations to MS for the decision!

[bolimekurac]

its for xbox so it has to suck and trolls need to attack this, do it now trolls

[SubZtx]

I actually wish they did have a compression option for games you don't play too often, but don't want to re-download.

[yeahokwhatever]

Comcast keeps sending me death threats from all of the precious data I eat downloading games legally. It's like they can't wait for me to switch providers.

[rainslacker]

Most of the data in games doesn't compress well. Maybe 1-2% at most if you're lucky. Using compressed files actually takes longer to load because of the decompression process, which is why it's not used anymore as hard drive sizes are usually sufficient to hold a lot of data.

[zerocarnage]

I have the new interface, it's really good and sweet to use.

I'm going to be abit of a fanboy for once here which I don't usually do because I don't really agree with it. I'll catch some fire from the Sony boys for this.

When it comes to the infrastructure of ms hardware compared to Sony, what ms can accomplish after seeing that video is on another level to what Sony can do. MS can't be beat in terms of its online service, updates, patches, testing phases and so on.

I now fully understand and truly realise how much of a rite choice I made staying with Xbox this gen instead of switching to Sony. Not saying Sony is bad or anything they have exclusives but for me my consoles have never been about that. I want my consoles to be taken to the next level with things like I've just seen in that video.

It's pretty ace that video and it shows how far MS can go in the ways of helping gamers out too. MS didn't have to help us by that shrinking option and we would be left purchasing bigger hardrives. Then there's the delivery method depending on which console you have. It will also determine which assets it downloads and determine your consoles capabilities to use those assets so your not downloading 4k assets on OG Xbox one for nothing , because you wouldn't be able to use them.

Good job MS..

[Xenophon_York]

Is this what happened to Scalebound? Was shrunken so small it disappeared?

All loathing of Microsoft aside, removing unnecessary elements (like language packs) is a great idea that I could see gaining widespread adoption.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

As we begin moving into these bigger 4K games these kinds of features are going to be critical for all hardware makers to embrace

[Mister_G]

I buy games on disk so this won't help me that much re: download times.

Disk space running low? Just plug an external hard drive in I've just got a 4TB drive and it was super easy to setup. Reasonable price too, £100 on Amazon :)

But this feature is nice for those who will benefit from it.

[ccgr]

Bigger default hard drives would be a welcome addition too ;)

[RosweeSon]

Surely you'll need games to shrink first? 🤔😉

[Mister_G]

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