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Steam — Phantom Blade Zero Requirements List 300GB for Preload

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· tech, science

Close-up of an internal NVMe solid-state drive mounted on a PC motherboard with a monitor displaying a game download progress bar in the background
Photo by James Bat Barrera / Pexels · source

Phantom Blade Zero's published PC system requirements call for 300 GB of free drive space to preload the game, even though the finished install occupies 145 GB, according to a report from PC Gamer. The 155 GB gap between the preload ask and the final footprint is common for big-budget PC releases, but the specific spread drew notice because it is wider than most recent examples.

What do the listed requirements actually say?

Per the PC Gamer report, the requirements sheet asks players to clear 300 GB before preload unlocks, while the installed game itself takes up 145 GB once setup finishes. The material reviewed for this report did not include a confirmed release date tied to those numbers.

Why does the recommended free space exceed the final install size?

Preload packages often arrive compressed or in an intermediate form. Storefronts decompress, verify, and sometimes temporarily duplicate data mid-installation before deleting leftover files, which is why recommended free space during a preload window commonly runs higher than the install size that remains afterward. PC Gamer's report frames the 300 GB figure specifically as the preload requirement, separate from the 145 GB post-install figure.

Does the figure include patches or extra content?

The report does not specify whether the 300 GB number accounts for a day-one patch, downloadable content, or optional texture packs. Storage sheets for other large PC titles have sometimes folded those categories into a single preload figure, which can push the number well above the base install size.

What should players check before preload opens?

Players preparing to preload typically confirm actual free space on the target drive, not just total drive capacity, since a nearly full solid-state or hard drive can slow installation even when the stated total capacity looks sufficient. Checking the storefront's own listing for a title remains the most direct way to confirm current numbers rather than relying on secondhand reporting, since publishers sometimes revise requirements before launch.

What to watch

  • Whether the 300 GB preload figure drops once installation finishes and temporary files clear.
  • Any day-one patch size disclosed closer to launch.
  • Storefront listings confirming or revising the numbers reported by PC Gamer.
  • Additional minimum and recommended specification details, such as processor and graphics card tiers, if publishers release a fuller breakdown.

Why does this matter for storage planning?

A 300 GB preload request is a sizable share of a typical 1TB consumer SSD once an operating system, other games, and media are accounted for. Players juggling several large installs may need to clear space well before a preload window opens rather than scrambling once it does.

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Questions

How much space does Phantom Blade Zero need to preload?

PC Gamer reports the listed requirements call for 300 GB of free drive space during preload, versus 145 GB once the game is installed.

Why is the preload requirement bigger than the final install size?

Storefronts typically decompress and temporarily duplicate installer files before cleanup, which pushes the free-space requirement during preload above the size the game occupies once setup is complete.

Sources

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