If you’ve ever stared at your PS4’s storage bar screaming red while trying to download the latest Apex Legends drop, you’re not alone. Stock PS4 units only come with 500GB or 1TB of internal storage, and big live service games eat through that space faster than a Wraith main chasing a high-kill game. A lot of players hunting for new PS4 games first ask how big is apex legends ps4 before hitting install, and for good reason—Apex has grown a lot since its launch, and seasonal updates can add a ton of extra data you might not plan for. I’ve been playing Apex on PS4 since season 3, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to delete old single-player games just to make room for a mid-season patch. This guide breaks down exactly what size you can expect, what takes up the most space, and how to avoid getting locked out of a ranked grind because your storage is full.
Exact File Size: How Big Is Apex Legends PS4 Right Now
As of the latest season, the standard install of Apex Legends on PS4 sits at 75GB for the base game without any optional add-ons. That number counts all core maps, legends, weapons, and permanent game modes like ranked, trios, and control. If you own a PS4 Pro and want to take advantage of 4K visual upgrades, you can download the optional high-resolution texture pack that brings the total install size to up to 90GB if you opt in to the optional high-resolution texture pack.
That number might seem high compared to many other PS4 games, but it’s smaller than a lot of other live service shooters on the market. For context, Call of Duty’s latest entry often hits 150GB or more on PS4, so Apex is still relatively lean for the amount of content it offers. The day-one install you download from the PlayStation Store will usually be 10 to 15GB smaller than that final size, as you’ll have to download the latest seasonal patch after the initial install completes.
If you’ve had Apex installed on your PS4 for multiple seasons, you might notice your file size is even larger than the 90GB max. Leftover cached data, old event files, and corrupted download fragments can add up over time, making your install 5 to 10GB bigger than it needs to be. I noticed this last year when my Apex install hit 98GB, and I had no extra texture packs enabled.
What Contributes to Apex Legends PS4’s Large File Size
A lot of players assume the game’s maps are the only thing taking up space, but there are dozens of small components that add up to the final install size. The biggest contributors are:
- Seasonal map overhauls and new legend additions, which typically add 3 to 8GB of data per major update
- Weapon skins, battle pass cosmetics, and event-exclusive content that stays stored even after an event ends so you can use unlocked items year-round
- Crossplay and cross-progression support files that let you play with users on PS5, Xbox, PC, and Switch without compatibility issues
- Optional high-resolution texture packs designed for PS4 Pro users that boost visual quality on 4K displays
I used to think old event cosmetics would get deleted when events ended, but Respawn keeps them stored so you can still use any skins you unlocked later on. That means every seasonal event you participate in adds a tiny bit of extra data to your install over time. Major seasonal updates can take up more space than the initial base game install, so you never want to cut it close with free storage when a new season is about to drop.
Smaller mid-season patches usually only add 1 to 2GB of data, but emergency hotfixes can sometimes require extra temporary storage to install, even if they don’t add much permanent data to the final install size. That’s why you might get a storage error even if you have 2GB free for a 1GB patch.
Key Storage Tips for Apex Legends PS4 Players
You don’t have to delete half your game library just to keep Apex installed, even if you have a 500GB launch PS4. These are the tips I’ve used for years to keep my storage under control without giving up any of my favorite games:
First, skip the optional high-resolution texture pack if you own a base PS4. The base PS4 can only output 1080p, so you won’t see any visual difference from the texture pack, but you’ll waste 10 to 15GB of storage for no benefit. The pack is only useful if you have a PS4 Pro and a 4K TV. If you downloaded it by accident, you can delete it separately from the main game in your PS4 storage settings without losing any save data or progress.
Second, if you’ve had Apex installed for more than two seasons, consider uninstalling and reinstalling it once a year. This will clear out all leftover cached data and old unused event files, usually trimming 5 to 10GB off your total install size. Just make sure your progress is saved to your EA account before you delete anything, so you don’t lose your battle pass progress or unlocked skins.
Third, invest in an affordable external USB 3.0 hard drive. The PS4 supports up to 8TB of external storage, and you can move Apex to the external drive in less than 10 minutes from your storage settings. External hard drives won't cause lag or performance drops for Apex Legends on PS4, despite the common myth you might see online. I’ve been running Apex off a 2TB external drive for 3 years now, and I’ve never noticed any difference in load times or in-game performance compared to the internal drive.
How Seasonal Updates Affect Apex Legends PS4 File Size
Every major seasonal update for Apex adds new content, so you can expect your install size to grow by 3 to 8GB every 3 months when a new season drops. Respawn occasionally rolls out optimization patches that reduce file size too, like the season 16 patch that trimmed 7GB off the PS4 install by compressing old cosmetic files that weren’t being used often.
Always reserve at least 15GB of free storage on your PS4 before a new Apex season drops. I made the mistake of only leaving 8GB free before season 19 dropped, and the update ended up being 12GB, so I had to delete my entire copy of God of War just to get into the new map. Don’t be like me. If you pre-load the update a day before it launches, you can avoid the download rush and jump into the new content the second it goes live.
If you’re tight on storage when a new season drops, you can usually skip downloading the optional high-res texture pack first, play the new season, and download it later when you have more space. The core game will run fine without it, even on PS4 Pro, you just won’t get the 4K texture upgrades until you download the pack.
At the end of the day, the answer to how big is apex legends ps4 will change a little bit every few months as Respawn adds new content and rolls out optimization fixes. But if you plan for a base 75 to 90GB install, and leave extra space for seasonal updates, you won’t run into the annoying storage errors that have derailed so many of my ranked matches in the past. If you’re still struggling for space, try the tips we shared earlier, and you’ll be dropping into King’s Canyon without any delays in no time.