The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is set to become the largest Zelda game to date by download size, surpassing both Breath of the Wild (24.1 GB) and Tears of the Kingdom (20 GB).
Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom introduced the largest versions of Hyrule the series has seen. However, despite the remake's world being considerably smaller than those featured in the two games, it reportedly requires 27 GB of storage space, according to its Nintendo eShop listing.
The game takes up so much storage space because it's the most graphically demanding Zelda game ever and arguably one of the most visually impressive Nintendo games to date.
While the remake remains faithful to the original's storyline and overall design, Nintendo has added features and changes that make the game bigger. Some locations have been expanded, including major towns such as Kokiri Forest and Castle Town.
The game also introduces a new location called the Hall of Fallen Foes, where players can check out enemies they have defeated and even engage in timed rematches against bosses.
Technically, one other Zelda-based game has a larger file size than the Ocarina of Time remake: the Switch 2's Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (43.53 GB). However, it isn't a mainline Zelda title or a first-party Nintendo game, so it doesn't quite fit the comparison.
The difference in file sizes also highlights how much optimization can affect a game's storage requirements. For example, Tears of the Kingdom features a map roughly twice the size of Breath of the Wild's, yet its download size is approximately 2 GB smaller.
By the time Tears of the Kingdom launched, Nintendo had considerably more experience developing games around the Switch's hardware, which may help explain the difference.
The eShop listings show different storage sizes for different regions. For example, on the U.S. site, it specifies the same 27 GB figure, while in the UK, it's 24.5 GB. Regardless, the final game size would probably be a little higher than the estimates.
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Why does The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake require more storage than Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom despite its smaller world?
What does Navi’s “Fairy Tales” feature add to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake?
How have Kokiri Forest and Castle Town been expanded in Ocarina of Time Remake?
What new quests and items are included in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake?
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With additional features like Navi's "Fairy Tales," new cutscenes, items, and quests, the remake's large file size does seem justified, even if its map is smaller than those of the other leading titles.
