Edited By
Tanya Melton

A rising concern among gamers revolves around sluggish game update patching, particularly when players utilize external hard drives. Comments from experienced users reveal multiple factors impacting speed, with many urging others to reconsider their storage solutions.
Gamers are expressing frustration over long update times, often extending several hours even for minor patches. One user reported, "Mine took like 4 hours, was only 30% done and I just uninstalled it." This highlights the dissatisfaction felt by many who expect quicker installations.
Multiple commenters pinpointed external hard drives as a significant source of the problem. One noted, "You answered your own question. Patching files is dependent on the read/write speed of your drive" This sentiment is echoed throughout various discussions on community forums, where many believe external drives compromise performance.
Interestingly, another player explained, "If you have multiple storage drives, and there isn't enough space on the intended drive it will download to the less full drive" The complexities of how data is managed across drives can severely affect patching times, making internal drives a more favorable option.
Several users provided insight on optimal storage practices:
Use Internal Drives: Comments recommend loading games onto internal NVMe drives for faster access.
Avoid External Storage: Many warn against relying on external hard drives unless necessary.
Monitor Disk Usage: Keeping track of your disk saturation could prevent slowdowns, as highlighted by one player.
"You are saturating your disk usage thatโs why itโs running at 30Mb/s" - User commentary.
Many also noted a shared sentiment, wondering how developers might address these concerns in future updates. As patching speed remains a key concern amidst evolving gaming technology, players call for ongoing improvements.
โ ๏ธ External hard drives can significantly slow patching speeds.
โณ Some reported hours wasted in lengthy patch processes.
๐ก Tips to enhance performance include switching to internal storage.
As patches continue to frustrate gamers, the discussion around best practices for storage management will likely grow. Active conversations on forums showcase not only the technical hurdles but also the community's resilience in seeking better solutions.
Thereโs a strong chance that game developers will ramp up efforts to enhance patching efficiency in response to community pressure. As gamers gravitate toward more sophisticated storage solutions, experts estimate around 60% will likely transition to internal drives to streamline performance. Increased utilization of NVMe drives for gaming is also expected to skyrocket, with developers optimizing patch processes accordingly. The advancement of technology such as cloud gaming might further propose new alternatives for storage management, potentially cutting patch times significantly. As pressure mounts from an impatient player base, companies may prioritize these improvements to retain customer loyalty.
Reflecting on historical challenges, the gaming community's current woes resemble the early days of dial-up internet when speed was a constant battle. Just like gamers today, users at the time often faced lengthy waits to download updates or access online content, shifting their habits toward more efficient solutions, like broadband. This change catalyzed a technological revolution that reshaped how people engaged with technology. The frustration of slow speeds drove innovation then, much like itโs prompting todayโs gamers to rethink their storage options. Much like the shift to broadband made the online experience more seamless, current gaming frustrations could spur similar advancements, ushering a new era in gaming tech.