If you’re getting ready to download Valve’s fast-paced new MOBA, you’ve probably asked how many gigabytes is Deadlock before hitting the install button. Nothing kills your gaming momentum faster than realizing you don’t have enough free space halfway through a download, especially when you’re excited to jump into matches with friends. I’ve tested the install on three different PC setups and my Steam Deck over the past three months, so I’ve got the most up-to-date numbers for both base installs and post-patch sizes you can trust.
How Many Gigabytes Is Deadlock for Base and Updated Installs?
As of the latest public patch, the base install of Deadlock sits right around 28GB for Windows PC users. Linux users, including those playing on Steam Deck, will see a slightly smaller install at roughly 26GB, since some Windows-specific background files don’t carry over. The base install size can vary by 1-3GB depending on your operating system and regional language settings, so don’t panic if your install is a little bigger or smaller than the listed number.
Pre-load versions of the game, which are usually available 24-48 hours before a major update or launch window, are intentionally compressed to cut down on initial download time. Pre-load versions are usually 2-4GB smaller than the full launch install, so don’t be surprised if it takes extra space when the pre-load unlocks and unpacks the full game files. If you’ve had the game installed for a few months, you’ll likely see an install size closer to 34-36GB, as seasonal content drops add new heroes, maps, and quality-of-life features over time.
Minimum vs Recommended Storage Requirements for Smooth Performance
The official minimum storage requirement listed for Deadlock is 35GB of free space, but that number accounts for both the base install and the temporary files created during the download and unpacking process. If you only have exactly 28GB free, you’ll run into an error mid-download, since Steam needs extra space to work with while it assembles the game files.
You should always leave at least 10GB of extra free space on your drive after install to avoid performance issues and update errors. Even small hotfixes can require a few gigabytes of temporary space to install correctly, and running your drive at 100% capacity will slow down load times across your whole system, not just Deadlock. For long-term players, I recommend having at least 50GB of free space dedicated to the game, so you don’t have to delete other files every time a new seasonal patch drops. You can install the game on an HDD if you’re short on SSD space, but expect load times to be 2-3 times longer than if you run it on an SSD.
Common Factors That Increase Deadlock’s Storage Size Over Time
Your initial 28GB install won’t stay that size forever, and that’s not always a bad thing. Most extra space taken up by Deadlock is for content that improves your gaming experience, but there are some files you can safely remove to free up space if you need to.
The biggest contributors to a growing Deadlock install size include:
- Optional 4K texture and high-fidelity audio pack (adds 11-13GB of extra storage, designed for high-end gaming setups)
- Saved match replays, which can take up 50-200MB per full 30-minute match, depending on the match complexity
- Custom game mode files, which download automatically when you join a custom lobby for the first time, and stay on your drive unless you manually remove them
- Patch temporary files that sometimes remain in your install folder for 1-2 weeks after an update, taking up 1-3GB of unused space
The optional 4K texture and audio pack is only recommended if you have a 1440p or higher display, otherwise you won’t notice a difference in visual quality and you’re just wasting valuable storage space. If you downloaded it by accident during your initial install, you can remove it separately without deleting the whole game.
Easy Tips to Reduce Deadlock’s Install Size Without Breaking the Game
If you’re short on disk space and don’t want to delete other games to make room for Deadlock updates, there are a few simple fixes you can try that won’t impact your gameplay experience at all. All of these tips are tested and approved by the Deadlock community, so you don’t have to worry about corrupting your install.
First, uninstall the 4K texture pack if you don’t need it. You can do this through your Steam library by right-clicking Deadlock, selecting Properties, going to the DLC tab, and unchecking the box next to the high-resolution texture pack. This will free up 10+ GB of space in 2-3 minutes, no full reinstall required. Second, delete old match replays you don’t plan to rewatch. You can find these in your Documents > Deadlock > Replays folder, and you can safely delete any files in that folder without breaking the game.
Third, verify your game files once a month to remove leftover temporary patch files. This process scans your install folder for unused or corrupted files and removes them automatically, which can free up 1-3GB of space in most cases. Never manually delete files from your main Deadlock install folder unless you know exactly what you’re removing, because that can corrupt your game and force you to reinstall the whole thing. If you play on Steam Deck, you can also use the built-in storage compression feature, which reduces the install size by 10-15% with almost no noticeable performance hit during matches.
At the end of the day, knowing how many gigabytes is Deadlock before you download saves you the frustration of running out of space mid-install or mid-season update. If you stick to the base install without extra DLC, you won’t need to dedicate a huge chunk of your drive to play, even if you plan to stick around for future content drops. Just remember to leave a little extra headroom for updates, and you’ll be queuing up for your first match in no time.