Marvel Rivals is taking up less space after the Season 9.5 update. NetEase reworked the game's texture compression, with the publisher estimating a reduction of about 40GB on PC and about 15GB on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The English patch notes describe the same change as an expected 30% cut on PC and 20% on those current consoles, plus a smaller reduction on PS4.
The update arrived on August 7, alongside The Hood, new story content, and the Creed of Akabba event. Storage is the useful part for anyone managing a crowded SSD or console drive, but the way NetEase delivered the fix may look strange at first: the download itself can be larger than a normal seasonal patch.
Season 9.5 changed the install-size math
The official Season 9.5 patch notes call the change an optimized texture resource compression strategy. The expected reduction is roughly 30% on PC, 20% on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and 7% on PS4. NetEase's Japanese release gives an easier number to picture: around 40GB saved on PC and around 15GB on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Those figures are estimates rather than a promise that every installation will lose exactly the same number of gigabytes. The final space used can change with the platform, the version already installed, and files added after the update. The simple takeaway is that PC receives the largest expected reduction, while current consoles receive a smaller but still meaningful one.
Why the big update comes before the smaller install
Texture compression changes how the game's visual files are stored. To apply that change across an existing installation, the update has to replace or repackage a large amount of data instead of adding one small set of new files. That is why players may see a heavy download before the game frees space afterward.
In the official Season 9.5 Dev Vision, Marvel Rivals creative director Guangyun Chen says the initial update will be larger than usual because the assets are being repackaged, while the final install will be much lighter. PC Gamer repeated the same warning after the update went live.
This is a storage change, not a graphics-setting switch. NetEase says the compression is designed to maintain image quality, but the announcement does not promise higher frame rates, shorter matchmaking, or better performance on older hardware. Those are separate issues.
The patch also adds The Hood and new events
Season 9.5 is a mid-season content update rather than a storage-only maintenance patch. The Hood joins the roster, with new lore for the character and Moon Knight. The patch also introduces the PYO store bundle format, which lets players select specific costumes and emotes instead of buying every item in a fixed bundle.
The Creed of Akabba event adds missions and a free Sandstorm Soldier costume for The Punisher. A separate Times Square screening event runs through August 27 and rewards players who watch clips from Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron. The official patch notes list the event windows and the other Season 9.5 additions.
What the smaller file size means on each platform
PC players are the main beneficiaries, with the publisher's estimate landing at about 40GB or roughly 30% of the installed footprint. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players are expected to save about 15GB, or roughly 20% by the English patch notes. PS4 is listed at about 7%, so the older console receives the smallest reduction.
If the update has not been installed yet, leave more free space than the final game size suggests. The large repackage may need temporary room while the old and new files are processed. Once the update finishes, check the game's actual install size instead of judging the change by the download number alone.
A rare win for players managing limited storage
Live-service games often grow as new heroes, maps, cosmetics, and seasonal files accumulate. Marvel Rivals is trying to reverse that pattern without removing its newer content. That makes the Season 9.5 work more useful than a routine optimization note: the game keeps expanding while the base installation gets smaller.
The next question is whether future seasons will keep the file size under control. For now, the result is clear enough. PC players should end up with the biggest saving, current consoles should recover a noticeable amount of storage, and the large first download is the cost of getting there. Our Marvel Rivals role guide can help new players get back into matches once the update is installed.
