Players of NieR: Automata can finally download the popular action RPG without worrying about an unusually massive file size. Square Enix has resolved a strange update issue that temporarily increased the game's download size from approximately 50GB to a staggering 366GB.

The problem appeared last Friday, leaving players confused about why a game that normally requires around 50GB of storage suddenly demanded more than seven times its usual download space.

Fortunately, the issue has now been fixed. The official NieR account on X confirmed that the development team had identified the cause and resolved the problem, although Square Enix has not provided a detailed explanation of what went wrong.

NieR: Automata Download Size Suddenly Increased to 366GB

The unusual problem affected NieR: Automata, one of Square Enix's well-known action role-playing games. Under normal circumstances, the game requires approximately 50GB of download space.

However, a recent update caused its download size to increase dramatically, reaching around 366GB on Steam.

This unexpected change created confusion among players, particularly those with limited internet bandwidth or storage capacity. A download that should normally take a manageable amount of time suddenly became a much bigger task.

The strange behavior appeared to be related to how Steam handled the game's downloadable content (DLC) packages rather than an actual increase in the game's content.

Square Enix Confirms the Download Bug Has Been Fixed

Square Enix has now addressed the issue, allowing players to download NieR: Automata at its normal size again.

In a statement posted through the official NieR account on X, the company confirmed that it had identified the cause of the problem and implemented a fix.

The announcement also included an apology for the inconvenience caused to players.

However, the company did not explain exactly what triggered the unusual download behavior. As a result, the technical reason behind the 366GB download remains unclear.

Although the problem is resolved, players who experienced the unusually large download may still be interested in understanding how such a significant error occurred.

NieR: Automata DLC Packages May Have Caused the Problem

One possible explanation involves the way Steam handled NieR: Automata's downloadable content.

Previous reports suggested that each individual DLC package appeared to have approximately the same download size as the complete base game when selected for installation.

Interestingly, this behavior reportedly affected the initial download process. After installation, the game files returned to a more reasonable size of approximately 50GB.

This led to speculation that Steam might have mistakenly included the game's original files multiple times, once for the base game and again for each DLC package.

If that theory is correct, the game may have downloaded duplicate copies of the same files without actually requiring additional storage after installation.

It would explain why the download size increased so dramatically while the final installed game remained close to its original size.

However, Square Enix has not confirmed this explanation, so it should be treated as speculation rather than the established cause of the bug.

Players Previously Found a Temporary Workaround

Before Square Enix released the fix, players were reportedly advised to disable all DLC selections during the installation process.

By unchecking the additional content packages, users could avoid triggering the unusually large download requirement.

This workaround supported the theory that the problem was connected to Steam's handling of the DLC files.

With Square Enix now confirming that the issue has been resolved, players should no longer need to rely on this temporary solution to install the game.

NieR: Automata Players Can Download the Game Normally Again

The 366GB download problem was an unusual technical issue, especially considering that the game's actual content had not suddenly expanded.

Square Enix has restored the normal download experience, allowing new and returning players to enjoy NieR: Automata without dealing with the excessive download requirement.

The only unanswered question is what exactly caused the problem. Until Square Enix provides more technical details, the suspected DLC duplication issue remains the most plausible explanation based on the reported behavior.

For now, players can get back to the adventures of 2B and 9S without needing hundreds of gigabytes of additional download space.