FFXIII uses much less space on 360

By Richard Leadbetter Published 26 February, 2010

Digital Foundry explores and explains.

Website Ve3tro.com has reported the NXE hard disk install sizes for each of the three game discs that make up the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII.

According to the site - which has posted screenshots as proof - disc one weighs in at 5.9GB, while the second and third discs install at 5.8GB and 6.6GB respectively. This combined 18.3GB compares with a total of 39.4GB for the Japanese PS3 version, making the 360 game less than half the size of the PlayStation 3 release.

There are a few interesting facts to derive from this news. Owing to copy protection measures, the maximum potential size of an Xbox 360 game is 6.8GB, meaning that across the whole three discs Square-Enix actually had 2.1GB of potential space that remains unused, so we would hope that any omissions from the Xbox 360 version of the game would be minimal, if not non-existent.

The reduced size of FFXIII can easily be explained by more aggressive compression in the game's large array of CGI cut-scenes. Of the total 39.4GB that makes up the Japanese FFXIII on PS3, a quick look at the file structure on the Blu-ray disc suggests that a whopping 32.6GB of it is dedicated entirely to the video sequences, leaving just 6.8GB for the actual gameplay.

While the convenience of having the game on a single disc is obviously beneficial, disc-swapping in the Xbox 360 version is kept to a minimum owing to the linear nature of FFXIII itself. Very few locations can be revisited, so there is little actual need to have all three discs installed to the hard drive in the first place, over and above the obvious noise issues related to the Xbox 360 DVD drive.

In terms of other elements of comparison, the western versions of the game remain under embargo. The definitive Digital Foundry Face-Off will be published when this lifts next week.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (68) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Darren #1 2 years ago

    There are unconfirmed reports also that these videos on the 360 run at 576p as does the game (1024x576). The PS3 version reputedly has 1080p videos (which would explain the massive 32 GBs worth) with the game running at native 720p (1280x720). Certainly the 360 screenshots I've seen look softer and lower resolution than the PS3 ones but it may be just down to the way they've been captured.

    I was hoping that Digital Foundry would confirm this here but I guess we'll have to wait for the face-off next week.

  • Poorandugly #2 2 years ago

    GROOWLS!!!

    I find the amount of video files quite off putting. Story is good, but story-padding is bad, mkay?

  • E2K #3 2 years ago

    this will end in tears :p

    I have compared the two versions myself. This is the final verdict:

    -lower anisotropic filtering on ps3
    -framerate drops more in ps3 version
    +higher resolution on ps3
    +better sound quality on ps3
    +better video quality on ps3
    +better chocobo self-shadowing on ps3
    +a2c less obvious on ps3 due to higher resolution

  • IMO #4 2 years ago

    32Gigs worth of video?! Blimey.

  • ckyman2 #5 2 years ago

    gosh i'm guessing there not going to plan to put it on games on demand on live at 32gb would take a week to download lol still would be funny :)
    Edited by 2 at 26/02/10 @ 09:44

  • woodnotes #6 2 years ago

    This will probably be the first time I'll be buying a multiplatform game for my PS3 and not my 360.

  • Notez #7 2 years ago

    I think this will be an interesting comparison, even though the PS3 version is set to be the clear winner. The CGI probably looks gorgeous in 1080p.

    It's a bit of a shame about the in-game resolution being less than 720p for the 360 (if that is true), but at least it's coming out on the console, which I would have never expected some years ago. I'm also betting, that it will look rather spectacular compared to some other offerings from the east, which I have also enjoyed a lot already.

    I'm still excited for the game and with my current setup 1080p isn't happening anyway. I'm also a bit more excited for some friends, who will have the possibility to get the most out of the experience on the PS3 and some big screens.

  • Bigglesworth #8 2 years ago

    @Poorandugly
    The combined size of the video is more to do with its quality than its viewing length.

    The use of the word 'gameplay' in the "33GB vs 7GB" comparison is a little disingenuous. The bulk of that 7GB will be game assets (primarily voices, music & sfx, then textures), the remaining tiny fraction being text and game code.

  • gjgjg #9 2 years ago

    am i missing something? why isnt there a disc 2+3 install option and use disc one as permanent launcher... im def missing something arent i?

  • BartonFink #10 2 years ago

    The DF comparison should be interesting next week but I think I will be picking this up for the PS3 regardless. Unless of course DF has something monumental to say. First multi-platform game since Burnout Paradise I'll be buying on PS3.

  • cyacomini #11 2 years ago

    How many peeps here actually have a 1080p capable screen?

    I was an early adopter with HD so only have a 720p/1080i set and I see no reason to replace it yet.

  • Widge #12 2 years ago

    I have one.
    It has glowing lights that shine out the back of it too.
    Woo.

  • MasterNameless #13 2 years ago

    I had a 720p/1080i projector, but killed it from way too much smoking and nowhere near enough dusting. (A lesson to anyone else with a projector - smoke if you have to(I do), but at the very least hoover your room regularly!)

    I picked up a decent 40" 1080p LG Plasma TV recently though for only £550, I'm loving it. It even upscales SD TV really well.

    Edit: I wouldn't think upgrading from a 720p set is worth it though, the difference is very marginal. I'm an editor and work with HD 720 and 1080 a fair bit, and I find it difficult to tell the difference on a Grade 1 HD CRT monitor that cost a few grand! Besides, most games run at 720p anyway...
    Edited by 3 at 26/02/10 @ 11:55

  • MasterNameless #14 2 years ago

    Mine doesn't have glowing lights on the back of it though...

    /glares at Widge

  • Retroid #15 2 years ago

    @cyacomini: "How many peeps here actually have a 1080p capable screen?"

    /Raises hand

    If Square have got the game engine running in sub-HD then any (remote) prospect of me buying this for 360 rather than my PS3 has gone straight out of the window.

  • leafmulch #16 2 years ago

    I've got full HD on a 42" plasma and although there is a slight refinement - lovely blu-ray, I guess it's more useful if you've gone for 46" and up. There's v. little difference between playing GT:5P in 720p and 1080p for example (for me at least).

    And on topic (ffx111) I'm not sure I've got the time to play thru this! :)
    Edited by 1 at 26/02/10 @ 11:55

  • Shakey_Jake33 #17 2 years ago

    @Retroid - http://ww w.product-reviews.net/2010/02/1...

  • Retroid #18 2 years ago

    leafmulch : "There's v. little difference between playing GT:5P in 720p and 1080p for example (for me at least)."

    That'll be because GT5:p isn't true 1080p. IIRC, it keeps the same horizontal resolution (1280 rather than 1920) and bumps the vertical resolution up to 1080p. So no, there wouldn't be much difference visible.

  • dsmx #19 2 years ago

    I have a samsung 1080p screen that I picked up last year from curry's for £350. I didn't know it was 1080p when I got it my ps3 told me that when I got one at the end of january.

  • Retroid #20 2 years ago

    @Shakey_Jake33

    Well, that's any prospect of 360 FFXIII for me right out of the window. Bollocks to crap conversions.

  • mkreku #21 2 years ago

    I have a 42" Full HD TV, but.. I've watched both 720p and 1080p movies on it, and I'm not sure I could pick out which is which in a blind test :/

    But both types of movies look excellent though so it doesn't really matter. Makes my old DVD's seem bad in comparison, something I never thought before getting Blu-Rays. Damn you, Blu-Rays!

  • Razzajazz #22 2 years ago

    @ Widge

    Me too! Ambilight FTW!

  • stevetuck #23 2 years ago

    i will lol so hard if the xbox360 version comes out on top in the face off :D

    edit: do you have to install it for the PS3? because my 40gb ps3 is gonna have some problems :D
    Edited by 1 at 26/02/10 @ 12:20

  • Shakey_Jake33 #24 2 years ago

    I don't have an issue with my comments being negatively rated as such, but my comment was a neutral response to a previous poster. Are we supposed to stick our fingers in our ears, close our eyes and pretend that there's no difference between two versions of a game? Recognising these differences (and perhaps, dare I say it, mature discussion of the differences) doesn't make someone a rabid fanboy. It is a sad state of affairs where when we have to dodge around these issues.

    I find the Digital Foundry articles extremely informative. Unfortunately they become sniping grounds, when they could potentially be a forum for real discussion of technical issues for those who find this interesting.

  • Widge #25 2 years ago

    No install for the PS3

  • Beano #26 2 years ago

    "How many peeps here actually have a 1080p capable screen? "

    Check - and all my HDTV owning friends and family have 1080p native displays, not 720p.

  • Murton #27 2 years ago

    The big shame is that I will genuinely enjoy playing it less as I will miss my friends list, achievements and lovely comfortable controller.

    Seriously? You value your friendslist, gamerscore and comfortable controller so highly but will get the PS3 version because of what? A few extra pixels? Looking at the bigger picture I'd say go with your preferred platform, why pay good money for something that you won't be able to genuinely enjoy less than something else that costs the same?

  • Beano #28 2 years ago

    "I hate to say it as I really really hate giving any money to Sony.."

    Yes, because Sony are the evil empire and MS are the saints who save the world? :p

  • IkariW #29 2 years ago

    32.6GB of the Blu-ray is video? tell you what... just get rid of the 6.8GB's worth of GAME, SQUARE just make it a film ffs!!!

    *Holds head in hands and thinks back to everyone moaning about the Mega CD games being all video footage ....

    Ikari

  • GamesConnoisseur #30 2 years ago

    Question: if 32 gb out of 39 is fmv, then ps3 game assets is only 6 gb or so vs unknown proportion of game assets spilt over 3 DVD for x360?

    Would it be possible both would actually have same resolution and textures? As x360 would apparently need at least 2 gb per DVD to match up?!

    Getting PS3 version anyway but I wouldn't trust fanboys comment until offical head to head from EG which is much more detailed compared to ign.com. As ign never spotted that PS3's GTA4 has lower resolution!

  • photoboy #31 2 years ago

    I think this puts into perspective the claims that DVDs aren't big enough for games this generation. When you take all the pre-rendered CGI out of FFXIII it fits onto a single DVD! True that leaves no room for cut-scenes, but they probably haven't compressed the audio on the PS3 version either. That said, if more games are going to be multi-disc this generation Microsoft should start mandating developers do what Forza 3 did and let you install extra content that doesn't require disc swapping.

    Looks like I'll be buying the PS3 version of this as I'd prefer the extra detail. Most games that run at "640p" (e.g. Saint's Row 2) look quite aliased to me so I would think at "576p" it would be even more noticeable, unless Square have used 4xAA to smooth the edges off.

    I'd better go cancel my 360 pre-order, as I'd assumed from DF's earlier analysis of the engine that all the transparencies in the game would favour the Xenos with its 10MB EEDRAM. I forgot to account for Squeenix giving the game to the B team to do the porting... ;)

  • telboy007 #32 2 years ago

    In-game gfx are good enough to not have to do CGI cut scenes nowadays surely, but then it wouldn't be a FF game without the CGI!

  • EvilBob_leeds #33 2 years ago

    "No, they are both corporations making money. What differentiates them is attitude. Sony are lying, pretentious, smack-talking asswipes."

    Awww farticus... and I thought you'd changed!

    Lying? Like the Microsoft "get the facts campaign"? Or in the same sence that Molyneux has lied about the features of more or less every game he's ever published?

    Smack talking? At best between MS and Sony it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. When you've got Steve "Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches" Ballmer at the head of a company, calling another company "smack talking" is frankly demented. Another winning quote is "Google's not a real company. It's a house of cards".

    "Pretentious" frankly beats the crap out of "Institutionally incapable of innovation". What happens when MS get to the top of a tree, without anyone else to pinch ideas off? See IE6. See Windows mobile 6. See Office, which has really only had cosmetic touches since 2k.

    Asswipes? You've got the company behind this kind of shit on one hand and you're calling Sony asswipes? Phffft.

    Sony are bastards. Microsoft are in another league of shittiness. Saying you're buying Microsoft because Sony are bastards is like voting for the BNP because you think the Torys are too right wing.

  • zuljin #34 2 years ago

    @cyacomini: "How many peeps here actually have a 1080p capable screen?"

    I'm gonna go ahead and raise my hand here too! And I bought my telly over about 2 and half years ago.

  • Bigglesworth #35 2 years ago

    @EvilBob: +2

    Personifying these companies is as ridiculous as deifying their consoles.

    Btw, regarding embargoes: why would EG want to break them? Embargoes are generally a Good Thing (if you're not obsessive and needy).

  • EvilBob_leeds #36 2 years ago

    "If you honestly think comparing a software company to a rabble of racist bigots..."

    It's an Analogy. The analogy being that group a has far less of undesirable quality x than group b. You didn't get that? You do know when someone says something like "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" they're not saying that that the topics of conversation have feathers or leaves, right?

    "No, they are both corporations making money. What differentiates them is attitude. Sony are lying, pretentious, smack-talking asswipes."

    Yeah, I'll let that stand as a clear example of how you don't believe in black and white, you or me style dichotomy *facepalm*.
    Edited by 1 at 26/02/10 @ 15:45

  • EvilBob_leeds #37 2 years ago

    "The day I see a comment slighting Sony and you NOT diving in"

    Errr... ok. Excellent, well thought out point there. Buuuut you might want to look at the posting history of, for instance, the lovable hammerhead666. You can see lots of Sony bashing without me "diving in".

    You consider "Sony are lying, pretentious, smack-talking asswipes." to be "the merest mention of not being 100% satisfied"?

    Oh dear.

    You might want to try "unreasoned, unjustifiable hyperbole".
    Edited by 3 at 26/02/10 @ 16:15

  • Psiloc #38 2 years ago

    Page 1 goes to EvilBob_leeds I'd say.

  • TRUTH #39 2 years ago

    Just like MGS4 this game has too many overlong bloody FMV (most useless), also the fact the scores haven't been to great for FFIVII; it's been a very good to average marks (Metacritic), but for sure it's no way as good as I hoped...With already great rpg's: Mass Effect , Fable, Dragon Origins, Fallout3, Oblivion, Demon's Souls (Rpg/adventure - hardly any annoying FMV scenes at all during during the whole game - Not One Single FMV!)...I'll probably skip this.

    I think this FF has it's own head up it's arse - the story is typical too!...Forget FMV, add more gameplay Square Enix !

  • Widge #40 2 years ago

    Some people like this strong story focused approach, these people will be looking forward to the game. It is allowed.

  • Bigglesworth #41 2 years ago

    The argument is particularly specious in the case of Final Fantasy, since the total play time of the FMV is a tiny proportion of the total hours of entertainment each game provides.

  • FladgeMangle #42 2 years ago

    Yes indeed Bigglesworth. I'm sure that's the argument Digital Foundry will use to call the face-off a draw, despite much smaller differences being used in the past to recommend one certain version over another.

    Blah blah blah. Sub HD visuals, compress audio and video that's also lower res plus disk swapping but HEY! The controller is really nice...

    I know, I know, I sound like a fanboy but I'm really not. It just seems to me that DF has gotten so used to the face-offs being one sided they've lost a sense of impartiality, demonstrated lately by the Darksiders debacle.

  • hesido #43 2 years ago

    Would it be so linear if it was specifically designed for PS3? I guess not. The disc swapping is not a problem, because they dealt with the problem by making it linear.

  • sarcasmoidosis #44 2 years ago

    @farticus: So, why'd you buy the PS3 if you hate giving money to Sony? I mean, you gave them money when you bought it and you give them ~10 euros for every 3rd party new game you purchase, more for a 1st party.

    Not a rhetorical or fanboish question, purely a curiosity.

  • Loghorn #45 2 years ago

    @Retroid:

    Same here. 3 discs, I can deal with, but the 360 version being in Sub-HD? Epic fail. If Square would've put a little more time into this version, then I'm sure that it would turn out to be the same as the PS3 version. Now because of Square doing a half ass job, we're going to see more & more people just buy this for PS3 instead, especially when it's only on one disc.

  • djayjp #46 2 years ago

    Does anyone here actually know what this means?!!

    At 6.8GB of ACTUAL, non-video content, THE WHOLE game would easily fit on ONE DVD! This means that all those arguments about needing Blu-ray were wrong. Am I the only one that prefers *in-game/real-time custscenes*?!

  • Badassbab #47 2 years ago

    I've seen the first ten mins of the 360 version in HD downloaded from a 360 webiste and it looks great. Still getting the PS3 version.

  • stevetuck #48 2 years ago

    i think they should get japanese people to say leona lewis more... reeona ruuis!

  • Diomedes #49 2 years ago

    DF ,stop being an ass with your pitiful damage control.The 360 game is at 576p ,so it has way less resolution and the assets weight a lot less.Add to that the CG graphics and the uncompressed sound and there you have your difference in "weight".

  • balflear_pkt #50 2 years ago

    worst DF article ever

    -framerate drops more in ps3 version -- this is certainly false right now, ps3 version has a slighty drop in two places in the whole game... and none except reviewers seen the game in this place :)
    Edited by 1 at 27/02/10 @ 03:41

  • Dylbot #51 2 years ago

    Don't think I'll be getting this anyway, as they baulked at the fact that not everyone liked XII (a brilliant game if I do say so myself) and made this one into a linear, homogenised lump of shit propped up by shiny graphics and a lead character with tits. And one of the summons turns into a motorbike, gee fucking whizz! Let's hope for better out of the inevitable XV, eh?

    In other neg-drawing news, they did exactly the same thing with X, relied on a shiny new graphics engine to disguise the fact that the characters were unlikeable, the plot was retarded, and the battle system was boring. Fuck Tidus and fuck his shorts and a half.
    Edited by 1 at 27/02/10 @ 04:25

  • davisorle #52 2 years ago

    Its funny how everyone is based on the comment made from Darren that the game will be 576p on the 360. lol its really my only comment. Commenting the comments .. lol

  • Shakey_Jake33 #53 2 years ago

    @Dylbot - I find it difficult to blame SquareEnix for the direction they have taken with this game. FFXII was indeed an excellent game, but it seems that people didn't like to be taken out of their comfort zone and actually given something new. Of course, people don't have to like a game purely on the basis of it being original, but so many people disliked it because is was different. So they've played it safe this time. Unfortunate, because I felt FFXII pushed the stagnating JRPG genre forward like no other title.

  • coolbritannia #54 2 years ago

    lol @ evilbob, there is a man throwing stones completely oblivious to the fact that his house is made of glass.

  • El-Dev #55 2 years ago

    "Why the hell should you lot give a damn what I do. I don't like Sony and that should be of absolutely no consequence to ANY of you."

    I'm pretty sure nobody cares that you don't like Sony. I think the consequence that it has to the forum is that you bring it up all the time, it was kinda funny the lengths you went to sometimes to bring it up but in the end it bored everyone. So basically, we get it you don't like an electronics company just try not to shove it down everyone's throats and people won't bother you about it.

    Thinking of it though, if I didn't give money to a company that I thought lied to consumers I don't know what I'd be able to spend my money on.
    Edited by 1 at 27/02/10 @ 18:05

  • creepylizard #56 2 years ago

    @farticus
    You post on a forum mate. People are going to debate your opinions with you on here. If you don't want that at all then why bother?
    I think if you actually thought somebody bested you in some debate you'd probably top yourself. You have that self aggrandising impression to your posts that sounds even more distasteful than some rabid fanboy rantings

  • jin_a0001 #57 2 years ago

    This article really makes me wonder? Is the reason for FFXIII's linear nature to accomodate the three disk setup on the 360? I mean, making a game anything but linear must be problamatic when the game is on more than one disk. Just a thought...

  • karooo #58 2 years ago

    6.8gb? that explains where the towns went.

  • karooo #59 2 years ago

    @farticus shut up little mupppet, no towns are because of 360 dvd 6.8gb :o :D

  • bing #60 2 years ago

    Well that was a fucking car crash to read.
    Edited by 1 at 27/02/10 @ 22:12

  • sarcasmoidosis #61 2 years ago

    "2 words: Demons. Souls."

    Yeah, it's worth it then :)

  • man.the.king #62 2 years ago

    I see the old farticusmaximus is back!

    And here I was thinking that he now had both his feet on the ground (one being in Redmond and the other in Tokyo).

    Apparently I was wrong.

  • Ryze #63 2 years ago

    They should bundle a 30GB HD DVD with the 360 version, and grab 1080p video from that, without interrupting the action!

  • man.the.king #64 2 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    "You have it wrong mate, there just haven't been idiots like EvilBob spoiling for a fight for a while. He wanted to disrupt the thread and he got his wish. "

    I don't know. I thought some of what he said was pretty reasonable. I mean, here are some of the vignettes you uttered:
    1) "I really really hate giving any money to Sony"
    2) "Sony are lying, pretentious, smack-talking asswipes"

    You see, I could say something similar, e.g. MS are cheating, stealing, innovation-killing bastards and I hate giving money to them, but I have to play Bayonetta on the 360 and I'll have to turn off Achievements, that would be a slap in the face when the game should be boosting my Trophy levels. If I had posted that, there would be a deluge of Eurogamer posters accusing me of fanboyism (specifically because I dared to say I prefer the console by Sony instead of the one by MS).

    See how fanboyish that sounds?

  • anonim1979 #65 2 years ago

    The game on PS3 has prerendered on PC in-engins cutscenes, on X360 those cutscenes are in realtime.. Exeacly like God of War 3:

    Bruno Velazquez of Sony Santa Monica:

    “When I mentioned that GOW3 has no CG, I was referring to the fact that we do not have pre-renderd scenes that were created outside of the game engine, like GOW 1 and 2. In GOW3 all the cutscenes are created using our in-game engine, however some scenes were just to epic to run real time and thus are recorded videos."

  • Bigglesworth #66 2 years ago

    6.8gb? that explains where the towns went

    It does? Could you elaborate?

    Is the reason for FFXIII's linear nature to accomodate the three disk setup on the 360? I mean, making a game anything but linear must be problamatic when the game is on more than one disk

    I wouldn't say it is. After all, the multi-disc format didn't affect FF 7, 8 & 9 - well, not too adversely. I just think they tried something different with this game - and the actual degree of difference won't be known until we all play it ourselves.

  • LiamK #67 2 years ago

    The problem with 720 vs 1080 is that "average street person" just goes "higher is better" and gets the one with the bigger number. I got a 37" panasonic plasma a year or so ago. It's only 720p, but it looks really nice and also does a great job showing standard def. I've got several friends who have 1080p LCD screens which look terrible by comparison, but they went for them because "the resolution" was higher. Never mind contrast ratio, refresh rate etc.

    It's like camera megapixels all over again.

  • Yaz #68 2 years ago

    @jin_a0001 who wrote "Is the reason for FFXIII's linear nature to accomodate the three disk setup on the 360?"

    I believe the answer is no.

    What many assume is that because FFXIII was initially announced as a PS3 exclusive, then the game was developed for the PS3.

    The fact is, FFXIII was initally developed for the PS2, and was moved to the PS3 late in it's development (putting the game back by 18 months according to SE).

    [link url=http://w ww.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/6532.html
    ]http://ww w.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/6532....[/link]

    Hence it would have been a multidisk game from the start, and therefore the games's structure was not changed because of the 360. You could also argue that it's because it was originally a multidisk PS2 game that a multidisk 360 version was never going to be a problem for SE.

    Another assumption some make is to say that the game was cut down because of the 360, but I think it's reasonable to say that with only about 6.8GB of game data and a huge 32GB+ of video cutscenes (and I'm guessing it's about 12GB of cutscenes in the 360 version), the argument that space couldn't be made available for more game data is a little weak.
    Edited by 1 at 01/03/10 @ 22:40