Why do video game console discs now require installation, when we could just put them in and play instantly before? Why did PC discs always require installation

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Answer 1

There are several reasons I’ve already seen others mention. One of the reasons I like to point out is storage space. Discs don’t have unlimited storage; there’s a limit. A PS5 uses Ultra-HD BluRay, which has a maximum storage size of 100 GB. Sure, a lot of games don’t even get close to this limit, but some do go over. What happens when a game is bigger than 100 GB? There are 2 solutions. 1) use another disc, 2) have you download the missing data onto your console.

Devs used to do #1 back in the day of CDs, but they’ve since switched to #2 to allow for seamless gameplay as #1 would have you stop playing to switch discs.