How Much Does Elden Ring Take Up on PS4? A Complete Breakdown

The massive open-world action RPG Elden Ring is finally here after years of eager anticipation. Developed by acclaimed studio FromSoftware, Elden Ring promises to deliver a sprawling dark fantasy universe to explore. But how well does this epic blockbuster game run on PlayStation 4? For PS4 owners with limited hard drive space wondering if Elden Ring is worth the large install size, this detailed guide provides all the answers.

Elden Ring‘s File Size on PS4

First, let‘s look at how much drive space PS4 owners will need to install Elden Ring. According to the official PlayStation Store listing, the Elden Ring file size on PS4 is 44.929 GB. This makes it one of the largest PS4 games released to date, comparable to other expansive open world titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 (99GB), Horizon Zero Dawn (48GB), and The Witcher 3 (50GB).

So clearing nearly 45GB is recommended before purchasing Elden Ring digitally or inserting the physical disc. An external hard drive can provide extra breathing room if your PS4 internal drive is full. For disc copies, 45GB is the maximum install size. But digital purchases via PlayStation Store may need slightly more temporary space for the download and installation process.

How Does Elden Ring Perform on Base PS4 and PS4 Pro?

With such a massive game world to render, how does Elden Ring actually run on standard PS4 models vs. the more powerful PS4 Pro? Here‘s a look at the performance details.

The base PS4 and PS4 Slim consoles run Elden Ring at 1920×1080 resolution and a capped 30 frames per second. This provides a very playable experience. However, maintaining that 30fps cap proves challenging for the base PS4 hardware.

During busy scenes with lots of enemies and particles effects, frame rates often fluctuate between 20-30fps as the console strains to keep up. This leads to frequent stuttering and choppiness that disrupts the otherwise smooth combat.

Additionally, load times consistently exceed 60 seconds when fast traveling or entering buildings on base PS4. This causes noticeable interruptions as you wait for new areas to load.

On PS4 Pro, Elden Ring runs at a higher 2560×1440 resolution while targeting 60fps. Thanks to the Pro‘s improved GPU and CPU, it maintains that 60fps target far more consistently with fewer dips or hiccups during action-heavy moments.

Load times are also reduced by nearly half on PS4 Pro, averaging around 30 seconds for fast travel and entering structures. Here‘s a comparison of average load times for key locations:

So in summary, while base PS4 can deliver playable frame rates, PS4 Pro‘s enhancements push Elden Ring‘s performance and visuals substantially higher. The Pro experience is preferable, but base PS4 can still run Elden Ring smoothly if 30fps is acceptable.

Streaming and Pop-in on PS4

One area where Elden Ring does struggle on all PS4 models is streaming in the expansive open world environments. To render huge areas with complex geometry and effects, the game uses aggressive level of detail (LOD) scaling and object pop-in.

This means draw distances are limited on PS4, so objects like trees, grass, rocks, and structures don‘t fully load until you are relatively close. This can create visible pop-in where details seem to suddenly appear as you move closer.

Similarly, texture resolution is dynamically scaled back the further you look into the distance. This saves performance but creates blurry, smeared textures on distant scenery.

During lengthy horseback rides across the map, a constant stream of assets will continuously fade in and out at short distances. This immersion-breaking pop-in is much improved on PS5 thanks to its ultra-fast SSD. But on PS4, streaming the massive open world pushes the hardware to its limits.

PS4 Pro Boost Mode and Elden Ring

For PS4 Pro owners, there is a system setting called Boost Mode that may further assist Elden Ring‘s performance. Boost Mode leverages the PS4 Pro‘s extra CPU and GPU power to improve framerates in games that were released before the Pro hardware launched.

Since Elden Ring launched after the Pro, Boost Mode is not officially supported. However, some tests indicate Boost Mode can provide small framerate improvements to Elden Ring on PS4 Pro. It may deliver slightly faster load times as well.

Boost Mode can be enabled in the PS4 System Settings under the PS4 Pro Boost Mode option. There are no downsides to trying it with Elden Ring on PS4 Pro. Just don‘t expect dramatic changes, as the enhancements appear marginal based on limited testing.

Is Elden Ring Worth Playing on PS4?

Considering the performance constraints, is Elden Ring still worth experiencing on base PS4 models? For most players, the answer is an emphatic yes!

Despite the occasional frame rate dips and longer load times, the PS4 delivers a fantastic Elden Ring experience marked by the same enthralling adventures, white-knuckle boss battles, and jaw-dropping vistas that make the game a masterpiece.

While PS5 and high-end PCs provide the ultimate way to enjoy Elden Ring with smoother 60fps gameplay, PS4 owners can still immerse themselves in the rich open world. For those without access to newer consoles, I wholeheartedly recommend playing Elden Ring on PS4.

Just temper expectations around visual fidelity and performance early on. Install the game to an SSD if possible, as this will lower load times versus the default mechanical hard drive. And consider playing on PS4 Pro or PS5 down the road to see Elden Ring at its very best.

But make no mistake – even at 30fps with occasional dips, Elden Ring on PS4 manages to be one of the greatest, most rewarding gaming experiences I‘ve had the joy of playing in years. The quality and depth of the adventure shines through any technical quirks.

With breathtaking environments and an epic 100+ hour quest await, Elden Ring is absolutely worth the PS4‘s large install size for FromSoftware fans and open world fans alike. Don‘t hesitate to embark on your own Elden Ring journey – no matter which PlayStation console you game on.