How much data does CrossFire use?
Playing a multiplayer game like CrossFire on a fixed mobile data connection can eat up mobile data and even push you over your monthly limit. Let’s take a closer look at exactly how much data it takes to download, update, and play CrossFire. Just keep in mind that the easiest way to game with mobile data is by switching to an unlimited mobile data plan with no limit or throttle.
CrossFire file size
The game download usually uses much more mobile data than updating or playing the game does. CrossFire, which is only available on PC, is no exception. Keep in mind that the game’s file size will be larger than its download size (which is compressed), and that the game’s file size increases over time as developers release patches and updates.
| Platform | File size |
| Microsoft Windows | <15 GB |
CrossFire updates and patches
Smilegate very occasionally releases updates and patches for CrossFire, which you can keep track of in the latest updates. These updates vary in file size, but are often in the range of 500 MB to 1 GB. If these updates and patches will push you over your monthly data limit, turn off auto-updates and only manually install the updates when you have data available.
CrossFire data use
CrossFire uses around 30 MB of data per hour with 8 players (4v4), which is below average for a multiplayer online game. The exact amount of data you’ll end up using while playing CrossFire depends on the number of players in your game mode, your frame rate, and the tick rate of your server:
- The more players in a game, the more online data (e.g. chat logs, location, and stats) your local network has to share with other players’ networks. To use less data, play CrossFire in Zombie or Wave mode. While the game’s other modes have 16 players, Zombie includes only 4 players and Wave includes a maximum of 10 players
- A higher frame rate refreshes the game more often, which makes it run faster. A lower frame rate saves you data, but makes it harder for you to react quickly in the game. To use less data, lower your frame rate (measured in FPS) in your game settings. To change this setting, you’ll first need to disable vertical synch (V-Synch).
- A 128-tick server, which refreshes the game 128 times every second, uses about twice as much data as a 64-tick server, which refreshes the game 64 times every second. To use less data, switch to a 64-tick server if possible.
- Voice chat uses a lot of data. For example, PUBG, like CrossFire, uses around 30 MB of data per hour without voice chat. With voice chat, it uses 50 MB of data per hour or 66% more data. For people playing CrossFire outside of China, voice chat isn’t usually an option. If you do have the option to use voice chat and want to save mobile data, turn it off while you play.
Upgrade to unlimited 4G LTE
Play CrossFire without thinking about data use by switching to an unlimited 5G or 4G LTE connection with no bandwidth throttling.
