How much data does Payday 2 use?
How much data does Payday 2 use?
Payday 2 doesn’t use a lot of internet data, which means you can easily play the game on a mobile hotspot or fixed wireless connection. While playing online games like Payday 2 uses less internet data than many people assume, downloading and updating online games can eat through limited data plans. Here’s how much data it takes to play, download, and use Payday 2.
Payday 2 data use
Payday 2 uses up to 60 MB of data per hour. There are about 1,000 MB per GB, so the game uses up your data plan at a rate of up to 0.06 GB per hour, which means you use about 1 GB per 15 hours of gameplay. For tips on how to use less data, scroll down to the end of this post.
Payday 2 download size
While playing Payday 2 doesn’t use a huge amount of data, downloading it actually uses quite a bit. Here are the game’s file sizes and estimated download sizes on different platforms:
| Platform | File size | Estimated download size |
| Microsoft Windows | <31 GB | <15GB |
| Playstation 4 | 10.56 GB | 5 GB |
| Xbox One | 9.86 GB | 5 GB |
| Nintendo Switch | 9.8 GB | 5 GB |
Developers usually list the file size, not download size, of their games – but the two are different. Download size is how much internet data you use downloading the game onto your device, while file size is the space the game takes up on your hard drive after it’s been unpacked. Archive formats like “.zip” or “.rar” reduce download size to about 50% of file size.
Payday update size
Payday 2 patches can be 1+ GB – and updates are bigger. If you want to avoid surprises, turn off auto-updates in your console settings and manually update the game instead. For the most up-to-date information about game updates and patches, see the Payday 2 News on Steam.
How to use less data playing Payday 2
If you have a limited data plan, you probably want to keep your data use as low as possible. Here are a few things you can do to use less data while playing Payday 2:
Play on a slow server. Most game servers have a tick rate of either 64 or 128 Hz. A 64 tick server refreshes the game 64 times a second, or once every 15 milliseconds. A 128 tick server refreshes the game 128 times a second, or once every 8 milliseconds. The 128 tick server uses about twice as much data. To save data, play on community servers with lower tick rates.
Choose an empty server. The more players in a game, the more online data like voice chat, player locations, and stats your local network has to share with the other players in your heist. To save data, play with friends on emptier community servers.
Decrease your client update rate. The client update rate is how many times per second your computer or console can process the updates it gets from the game server, regardless of whether it’s a 64 or 128 tick server. You can limit your client update rate in your computer settings to keep data use artificially low when you’re playing on a 128 tick game server.
Turn off voice chat. Voice chat can use another 60 MB of data per hour. Here’s how to turn off voice chat in the main menu of Payday 2, so you use less data while you play.
Get more data with fixed wireless internet
Rural gamers who don’t have access to wired internet connections like cable or fiber are often stuck playing online games on a cellphone tether or mobile hotspot. For these gamers, fixed wireless internet offers a stronger Wi-Fi connection with a higher data limit. Start a chat now or call us at 866-439-6630 to discover fixed 4G LTE and 5G options for rural gamers in your area.
