How much data does Team Fortress 2 use?

How much data does Team Fortress 2 use


In Team Fortress 2, up to 32 players can play together on each game server. Online multiplayer modes like this that include more players tend to use more internet data, which can be an issue for gamers on a capped internet connection like fixed wireless internet or a mobile hotspot.

So how much data does it take to download, update, and play TF2 on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Playstation 4, and Xbox One? Let’s take a closer look at the numbers.


How big is the Team Fortress 2 download?

The initial game download almost always uses more data than playing or updating a game. Here’s the size of the TF2 game file on every compatible computer or console.

Platform File size
Microsoft Windows <15 GB
Mac OS <15 GB
Playstation 3 9.5 GB
Xbox 360 4 GB

A game’s file size is larger than its download size, since file size is how much hard drive space a game takes up and download size is how much data it takes to download the game onto your hard drive. The download size is usually less than half the file size, since developers compress game files with archive formats like “.zip” or “.rar” so they download more quickly.

How much data does Team Fortress 2 use
Photo by Arnaud Ligny

How big are Team Fortress 2 updates?

TF2 patches can be as small as 10 MB – but for the most up-to-date information about recent patches, see the Team Fortress updates. To keep a game update from eating up too much data, turn off auto-updates in the game or console settings and manually update the game instead.


How much data does playing Team Fortress 2 use?

Team Fortress 2 uses between 60 and 100 MB of data per hour. Actual data use depends on the number of players on the server, whether or not you use voice chat, and your update rate.

  • The more players on a game server, the more data – like location, movement, and stats – your local network shares with other players. If you’re playing Team Fortress 2 with the maximum 32 players, you’ll use more data than if you’re playing on an emptier server.
  • Voice chat can use up to 60 MB of data per hour, so you’ll use much less data if you play without voice chat. Here’s how to turn Team Fortress 2 voice chat on and off.
  • 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 approximately once every 15 milliseconds. A 128 tick server syncs with clients 128 times a second or once every 8 milliseconds. It also uses about twice as much data. To save data, choose community servers with lower tick rates.
  • Client update rate is how many times per second your computer actually processes the updates from the server. The update rate of your game will be either your server tick rate or client update rate, whichever is lower.
    Limit your client update rate in your settings to reduce online data use when you’re playing on a game server with a high tick rate.
How much data does Team Fortress 2 use
Photo by Tim Dorr

Get more data with fixed wireless internet

To play Team Fortress 2 without risking your data limit, consider a fixed wireless internet connection with a high data cap. This home Wi-Fi connection is ideal for rural gamers without access to wired internet connections like cable or fiber.

Give Evdodepot USA a call at 866-439-6630 to discover fast 4G LTE and 5G options for rural gamers in your area.