Base game download size (not installed size)
Anyone know what the base game initial file download size is? I may need to download it on a metered internet data plan so would like to know if it is possible with amount of data I'll have. (I know expansions downloads are about 1.5 gigs; also not asking about the size it takes up on the hard drive once installed, just download size). Thanks.
@Anonymous The EA App lists the base game download as about 21 GB in size, which is the same as the size of the base game once installed. I don't actually know if the data is downloaded in some compressed format that doesn't get reported, but it doesn't appear that way from the download progress I've seen from Sims 4 and other EA games.
Please keep in mind that when you first launch and quit Sims 4, the EA App will automatically download your owned packs even if you have auto updates disabled. You can pause or cancel the downloads if you catch them, but there's no way to avoid this entirely other than going offline.
If the metered connection is going to be too restrictive, there's a way around the issue; it only requires an external drive or USB stick and temporary access to another computer, on another network, that you can use to briefly install the game. For example, if you or a friend has a low-end laptop that wouldn't run Sims 4 well but can be brought to a coffee shop or the local library, you could use it to install the game on an external drive. Then you'd transfer the game files to your main computer when you're home, and tell the EA App to "install" Sims 4 to that location. The App might simply verify the files and finish the install process, although this hasn't been completely reliable when I've tested.
