GoKawiilSteam and console uninstalls leave save files, shader caches and mods behind
Uninstalling a game on Steam or consoles removes only the files the platform originally installed, leaving behind saves, settings, shader caches, mods, crash dumps and screenshots scattered across other folders. Clearing this leftover data is largely a manual process, though shader caches can be safely deleted since games rebuild them automatically. Separately, an unverified PlayStation Store listing cited by the PlayStation Game Size account pegs Grand Theft Auto VI's PS5 download at 210GB, a figure Rockstar has not confirmed.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
As game file sizes keep growing, leftover saves, caches and mods compound the storage problem, meaning uninstalling no longer reliably frees up meaningful space. The GTA VI figure, if accurate, suggests major new releases could consume close to a third of a base PS5's usable storage, intensifying pressure on players to manage drive space proactively.
- Uninstalling a game typically leaves saves, shader caches, mods and screenshots on the drive
- Shader cache folders can be deleted safely since games regenerate them on next launch
- GTA VI's PS5 download is reportedly listed at 210GB, though Rockstar hasn't confirmed this
Samsung T7 Portable SSD — If your drive is packed with leftover shader caches, mods, and old game installs, a fast portable SSD like the Samsung T7 gives you extra breathing room without deleting everything you love. It's great for offloading game libraries or backing up save folders before you do a cleanup pass. Plug it in via USB-C and you get quick transfer speeds for moving large Steam installs back and forth.
See Samsung T7 Portable SSD on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Nimrod Aldea, 2026-10-31
Published there as: “Why your games take up way more drive space than expected (even when uninstalled)”
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