Why is it faster to download and reinstall a 40gb game than apply 200mb patch?

[Balalaika]

Why is it faster to download and reinstall a 40gb game than apply 200mb patch?

Whats up?

[Komarimaru]

To patch generally means uncompress the files to be patched, patch them, then compress again.

Though never had a game take longer to patch over downloading it. Possibly slower storage media your end or limited drive space? If an unreal engine game, know their patching is funky pre unreal 5 as well.

[Wolverine]

Well, i have no problem with that, Steam Library hanging out on an external SSD. Latest example, Elder Scrolls Online, 3GB patch, well over 60GB to work through, process was done within a few minutes.

[Lithurge]

I have seen it with some games on my HDD, it's counted to over a day to patch before I've given up and just reinstalled the game and that's despite it being a faster one. I've also had some games take frequent pauses when downloading them, which has increased install times.

With my recently purchased (dedicated for gaming) SSD everything installs a lot more smoothly, I've yet to see anything needing patching but based on the install process I'd say I'll no longer see the day long patching issues.