Square Enix says it is investigating a Steam issue that makes Nier: Automata demand far more storage than expected after a language-support patch. Here is who is affected, the current workaround, and why you should wait before deleting games to make room.
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A small language patch has created a very large Steam problem
Nier: Automata’s latest Steam update has made the PC version ask for as much as 366GB of storage during installation, according to multiple reports, even though the game’s listed requirement remains far lower. The concrete issue is now acknowledged by Square Enix through the official Japanese NieR PR account, which said it has confirmed that the Steam version is showing a larger-than-expected storage requirement after the newest update and that the team is investigating a solution.
The update itself was supposed to be straightforward. Eurogamer, IGN, VGC, and Automaton all report that the patch added support for Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Automaton describes it as a November 6 Steam update, and notes that it was the first update for the Steam version in five years, following the previous Steam update on July 15, 2021.
The tension for players is immediate because this is being reported as a mandatory update on Steam. Eurogamer describes the patch as non-optional, while Kotaku reports that some Steam players trying to launch or install Nier: Automata this week were met with the inflated requirement. That turns a routine localization update into a storage gate, especially for anyone running a smaller SSD or juggling several large PC games.
The Nier Automata patch size issue appears tied to DLC accounting
The leading explanation across the reporting is that the Nier Automata file size bug is connected to how Steam is counting DLC after the update. VGC says the bug appears to have added the full game’s file size to each DLC’s file size, causing the total requirement to stack up to 366GB when the full game and add-ons are installed together. IGN similarly reports that the whole game was effectively applied to every DLC pack included in the PC edition.
Automaton adds more detail: checking the game’s eight DLC requirements shows that each DLC’s file size has increased to the size of the base game, resulting in a combined requirement above 360GB. Automaton gives the inflated total as 366.56GB. That figure is slightly more precise than the rounded 366GB used by other outlets, but the underlying report is consistent: the game is being treated as if the base install is duplicated repeatedly through its DLC entries.
This distinction matters before anyone starts purging a drive. Automaton reports that the game and DLC still take up around 40 to 50GB once installed, and that the 366GB figure is a prerequisite when trying to install everything at once. In other words, the current problem is the storage Steam asks you to have available during installation, not confirmed evidence that Nier: Automata now genuinely needs hundreds of gigabytes on disk after a successful install.
Who is affected, and which platforms are currently implicated
The confirmed affected version is the Steam version of Nier: Automata on Windows. Square Enix’s own statement, as translated and reported by Eurogamer, IGN, Kotaku, and Automaton, specifically refers to the Steam version. Automaton lists Nier: Automata as available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows via Steam, and the Microsoft Store, but the reported 366GB issue is attached to Steam, not to the console releases or the Microsoft Store version.
The problem is most visible for players installing the game fresh, reinstalling after a purchase, or applying the latest Steam update with DLC selected. VGC reports that the Steam store page still says the game requires 50GB, and that the larger requirement appears when attempting to install after purchase. VGC also notes that some users report the issue as fixed on their end, while others still see inflated file sizes when trying to install the game or update.
That unevenness is important. There is no confirmed universal resolution in the supplied reporting. If your Steam client still asks for hundreds of gigabytes, that is part of the known issue. If your client shows the normal size, that may reflect a partial rollout, caching behavior, or a fix reaching some users first, but Square Enix’s public statement cited by the outlets says the company is still investigating and working on a solution.
Square Enix has a workaround, but no full hotfix confirmation yet
Square Enix’s temporary workaround is simple, but limited: download the base game by unchecking the DLC under Steam’s Properties, then DLC menu. That instruction comes from the official NieR PR account, quoted by Eurogamer, IGN, Kotaku, and Automaton. The publisher apologized for the inconvenience and said it is investigating the cause while preparing a response.
Automaton reports an additional practical path for players who want everything installed: install the base game first with all DLC unchecked, then recheck the DLC after the base install completes. According to Automaton, this avoids the inflated file size requirement that appears when attempting to install the full bundle all at once. Because that extra step is reported by Automaton rather than stated in Square Enix’s quoted workaround, players should treat it as a reported temporary solution, not the same thing as an official fix.
There is also no confirmed timing for a hotfix in the provided sources. VGC says a hotfix is likely soon, but Square Enix’s acknowledged status is that it is investigating and working on a solution. Neither VGC nor the other reports cite a firm patch time, and VGC says neither Square Enix nor PlatinumGames had acknowledged the mistake at the time of its report, while later reports cite Square Enix’s Japanese NieR account acknowledgement. The cleanest reading is that the publisher has now acknowledged the issue, but a fully deployed fix is not yet confirmed by the source material.
Do not delete half your library before checking the DLC settings
If Steam is asking you to clear enough space for a Nier Automata 366GB update, the safest move is to pause before deleting other games. The inflated requirement is a known Steam-side installation problem following the Square Enix Nier update, and the current workaround is to install the base game without DLC selected. For players who were planning a fresh run, this means you can likely get into the core game first and wait for the DLC requirement to be corrected.
If you are actively using the DLC content, the choice is less convenient. Kotaku notes that players in the middle of DLC may need to pause that part of their playthrough or use the workaround. Nier: Automata’s progression structure already asks players to think about what is installed on their androids through plug-in chips and system functions, but this PC issue is external to the game’s buildcraft. It is a launcher and package-size problem, not a new requirement built into the RPG systems.
Steam users who are short on storage should also check whether auto-updates are enabled. VGC suggests holding off on installing Nier: Automata or the new update until the problem is fixed, and calls it a reminder to switch off Steam auto-updates if players cannot revert. That is sensible for anyone with a small boot drive or a carefully managed SSD setup. At minimum, check the DLC tab first, verify what Steam is asking for, and do not assume the 50GB store-page listing means the install prompt will behave normally right now.
The community backlash is predictable, but the fix question is practical
The reaction has already reached Steam reviews. VGC reports that Nier: Automata has received negative reviews from players who say they cannot play because of the inflated install size. IGN quotes several negative Steam reviews, including one pointing out that the Steam page still lists a 50GB storage requirement while the install process asks for much more. Kotaku also quotes players joking and complaining about needing to delete most of their computer to install the update.
The frustration is understandable because Nier: Automata is an older, widely played RPG receiving a narrow language-support update, not a huge content expansion. The series has recently had renewed attention after passing 10 million sales, according to Eurogamer’s related reporting, and a localization patch should widen access for more players. Instead, the immediate story is a packaging mistake that blocks access for some existing owners and gives new buyers a confusing mismatch between the storefront requirement and the installer’s demand.
For now, the best guidance is restrained. The issue is confirmed for Steam, Square Enix has acknowledged it through the NieR PR account, the official temporary workaround is to uncheck DLC before downloading the base game, and a full fix has not been confirmed in the supplied reports. If you are not in a hurry, waiting is the cleanest option. If you want to play now, install the base game first and treat any 366GB prompt as a bug to work around, not a reason to start dismantling your drive.