Game Compressor Review Real World Storage Savings and Performance Impact

Storage for games is also expanding, as modern games take up larger install sizes, making disk space management a continuing issue. Storage-optimization utilities that do not affect performance are becoming popular, particularly in systems with a small SSD.

Do you recall when lossless scaling frame generation was introduced, and it seemed like a system was downloading fps? Game Compressor is more along these lines, but rather than enhancing performance, it helps save disk space. It is not an external solution or cloud storage. It acts upon already installed games and compresses them, without any loss of performance.

A developer contacted me to explain that the tool provides a safe interface to Windows' native LZX-compression. It purports to reduce game sizes by up to 50 percent, though this is not always the practice case. This can really be reduced based on the nature of the game data to be compressed. Windows decompresses files in real time using RAM, so there is no background CPU load and no reduction in fps during gameplay.

Test Results and Performance Testing

We have tested the tool with Cyberpunk 2077 and other games. No changes in fps, no crashes, no apparent changes in the use of RAM, although the decompression process takes place in memory. System behavior was retained, with some disk space being regained.

But the compression claims may not match the actual results. An example is Cyberpunk 2077, which only saved approximately 2.24GB out of an 85GB install. In another scenario, a game that was 77GB only saved about 763MB. On the other hand, some titles achieved better results. A game that was 165GB compressed to 13GB. In rare cases, smaller games can be cut in half.

Application Use Cases of Limited Storage

This tool is more applicable to systems with smaller SSDs, such as 512GB or 1TB drives, or handheld devices with limited storage. When several games are installed, you can compress them, leaving the remaining space available to install one or two other titles. The difference may be critical in cases where storage upgrades are not an option.

Upon opening the application, you are presented with a dashboard, a game library, and a settings panel. The settings include general options such as starting with Windows, minimizing to the system tray, displaying notifications, and language and theme choices. Compression options are also available, including automatic compression upon installing new games.

The dashboard shows the number of games that have been compressed and the last activity. The game library scans installed titles and lets you filter across sites such as Steam, Epic, Riot, Battle.net, and GOG.

To compress a game, select it from the library and begin the process. The system then consumes CPU, disk, and RAM resources. During testing, CPU usage was around 25% to 27%, and NVMe performance was approximately 52%. The compression itself did not make use of the GPU.

System Effect at Compression

The system can still be used, including gaming, although compression is still running. Minor stutters may occur when multiple heavy tasks run simultaneously, but overall performance is not affected. After compression, the game will run normally without a decrease in fps.

The inability to prevent compression halfway is a limitation. Once the process is initiated, it must be completed before any amendments can be made. This may be inconvenient when you require system resources urgently. A stop would be a good addition to enhance usability.

Overall Effectiveness

The tool doesn't always achieve 30% to 50% reductions, but it can save measurable space without affecting speed. The amount saved varies widely from game to game. 

In systems with limited storage, even small savings across several games can accumulate. You can go back to installing 10 games, then install 11 or 12 on the same drive. That is why the tool can be used under specific conditions when storage space is limited.

Game storage keeps increasing as new games require more space to be installed, and disk space management remains an issue. Storage optimization utilities that do not compromise system performance are gaining interest, particularly when SSD capacity is limited.

Learning the Concept Behind Game Compression

Do you recall when lossless scaling frame generation emerged, and it seemed as though downloading FPS to a system? Game Compressor is another concept based on the same principle, with emphasis on disk space rather than performance. Neither is a cloud storage nor an external solution. It operates on installed programs, compressing them without affecting performance.

One of the developers replied to the note and clarified that this tool is a safe interface to compression of Windows native LZX file system. It states that it will reduce game sizes by 30-50 percent, but this is not always true in practice.

The real-world compression ratio will depend upon the nature of the game information being compressed. Windows decompresses files on the fly in RAM, resulting in no background CPU usage and no reduction in fps during gameplay.

Real Results and Performance Testing

We put the tool to the test on Cyberpunk 2077 and other games. No change in fps, crashes, or visible differences in memory usage could be identified, even though the decompression occurs in memory. The system behavior did not change, but some disk space was freed.

But the compression assertions do not necessarily align with actual performance. An example of this is Cyberpunk 2077, which only saved 2.24GB out of 85GB installed. In a different scenario, a game that was compressed into 77GB only saved approximately 763MB. Conversely, other titles performed better. A game that was 165GB compressed to 13GB. Sometimes, even smaller games can be cut by almost half.

The tool is most applicable to systems with smaller SSDs, e.g., 512GB or 1TB drives, or handheld devices with small storage. When several games are installed, they can be compressed to free up enough space to install one or two more titles. That distinction can be significant when storage upgrades are not available.

Overview of Interface and Features

Upon opening the application, you are greeted with a dashboard, game library, and settings panel. The settings are general, including starting Windows, minimizing to the system tray, displaying notifications, and selecting the language and theme.

Compression is also available, with auto-compression enabled by default during game installations. The number of compressed games and the last action are displayed on the dashboard. The game library reads installed titles and can be filtered by platform, such as Steam, Epic, Riot, Battle.net, and GOG.

To compress a game, select it from the library and initiate the process. CPU, disk, and RAM resources are then consumed by the system. In testing, compression of around 25% to 27% CPU on a Ryzen 9900X, and approximately 52% of NVMe performance was achieved. The compression itself was not taken into consideration by the GPU.

While compression is in progress, you can still use the system, including for gaming. Minor stutters may occur when a few heavy tasks are underway at the same time, though overall performance will not change. After the compression is done, the game will run normally without a decrease in fps.

A weakness is that it is not possible to halt compression halfway.

As soon as the process begins, it has to be completed before any changes can be made. This may be inconvenient when you require system resources urgently. The introduction of a stop feature would enhance usability.

Even though the tool doesn't always save 30% to 50%, it still saves specific amounts of space without affecting speed. The amount saved can vary widely from game to game.

In cases of limited system storage, even small savings across a wide variety of games can accumulate. You can go out of a fitting 10 games on the same drive to 11 or 12 games. That makes the tool useful in situations where storage space is limited.