Computer gaming has existed for decades and only seems to be getting more popular as time goes on. For avid PC gamers, it’s no secret that downloading these files can take up a large amount of space.
If you like to keep an extensive library, you may find yourself quickly running out of available storage. However, many people are also unaware of the fact that deleting game files doesn’t necessarily mean permanent game deletion.
Let’s take a look at how you can delete games off of your computer forever.
What Are Some of the Most Popular Games People Download?
The most popular PC games people download tend to be MMORPGs, or “massively multiplayer online role-playing games.”
One of the most popular is World of Warcraft. The game itself is available for purchase in several forms, but the file itself can be quite large. Another popular PC game is Dota 2, which often takes up about 6 GB.
The original Diablo can be around 1 GB, while the sequel takes up over 40 GB in space in order to work properly. Of course, we can’t neglect first-person shooter games, as these are some of the most competitive titles that people play.
Games in this category that come to mind include Call of Duty and Fortnite. It’s also worth noting that indie games have grown to become quite popular. These are titles that have been created by small or independent developers.
Despite the lack of resources, these games can be notably large in size. For example, Hollow Knight is one of the most popular indie titles and sits at a whopping 9 GB. So, someone who has a large collection of games in their library will eventually run out of space.
Why Do These Files Take up so Much Space?
The simple answer is that modern PC games are often quite large in file size.
After all, you’ll need to take into account all of the visuals, audio, and core game files themselves. Interestingly, many people are unaware of how large audio files can be. For example, a 3-4-minute MP3 file could be anywhere from 5 to 10 MB.
Now, let’s assume that each song in the game is at least this long. It isn’t difficult to see how audio files can quickly accumulate. This is particularly true when you also consider dialogue, sound effects, etc.
No matter how efficiently developers are able to compress game files, they will still be multiple gigabytes in size more often than not. This means you’re going to need an appropriate amount of free hard drive storage for them. It’s also worth noting that the larger the game, the better it will likely perform on your computer.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a computer that is able to handle the larger games. Otherwise, you may not be able to fully enjoy your game experience.
What Are the Consequences of Taking up Too Much Storage?
If you’re running out of space on your PC, it’s likely because you’ve taken up too many files. While this may not be a problem for some people, others are forced to delete their games in order to make more room.
Deleting these can actually have consequences that go beyond just deleting your game. For example, deleting certain games will break achievements.
This means if you had more than half of a certain achievement completed, it will be reset to 0% when you delete the game. This is something that completionists will want to avoid at all costs, as it will undo all of their hard work.
Of course, you should neglect the impact that a lack of storage space will have on your general computer performance. Many people are unaware of the fact that having little available storage will make your computer run slower.
By extension, this means that your gaming sessions won’t reach the levels of performance that you desire. For example, let’s assume that you would normally be able to play a game at 60 FPS under most conditions.
If you have too many games on your device, you might only be able to reach 30 FPS. Additionally, your computer will have to work harder in order to run the game.
This could damage its internal components if it maintains a high level of temperature for too long.
Why Aren’t Files Completely Gone When I Delete Them?
As previously mentioned, the answer to this is not common knowledge. However, it is something essential for all computer users to understand. When you delete a file, you aren’t actually removing it.
Instead, your computer is simply changing the file’s location to make it appear as though it is not there. Although your computer may believe the file is gone and it may appear that it is to you, it isn’t. Within the hard drive, the files are still there.
If you look closely enough at the deletion process, you should be able to get a hint that not everything is functioning as it seems. For example, let’s assume that you deleted a handful of game files that totaled 20 GB.
On your end, the deletion might only take a few seconds to complete. However, deletion of the file of this size should take several minutes in reality.
Computers delete files in this way in order to maintain performance. After all, nobody wants to sit there and wait 15 or 20 minutes to free up extra space on their hard drive. This is also the reason why many users discover that they have far less available storage than they thought.
They might discover out of nowhere that they only have a few gigabytes of space left even though they may not have downloaded large files lately. To make the situation even more inconvenient, deleting files manually from your computer doesn’t free up as much space as you might think. This makes it even more difficult to manage your available storage.
How Can Files Be Recovered After Deletion?
You may not realize this, but it’s actually incredibly easy to recover deleted files.
In fact, you can do it yourself with a little bit of effort and the right tools. This can be achieved through the use of specialized tools.
In most circumstances, this will be a positive experience. Sometimes, people accidentally delete files that they meant to keep. However, not everyone has the same motives.
Unless you properly format your device, giving it to another user comes with the risk of them recovering deleted files. The same could be said about cybercriminals who interact with your device.
Fortunately, when it comes to gaming, hackers aren’t often targeting files like these. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t prioritize permanently deleting game files. Eventually, you will find that deleting game files in a conventional way will cause you to run short of storage space.
So, How Do I Permanently Erase My Games?
In order to properly delete a game file, you will need to put it in the trash or recycle bin like you typically would. However, you must then use specialized software in order to ensure it stays permanently deleted.
Software of this type will guarantee that the files are unrecoverable. Not only is this useful for freeing up space, but it can also make sure that nobody is able to gain access to information that you do not want them to. So, you can consider using it for needs outside of deleting games.
Perhaps you use your gaming computer to manage your finances, for example. The less personal information that you keep on your device, the better.
What Should I Look For in a Permanent Deletion Tool?
In order to avoid any accidental deletion of files, you will need a 100%-effective tool.
This software should be able to delete all data from your computer no matter what it is. It’s important to realize that there are several options available on the market. However, not all of them will be as effective as you want them to be.
In most cases, you should look for a software solution of this type that specifically labels itself as reliable and efficient. There are also some tools available on the market which focus exclusively on large files like video games.
This means that you can expect the greatest results within the shortest amount of time. Of course, you should also ensure that the provider offers ongoing customer support. Managing file deletion can be complicated.
So, having the ability to get in touch with them will help you overcome problems that you encounter. Otherwise, you will be left to find the solution on your own.
For the average computer user, this can easily turn into a task that takes an entire afternoon. It can also bring about a large amount of frustration.
Be on the lookout for this level of service before you choose a tool to work with.
How Do I Make Sure the Files Have Been Deleted?
You should make sure that the storage space it occupied before is now available to you. In other words, look for a file explorer or search function of some sort and see what’s on your hard drive after using the tool.
If there aren’t any traces of your game files, you can be sure that they are gone. From here, you will be able to free up more space than ever before and make full use of your device. This is great for those who are looking to repurpose their computer from a gaming machine to one used for more productive tasks.
After all, you wouldn’t be able to make the most out of a work-related computer if you didn’t clear out all the old information.
How We Can Help
We offer a device called Shred Cube that you can plug into your computer and delete any unnecessary files.
The process is as simple as plugging in the device and then dragging unwanted files into the interface that appears. If you anticipate needing to delete more files in the near future, you can leave the device plugged in.
As long as you keep it connected to your computer, you will be able to drag and drop files for deletion. It’s essential to note that it will be impossible to recover any files you delete through this method. As previously mentioned, the total time it takes for you to destroy files will depend on file size.
Smaller files may take 5 to 10 minutes, while larger files may take longer. Regardless of the file size, they will be permanently deleted When the process concludes. Over time, we release updates for the Shred Cube.
However, you won’t need to purchase a new one in order to take advantage of them. By plugging in your device, you will be able to update its firmware as updates become available.
Knowing How to Delete Games From Your PC Can Seem Complicated
Under some circumstances, it might even seem impossible to get rid of them forever.
This could lead to plenty of frustration, as you may not be able to take advantage of the storage space that you could. With our above guide, you will find that it is easier than ever to delete games off your device for good. So, be sure that you keep this information in mind so you can make the decision that is best for you when you need to permanently remove games.
Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to get in touch with us at Shred Cube today and see how we can help.
