PSA: Don’t install GTA V’s play disk on Xbox 360

If you’re planning on picking up your copy of GTA V on Xbox 360 you’ll want to refrain from installing the game’s play disk to the hard drive. The 360 version of Rockstar’s open world game comes on 2 disks, and while installing the aptly-named install disk to the hard drive is required, choosing to load the second disk is optional. Digital Foundry has uploaded a video demonstrating why you should hold off for now:

Further explanation was provided as well:

Rockstar recommends that you shouldn’t install the GTA5 play disc on Xbox 360 and it’s sound advice,” Digital Foundry chief Richard Leadbetter said.

“When you first get the game, the first order of business is installing the mandatory content from disc one – this accounts for 7.7GB of data to install on your hard drive. Now, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you installing disc two – the ‘play’ disc – onto the hard drive too, using the Xbox 360’s dashboard to do so. It takes up an additional 7.8GB of storage. However, doing so impacts the game’s ability to stream texture data, resulting in regular pop-in of in-game objects and textures.

“So what’s the story here? Well, optimal streaming is achieved by making use of all the available bandwidth in the system. Why stream just from the hard drive when you can run in data simultaneously from both the disc and the HDD? Based on what we’re seeing on the Xbox 360 version, perhaps running both DVD and HDD assets from just the one source slows down access times, impacting streaming performance. It’s not game-breaking stuff, but it does take you out of the moment when it does manifest and for that reason we can’t recommend installing the play disc.

“GTA5 isn’t available for digital delivery on Xbox Live, but we are curious what the impact – if any – will be on the PS3 version, as that is available as a PSN download. The Digital Foundry Face-Off – due tomorrow morning at 11am – is based on comparison of the two retail disc versions of the game.

It should be noted that installing the play disk to a flash drive is OK and doesn’t cause this problem. It’s unclear as of yet whether a patch will remedy the situation or if this is simply what 360 players will have to deal with. No doubt Rockstar will provide more information on the issue shortly.

Does this affect you at all? Don’t care? Getting the PS3 version? Share your thoughts below in the comments!

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