Xbox One downloading entire game file as an "update"

Katawampus · Oct 2, 2019

Hello,

I am having an ongoing issue with my Xbox One telling me a game needs an "update" and then it re-downloads the entire game file instead of just an update patch file.

This is not specific to just one game - the 5 latest and largest files sized ones are:

Fishing Sim World (currently happening for the second time right now) - both times game file is on External HD

Forza Motorsport 6 - Happened a couple of years ago now but the download was at well over 1,400% before it eventually completed in the middle of the night

Forza Horizon 3 - only happened 1 time - with game file on console HD not External

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Happened twice with game file on external HD - roughly 4 & 7 months ago respectively

Mx Vrs. ATV Encore - Happened twice - once with file on console HD and once on External HD - When it tried to do it a 3rd time I gave up.

I have gone through all of the information I can find online through various forums and have tried every remedy mentioned with no success whatsoever.

I have tried switching my Xbox from Instant-on to power-saver mode multiple times and this issue occurs regardless of that setting.

I do a complete shut-down of the console at least once a week, generally 2 to 3 times.

As mentioned above I do run external hard drives but this issue also happens with game files on the onboard Console hard drive as well - even If I try to change the install location it still happens.

In case you are not aware, service providers do not give data away for free and these modern game files are not small at all - regular update files are bad enough but having to re-download 25GB+ files constantly just to play the games that I already own
is absolutely ridiculous.

My internet connection is also very slow (thank you Canadian I.S.P's!!) and at an average of less than 5mb/s it takes an extremely long time to download these excessively large files so this whole "let's just try and re-download things time & time again
to see if the problem magically fixes itself" is not a viable solution for me.

I would like to be able to communicate with an actual human being that works for Microsoft/Xbox about this Microsoft/Xbox related problem, I have tried the auto-bot route as well as online chatting with another gamer (I would have been better off talking
to myself for all the good that did) so please endeavor to contact me personally so that we can come to a resolution for this problem.

I believe this is a publicly viewable post so I am not providing my personal contact information here but given that I am logged in with my gamer tag to submit this in the first place you should be able to contact me with the information on file for
(kindly note that I am a long-time xbox customer with zero questionable activity with my account - pretty sure I fall under a "good customer" category)

Thank you in advance for your time & assistance.

:)

XBF Brad A

Hi Katawampus,

Thanks for coming to the forums. The most likely cause of this, is somehow the game is corrupt. Also if you are updating and you pause the update, this will sometimes uninstall the game to stop corruption. Also, if your internet disconnects for seconds,
it can cause a corruption which it will redownload the game.

The best thing to do is when there is an update let it go completely. Don't pause it or try and play game. If you can go with a wired connection not a wireless as a wired connection is more stable.

Hope this helps.

Brad

pawncrackers

Hi there,

Are you a part of the Xbox Insider Program at all? I am, and have experienced the same issues a few times in the past. This might be what is causing the abnormal download/game update sizes you're seeing. I completely relate to your concerns about data usage
- some of us aren't as lucky to have unlimited data. :/

My best advice, would be to use the 'Report a Problem' function via your Xbox, by holding down the Guide button. Hopefully, as you see more console updates, this problem will be rectified.

Hope this helps,

L

Tezzarrific

not sure why their is an update size change, probably depends if people are playing on xbox one or series and what res they are using as it may download and update texture packs, also if there is an issue with the update then as xbox does not verify files it just downloads the entire game again.

Farscape247

as the xbox replaces files while they are downloading updates it does not have the ability to verify files if you stop or cancel, so if you cancel the update it renders the game useless and you have to re download the entire thing.

Tezzarrific

some games have to update and replace a lot of files, it does not take extra space once completed, also if you cancel an update it then has to download the entire game again as it cannot verify the files.

Xbox One downloading entire game file as an "update"