Overview
- NetEase announced in its Dev Vision video that Season 9.5, launching on August 7, 2026, will repack game assets with a large texture‑compression overhaul to reduce overall file size.
- The developer says the update will cut roughly 40 GB from the PC install and about 15 GB from PS5 and Xbox versions.
- Because the update fully reorganizes and replaces assets, the initial Season 9.5 download will be larger than a normal patch but will leave a much smaller final install once complete.
- NetEase claims the compression will not reduce visual fidelity and says the changes should lower visual clutter and improve performance on lower‑end hardware, though independent player testing will confirm real‑world effects.
- Season 9.5 also adds new content including The Hood and Swimsuit Special skins, and the smaller final installs are intended to ease storage and make future ports such as the announced Switch 2 version easier to deliver.