A NieR Automata bug is making Steam ask for 366.56GB of free space, according to tests by AUTOMATON. Square Enix said it is investigating the issue after a language update released on November 6, 2026, Japan time.
That request does not mean the game now fills that much space. AUTOMATON installed the game with its add-ons and measured 40.73GB of files. Meanwhile, Square Enix’s Steam store page still lists 50GB of available space under its system requirements.
NieR Automata bug affects the installation check
AUTOMATON found that Steam blocked installation unless the requested free space was available. However, the outlet could install the base game alone after deselecting its downloadable content, or DLC. Adding that content afterward also worked in its test.
Its checks found that eight DLC entries each listed the same space requirement as the base game. That suggests repeated counting could explain the inflated total. Square Enix has not confirmed the technical cause in its notice.
A separate test by Game*Spark also found a much smaller game after installation. The outlet measured 40.7GB on disk in its own setup. Both tests distinguish the space Steam asks to have free from the space the completed game occupies.
A workaround for the NieR Automata bug
In its Steam notice, Square Enix said players can download the base game using the intended storage space. Its temporary procedure is:
- Open the game’s Properties menu in Steam.
- Select DLC.
- Uncheck each DLC item, then download the base game.
The company’s advice covers the base game. By contrast, installing the add-ons afterward is a result reported by AUTOMATON, rather than a separate promise from Square Enix.
The patch adds three languages
Square Enix’s patch notes list support for Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean. They list no new missions or expansion. The announcement therefore describes a language update, not hundreds of gigabytes of new game content.
For newcomers, Square Enix describes NieR: Automata as an action role-playing game about androids fighting machines on Earth. Its Steam edition launched on March 17, 2017. The Game of the YoRHa Edition includes the main game, an expansion and bonus items such as accessories and wallpapers, according to the store.
As of November 6, Square Enix’s notice said it was working to resolve the NieR Automata bug. It gave no date for a permanent fix.
Sources: Square Enix notice, Square Enix patch notes, Steam store, AUTOMATON, Game*Spark
