Hacking Why does XCI weights more?

[Reploid]

I can see that eshop version of Sonic Mania a bit less than 400 mb. That includes huge patch and the DLC.

But! retail version is ~700mb trimmed. Even though I think it should be less, since it must not contain several versions of same game files, because of the patch. How come it's only got fatter while being converted to retail?

Also there is RiME. XCI file is 500mb more, than NSP version. Both uses the same 2gb patch to make visuals suck less. Anyhow, if you go full NSP way you'll save some space.

I'm sure there are more examples.

But why is it a thing? Some formatting properties of NSW cartridge? Or developers try to compress eshop releases a bit, while care much less on retail version, since some same will be wasted anyway?

 

[TheZander]

Xci's megabytes are denser which leads to a higher mass in general wgich ultimately results in a heavier file format.

 

[Kolunio]

Xci usually have system update files.

 

[fadx]

Why don't you unpack the XCI and find out why it's bigger?

 

[garyopa]

physical cartridges of course weight more than digital release.

but yes, as @fadx points out the best way is to 'unpack' the xci and see how big it really is.

normally on cartridges there is of course 'logo partition' and 'header partition' those are big but do add space, and then when it comes to trimming, the xci programs can only remove 'zero' space at the end of file, in the whole file itself, there is big chunks of padding, as each file has min. size and its padded out to next megabyte in the cartridge, so tons of tiny files can quickly add hundreds of wasted space, you can't really trim those.