File Size Revealed for Tearaway Unfolded on PlayStation 4

The PlayStation Store listing for Tearaway Unfolded revealed the game’s required hard drive space ahead of its release. According to the store’s web version, the platformer would require 6.1 GB of storage. A slightly different figure of 6.6 GB was shown when viewing the listing directly from a PlayStation 4 console. The game was scheduled for release on September 8, 2015, in North America, with both digital and physical editions available for players.

This relatively small install size was not entirely unexpected, considering the game’s origins. The original Tearaway on the PlayStation Vita was a compact experience, taking up only 1.3 GB. The PS4 version, Unfolded, represents a significant expansion of that original title, developed as a collaboration between the original creators, Media Molecule, and Tarsier Studios.

A Remake, Not Just a Remaster

Tearaway Unfolded was positioned as more than a simple high-definition port. The developers reworked the game from the ground up for the PlayStation 4 hardware. This included substantial technical upgrades, boosting the resolution to a full 1080p and increasing the performance to a target of 60 frames per second. This jump in visual fidelity and smoothness was intended to make the game’s unique papercraft world more vibrant and its platforming more responsive on a home console.

Beyond technical enhancements, the game was significantly expanded with new content. Media Molecule stated that returning fans could expect approximately 50 percent new material integrated into the experience. This suggested the inclusion of entirely new areas to explore, expanded versions of existing levels from the Vita original, and new story elements to flesh out the journey of the messenger, Atoi or Iota. The title Unfolded was a direct reference to this process of taking the compact world of the handheld original and expanding it across a larger canvas.

New Controls for a New Console

One of the most defining aspects of the original Tearaway was its deep integration with the PlayStation Vita’s unique hardware features, such as the front and rear touch panels and the camera. To bring the game to the PS4, the control scheme had to be completely reimagined for the DualShock 4 controller. The developers implemented several creative solutions to preserve the tactile feel of the original while introducing new mechanics.

The DualShock 4’s touchpad was used to generate gusts of wind to affect the paper environment or to interact with objects and enemies. The controller’s light bar was given a direct role in gameplay, allowing the player to shine a beam of light into the game world. This light could be used to grow plants, illuminate dark areas, and transform the scenery. Motion controls were also incorporated, enabling players to aim and throw objects caught from the screen into the controller and then back into the world. These changes ensured the PS4 version had its own distinct interactive identity, rather than just mapping the old controls onto a new gamepad.