Question on game download size

So I am looking to try Marvel Rivals as someone who is not at all into gaming (so many of my friends love pvp shooter games. And I figured this was a good in for me to learn more about the basic game mechanics)

But does the game really need to be some big? Like it has take over 12 hours to download and I still don't have the game yet! (My steam keeps timing out when my laptop shuts off)

Again, I ask this as someone who has not done more than watch previews. Is this big file size necessary?