Preload for GTA 6 Generates Record Traffic for ISPs in Europe and the US
Internet providers in the UK, Denmark and parts of the United States reported unusually high data volumes after Grand Theft Auto VI became available for pre-download on November 10.
Internet service providers in several countries recorded a sharp rise in data traffic after the pre-order download for Grand Theft Auto VI opened on November 10. The game’s preload, which can be up to 212 GB according to Rockstar, became available at midnight local time on PlayStation 5 and at midnight GMT on Xbox Series X|S, with the full release set for November 19.
Virgin Media O2 in the United Kingdom said broadband traffic jumped 51 % compared with the previous week, reaching an all-time high during the early-morning hours and continuing to rise throughout the day. In Denmark, GlobalConnect reported nighttime traffic about 50 % above its normal average, though it did not experience service outages.
"One download equals roughly 50 to 100 hours of normal streaming," said Jakob Dirksen, chief operating officer of GlobalConnect, as quoted by The Copenhagen Post.
Some smaller networks saw localized congestion. YouFibre reported capacity constraints in parts of Yorkshire, while a few U.S. providers temporarily increased data speeds to help customers complete the download. Overall, most users were able to download the game without major interruptions.