Will Grand Theft Auto 6 break the internet? UK’s biggest broadband operator braces for impact, saying “GTA 6 has been on our radar for a long time”

As Grand Theft Auto 6 breaks pre-order records on the PlayStation and Xbox stores, and looks poised to break many more sales records once it launches next week, questions of whether it will also break the internet arise. Collective network load will undoubtedly spike around its release – will regional infrastructure be able to bear it?

Major game releases register nationally for broadband use: we know this from an investigation into gaming downloads and how much they cost the environment we published in 2021. We also know that UK communications regulator Ofcom negotiates with gaming companies to try and avoid major game launches happening alongside major cultural occasions, such as sporting events, which are likely to spike broadband use. The network pipes can be clogged, and there’s arguably never been a game as anticipated as GTA 6 to clog them.

For this reason, Openreach – the company that runs the largest broadband network in the UK – has been tracking Rockstar’s latest game closely. “GTA 6 has been on our radar for a long time,” Trevor Linney, Openreach’s director for network technology, told Eurogamer. “We know from games like Fortnite and Call of Duty that a major release or update can drive huge amounts of data across the network, so it’ll be fascinating to see just how much GTA moves the needle. Our network and teams are ready, and GTA 6 is certainly one we’ll be watching for a new download record.”

A spokesperson for Ofcom, meanwhile, said: “Broadband networks should be well placed to handle this download. Ofcom’s Broadband Code of Practice means providers must give customers clear, realistic information and guarantee a minimum speed. If you’re not getting this, you may be able to leave your contract penalty-free. Check your speed now, so you can focus on the game rather than the loading screen.” Ofcom has a website with sections devoted to broadband speeds and changing providers, in case you’re interested.

Alongside yesterday’s announcements that GTA 6 had become the most pre-ordered game in Xbox Store and PlayStation Store history, Sony and Microsoft shared strongly worded advice that players download the game ahead of time to avoid complications caused by “unprecedented demand”. We saw last year what happened when Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived, causing chaos on Xbox, Steam, and Nintendo servers, and that game’s reach was an order of magnitude less than GTA 6’s. I don’t recall a Selfridges store takeover in London for Silksong – do you?

The wait for GTA 6 is finally nearly over, as it arrives next Thursday, 19th November.