Openreach, which runs the largest broadband network in the UK, says it has been tracking GTA 6 for a long time and expects the launch to push serious traffic through its pipes. The company spoke to Eurogamer about it.
Trevor Linney, Openreach's director for network technology, put it this way:
"GTA 6 has been on our radar for a long time. 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."
He did not say which record GTA 6 would have to beat, so there is no benchmark yet.
Sony and Microsoft are already telling players to download early
The warnings did not start with broadband companies. When Sony and Microsoft announced that GTA 6 had become the most pre-ordered game in PlayStation Store and Xbox Store history, both urged players to download it ahead of time to avoid problems caused by "unprecedented demand". Eurogamer points to last year's Hollow Knight: Silksong launch, which caused server chaos on Xbox, Steam and Nintendo despite having a fraction of GTA 6's reach.
UK regulator Ofcom sounds calmer. A spokesperson said broadband networks "should be well placed to handle this download" and reminded players that under Ofcom's Broadband Code of Practice providers must give clear, realistic information and guarantee a minimum speed; if that minimum isn't met, customers may be able to leave their contract penalty-free. Ofcom's advice is to check your speed now, "so you can focus on the game rather than the loading screen".
According to Eurogamer, Ofcom also negotiates with game companies to keep major launches from landing on top of big cultural moments such as sporting events, which spike broadband use on their own.
Britain is just the example here: the game launches everywhere at once, so the same wave will hit networks in every country. If you haven't checked how much space the game needs or gone through our launch prep checklist, launch day may well start with a progress bar instead of Vice City.
Source: Eurogamer
