GTA 6 just smashed Internet download records, days before it even launches

Grand Theft Auto VI is not even out yet, but it is already causing chaos on the internet. The highly anticipated game is scheduled to launch globally on November 19, but gamers were allowed to start downloading it early on November 10. Because the game is so heavy, millions of players downloading it at the same time have actually broken internet traffic records around the world.No discs, just massive downloadsThis time around, Rockstar Games is doing things differently. GTA 6 is the very first game in the series that will not come on a physical disc. Even if you buy a boxed copy from a physical store, you will only find a digital download code inside.This means every single player has to download upto 212GB file from the internet, which has put intense pressure on global broadband networks.Internet service providers are seeing their highest data usage ever. In the UK, telecom operator Virgin Media O2 saw a massive 51.6 per cent jump in internet traffic just between midnight and 1 a.m. By 9 a.m., the total data downloaded was 73.3 per cent higher than the exact same time the previous week. The rush was so big that by 11:05 p.m., the daily data record was completely smashed. To put this into perspective, the GTA 6 pre-load broke the evening peak traffic record previously held by a major Arsenal Champions League football match. It also beat the all-time daily data record set by a huge Fortnite video game update.The situation was similar in Ireland, where the Internet Neutral Exchange saw its daily traffic jump to a staggering 12.53 petabytes, way above its normal average of 9.53 petabytes.A billion-dollar start The excitement for GTA 6 is unlike anything the gaming industry has ever seen. Reportedly, game has already crossed the $1 billion mark just from pre-orders alone. When GTA 5 came out in 2013, it took three full days after its release to reach $1 billion. GTA 6 has done it before anyone has even played it.According to market estimates, gamers have placed nearly 9.69 million pre-orders globally. PlayStation fans are leading the charge, making up about 75 per cent of the total with over 7 million copies. Xbox players account for the remaining 25 per cent.Both Sony and Microsoft have already confirmed that GTA 6 is officially the most pre-ordered game of all time on their digital stores.What gamers need to knowDownloading a 212GB game is a real test of your Wi-Fi speed. However, a standard 50 Mbps connection will take about nine and a half hours, while a slower 10 Mbps connection will force players to wait for over 47 hours.Virgin Media O2's Chief Technology Officer Jeanie York noted that nearly half of all players are expected to download the game before launch day, with many even booking time off work just to play.When the game unlocks on November 19, Rockstar has confirmed it will run at 30 frames per second on current-generation consoles. If you do not have the newest Xbox Series X or S, there is still good news. Thanks to a special 10-year deal between Microsoft and Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two, older Xbox One owners will be able to stream and play the game using Xbox Cloud Gaming.For now, the game is only launching on consoles. Historically, GTA games come to PC much later, which means internet providers might have to deal with another massive wave of downloads in the future. Reports suggest PC gamers might have to wait until early 2027 to finally explore Vice City.- Ends