Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-loads break UK internet records before launch

Grand Theft Auto 6 has broken UK internet records over a week before its 19 November launch, driven by players pre-loading the game. Network provider Virgin Media O2 reported peak traffic rose 3.8 per cent above the previous record. Daily data volume surpassed the previous record by 4 per cent, with the 212GB download causing network traffic to jump 51.6 per cent within an hour of pre-loads going live. Morning data volume was up 73.3 per cent compared to the previous week. The game is released exclusively in digital format, consuming about one-third of a base PlayStation 5's storage. Virgin Media O2 confirmed it had prepared its network for the unprecedented demand ahead of launch.