GTA VI pre-downloads trigger record-breaking internet traffic worldwide

Millions of Grand Theft Auto fans pre-loading GTA VI simultaneously caused record-breaking internet traffic spikes at providers worldwide, ahead of the game's Nov 19 release. The 212GB game became available for pre-load on Nov 10, prompting Virgin Media O2 in the UK to report its highest-ever daily data volume, with a 51% traffic increase in the first hour. German provider 1&1 saw traffic up to ten times normal levels, while Comcast in the US anticipated record weekly volumes on its Xfinity network. GTA VI is the most pre-ordered game ever on PlayStation Store, with an estimated budget over US$1 billion. Download times vary from 28 minutes on gigabit connections to over 47 hours on slower 10 Mbit/s lines, and providers expect further traffic surges on the official release day.