GTA VI preload sets internet traffic records before launch

Virgin Media O2 says its broadband network hit its highest evening peak and its biggest total daily data volume ever on 10 November. The peak beat the previous record, set during the Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and Atlético Madrid, by 3.8%. The daily volume topped the old mark, set by a Fortnite season launch on 1 November, by 4%. Between midnight and 1 am, traffic was 51.6% above the same hour a week earlier.

How big was the GTA VI traffic spike?

DE-CIX, which runs internet exchange points (the hubs where networks swap traffic), says its Frankfurt node reached 22.30 terabits per second at 20:20 CET. That is 19.06% above the previous record from January 2026. Across all its nodes worldwide, the peak was 33.01 Tbit/s, with new highs in Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago. CTO Thomas King said the surge is "unrivalled".

German provider 1&1 told the outlet Golem that traffic to PlayStation Network and Xbox Live was ten times the usual level overnight. PS5 preloading started at midnight, Xbox Series X/S an hour later.

Will the internet hold up on launch day?

So far, no problems. 1&1 says its network is not overloaded and expects more use around 19 November. DE-CIX keeps utilisation at 75% or below to leave room for surprises.

Launch day is the real test, since it mixes late downloaders, people already playing and any patches. A survey commissioned by Virgin Media O2 found 46% of players expect to download before launch, 78% have changed or plan to change their schedules to play, and 18% have checked or will check their broadband speed.