Grand Theft Auto 6 hasn’t even hit shelves yet, but the sheer volume of players downloading Rockstar’s latest title is already pushing global internet networks to their limits ahead of its November 19, 2026 release. In a franchise first, GTA 6 will not feature a physical disc, and copies sold in physical stores will only provide a code to redeem the digital download. That digital shift is creating severe broadband congestion because the game’s file size is a massive 212 GB, prompting internet service providers to report record-breaking download numbers. Telecom giant Virgin Media O2 noted a 51.6 percent increase in internet traffic and a 73.3 percent spike in downloads, easily eclipsing the peak traffic seen ahead of a major Arsenal Champions League game. Over in Ireland, the Internet Neutral Exchange reported a similar spike, with traffic rising to 12.53 petabytes from its normal 9.53 petabytes. On the business front, the hype is translating into historic numbers, with GTA 6 surpassing $1 billion in pre-order revenue alone, outpacing GTA 5, which needed three days after launch to hit that mark. Roughly 9.69 million copies have been pre-ordered so far, split 75 percent on PlayStation 5 and 25 percent on Xbox, cementing the title as the most pre-ordered game ever on both platforms. Only console owners will get to jump in at launch, as PC players are expected to wait another year until early or mid-2027—provided Rockstar runs into no major technical hiccups—potentially setting up another internet strain down the road. As all eyes turn toward November 19, 2026, prospective players should keep in mind that downloading the 212 GB file on a standard 10 Mbps connection will take upwards of 40 hours.
