UK gamers brace for internet problems with massive GTA VI download
Key Points
- A third of UK gamers expect broadband problems downloading GTA VI.
- The 120GB game could take almost nine hours on a 30Mbps line.
- At the UK average speed of 170.2Mbps, the download takes about 94 minutes.
- Rockstar opens digital preloading at midnight on 12 November.
- 22% of players plan to upgrade their console before the 19 November launch.
A third of UK gamers expect broadband problems when downloading GTA VI, according to Uswitch.
The comparison site surveyed 1,000 employed adults who play video games between 22 and 29 September, ahead of the game’s launch on 19 November.
Uswitch estimated that GTA VI will need around 120GB of storage, and the game launches exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Of those planning to play, 6% worried that their connection would struggle to cope with the download at all. Almost one in three players (30%) also expect connection problems once they start playing the game.
“With millions of people about to download a game bigger than most people’s entire phone storage, launch day will be the ultimate stress test for the nation’s broadband,” said Max Beckett, Broadband Expert at Uswitch.
How long the download will take
Uswitch calculated download times for a 120GB game across a range of UK broadband speeds, assuming a continuous download at advertised speeds:
| Broadband speed | Estimated download time (120GB) |
|---|---|
| 10Mbps | 1 day, 2 hours and 40 minutes |
| 30Mbps | 8 hours and 53 minutes |
| 50Mbps | 5 hours and 20 minutes |
| 100Mbps | 2 hours and 40 minutes |
| 170.2Mbps (UK average) | 1 hour and 34 minutes |
| 250Mbps | 1 hour and 4 minutes |
| 500Mbps | 32 minutes |
| 1Gbps | 16 minutes |
| 1.5Gbps | 10 minutes and 40 seconds |
The firm said server demand, peak-time congestion and in-home Wi-Fi performance could all push real download times higher.
Rockstar has confirmed digital preloading from midnight on 12 November, giving players a full week to download the game before launch.
Almost one in five players (19%) plan to check their broadband speed before launch, while 12% are considering upgrading their package.
A further 7% of players intend to switch broadband provider ahead of the release.
More than one in five (22%) plan to upgrade their console, and the same proportion plan to clear space on their existing machine.
Another 16% plan to buy a new controller and 16% a new gaming headset, while 14% plan to upgrade their TV or monitor.
Uswitch estimated that the console figure equates to around 4.9 million UK working gamers in the market for new hardware, describing the number as an indicative extrapolation.
Beckett advised players to check how much free storage they have and to install the latest console system software before launch day.
He recommended connecting the console directly to the router with an Ethernet cable for a more stable connection.
Where Ethernet isn’t practical, Beckett suggested keeping the router in an open, central position away from furniture and other electronics.
Pausing other downloads and avoiding streaming or video calls will also leave more bandwidth for the console, he added.
Beckett warned that reaching 100% on the download doesn’t mean players can start straight away, as installation, copying and update processes may still follow.
