Grand Theft Auto VI pre-loads caused a record-breaking day for ISPs, with U.K. operator Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) recording both its biggest-ever traffic peak and highest-ever daily data volume.

The highly anticipated video game launches on November 19, but gamers were able to pre-download the title on November 10. It's the first GTA to not come on a physical disc – with boxed copies from stores containing solely a digital download code.

VMO2 saw a 51.6% increase in broadband traffic between midnight and 1 am alone, with the total volume of data downloaded by 9 am being 73.3% higher during the same period the week prior. By 11:05 pm, the total volume of data downloaded exceeded the previous record for an entire day.

Pre-downloads for the Rockstar title smashed the previous record for evening peak period broadband traffic set during Arsenal’s Champions League tie with Atlético Madrid. It also surpassed the previous record for total daily data volumes set by another video game release, the Chapter 7 Mini Season in Fortnite.

The launch of GTA VI is certain to smash entertainment records set by the previous entry in the long-running series. GTA V has sold more than 215 million units worldwide since its 2013 release. Workers around the world are set to take time off to play the game, and the ISP cited stats that nearly half (46%) of players were expected to download the game prior to release day.

“GTA VI is already proving to be a record-breaking moment for our network, with fans downloading the game in huge numbers before it launches. With fans booking time off work and upgrading their gaming set-ups for GTA VI, a reliable broadband connection is just as important so they can get the game downloaded in good time,” VMO2 CTO Jeanie York said. “We’ve been preparing our network for the demand that comes with a launch of this scale, so fans can focus on exploring Vice City, not watching a download bar.”

It’s noteworthy that the game will only be launching on consoles, with previous releases only coming to PC at a later date, meaning traffic records could well be smashed again. No concrete date for the PC port has been given, though some reports suggest it could drop as early as the first-quarter of 2027.