GTA 6 Preloads Are Here. Is Australia’s NBN Ready? | Dirt Report

GTA 6 preloads have started

Digital downloads began on 10 November, ahead of the game’s 19 November release. Preloading transfers the game files to the console early, but it does not allow players to start playing before launch.

Rockstar lists the unlock time as midnight local time on 19 November. The game requires about 212 GB, depending on the device, so players need enough console storage and should check that the preload has actually started.

NBN Co expects significant demand

NBN Co operates Australia’s national broadband network and says gaming releases create some of the biggest traffic peaks the network sees. It expects GTA 6 to be one of the largest download events ever recorded on the network, although the full traffic impact is not yet known because preloads had only been underway for two days at the time of the video.

A useful comparison is a 2025 game release that coincided with a record traffic peak of 32.91 terabits per second. NBN Co said this was about 30 per cent above baseline traffic, with almost 8 terabits per second of additional load during the busiest hours, which are usually in the evening.

Global interest in GTA 6 also appears substantial. Sensor Tower estimates reported by GamesRadar suggested 9.69 million digital pre-orders across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. This is an estimate of pre-orders, not a verified count of completed preloads. The game’s first trailer also attracted more than 93 million views in its first 24 hours, described in the video as a record debut for a non-music video.

Preloading spreads the demand

NBN Co says it works with content distributors to model major releases and spread downloads over a longer period. This gives players time to collect the game before everyone attempts to play at launch.

Preloading does not reduce the size of the download. Instead, it reduces the concentration of demand at a single moment. A large amount of data can be transferred over several days rather than downloaded by everyone at once on release night.

NBN Co says the network is ready for GTA 6. However, national network capacity and the connection inside an individual home are different issues. A large download may use much of a household’s connection while other people are streaming, working or using the internet.

How long could 212 GB take?

Using 212 GB as an example, the basic download calculations suggest roughly 19 hours at a steady 25 Mbps, about four hours and 43 minutes at 100 Mbps, and approximately 57 minutes at 500 Mbps.

These are ideal calculations, not guaranteed completion times. The actual result can be affected by the internet provider, Wi-Fi, the console, the servers delivering the game and the time required for installation. The calculations also assume the full connection is available to the download.

A faster plan can finish the transfer sooner, but downloading overnight or starting several days before launch may be enough for people on slower connections.