DE-CIX Frankfurt reached 22.30 terabits per second at 7.20pm GMT on 10 November, as players began preloading GTA 6.
The short version
DE-CIX Frankfurt reached 22.30 terabits per second at 7.20pm GMT, which is 8.20pm CET, on 10 November, as players began preloading GTA 6. Global traffic across DE-CIX exchanges reached 33.01 terabits per second. Golem said DE-CIX confirmed those figures on request. DE-CIX did not give a GTA 6 share of the peaks, and other traffic may have contributed.
Quick answer
Did DE-CIX record a traffic peak during the GTA 6 preload?
DE-CIX Frankfurt reached 22.30 terabits per second at 7.20pm GMT on 10 November, as players began preloading GTA 6. Global traffic across DE-CIX exchanges reached 33.01 terabits per second. DE-CIX did not give a GTA 6 share of those peaks, and other traffic may have contributed.
What traffic did DE-CIX record during the GTA 6 preload?
DE-CIX Frankfurt reached 22.30 terabits per second at 7.20pm GMT on 10 November, as players began preloading GTA 6.
A circulated 12 November text labelled as a DE-CIX press release, carried by Telecom Ramblings at 1.24am GMT on 13 November, says traffic at DE-CIX Frankfurt, "Europe's largest Internet Exchange", reached 22.30 terabits per second at 8.20pm CET on Tuesday. That is 7.20pm GMT on 10 November, the day preloads began.
The same text says traffic across DE-CIX's global network of internet exchanges reached 33.01 terabits per second, and that global traffic passed 33 terabits per second "for the first time as players begin pre-downloading the game".
Golem, in an 11 November report by Achim Sawall published at 12.49pm GMT, said DE-CIX confirmed those Frankfurt and global figures to Golem on request. Golem gave the Frankfurt peak as 20.20 local MEZ, which matches 8.20pm CET and 7.20pm GMT.
The circulated text is dated Frankfurt am Main, 12 November 2026. When we checked de-cix.net on 13 November, it was not there. The 12 November item on DE-CIX's English press list is "DE-CIX's Technology Predictions 2027".
Did DE-CIX measure how much of the peak was GTA 6?
No. The circulated text ties the new highs to the period "since downloads began on November 10" and uses that "as players begin pre-downloading the game" line. It does not give a GTA 6 share of the peak. Other traffic may have contributed.
Dr Thomas King, CTO of DE-CIX, says in that text, "Major gaming releases are among the events that can cause Internet traffic to surge significantly in a very short period of time." He also says "the sheer scale of this surge is unrivalled".
The same remarks mention typical spikes when software updates go out, or during live events such as the UEFA Champions League or the FIFA World Cup. That is one reason other traffic may have contributed, even as King calls the scale of this surge unrivalled.
The circulated text also listed new peaks on 10 November at DE-CIX Dallas of 2.66 terabits per second, at DE-CIX Chicago of 1.22 terabits per second, and at DE-CIX Phoenix of 212.34 gigabits per second. It does not give a GTA 6 share for those either.
How does the Frankfurt peak compare with DE-CIX's last public record?
DE-CIX's 14 October release said Frankfurt had reached 21.47 terabits per second. The page opened on de-cix.net when we checked on 13 November, and it also listed a global peak of 32.10 terabits per second. The new 22.30 figure is higher than that 21.47 record.
| Figure | 10 November peak | 14 October DE-CIX release |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt | 22.30 terabits per second at 7.20pm GMT | 21.47 terabits per second |
| Global DE-CIX exchanges | 33.01 terabits per second | 32.10 terabits per second |
Is this the same as Virgin Media O2's UK broadband record?
No. Virgin Media O2 recorded UK broadband records on the same day, with daily data volume 4% above its previous record and an evening peak 3.8% above its previous record. Those figures are in our preload story. DE-CIX recorded exchange peaks in Frankfurt and across its network, not a single UK internet provider's numbers. The two sets should not be merged.
Rockstar says the GTA 6 preload needs up to 212 GB, depending on your device. The circulated text says "The size of the download is over 200GB", which is looser, so we keep Rockstar's figure.
When does GTA 6 launch?
GTA 6 launches on 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Digital preload opened on 10 November.
thegta6news.com is a fan news site and is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take Two Interactive.
Frequently asked questions
What traffic peak did DE-CIX record in Frankfurt during the GTA 6 preload?
22.30 terabits per second at 7.20pm GMT, 8.20pm CET, on 10 November, as players began preloading GTA 6, according to a circulated 12 November DE-CIX text and to Golem, which said DE-CIX confirmed the figures on request.
What was the global DE-CIX traffic peak?
33.01 terabits per second, the first time global traffic across DE-CIX exchanges passed 33 terabits per second, the circulated 12 November text says.
Did DE-CIX say how much of the peak was GTA 6?
No. The circulated text ties the highs to the period after preloads began on 10 November and uses the line "as players begin pre-downloading the game". It does not give a GTA 6 share. Other traffic may have contributed.
How does 22.30 terabits compare with DE-CIX's last public Frankfurt record?
DE-CIX's own 14 October release, which was on de-cix.net when we checked on 13 November, said Frankfurt had reached 21.47 terabits per second, with a global peak of 32.10 terabits per second. The new Frankfurt figure is higher than 21.47.
Is this the same as Virgin Media O2's UK broadband record?
No. Virgin Media O2 recorded UK broadband records on 10 November, with daily volume 4% above its previous record and an evening peak 3.8% above its previous record. Those figures are in our preload story. DE-CIX recorded exchange peaks in Frankfurt and across its network.
How large is the GTA 6 preload?
Rockstar says the preload needs up to 212 GB, depending on your device. That is the figure we use, not the circulated text's looser "over 200GB".
Sources
- Telecom Ramblings newswire: DE-CIX records all-time Internet traffic highs as GTA VI downloads begin, circulated 12 November 2026 DE-CIX text (published 13 Nov 2026, 1.24am GMT)
- Golem, Achim Sawall: DE-CIX verzeichnet wegen GTA VI neue Datenrekorde, figures confirmed to Golem on request (11 Nov 2026, 12.49pm GMT)
- DE-CIX: Internet records topple at breakneck speed, Frankfurt 21.47 Tbit/s, global 32.10 Tbit/s (14 October 2026)
- Virgin Media O2 newsroom: GTA VI breaks Virgin Media broadband records as fans rush to pre-load game (11 Nov 2026, 11.18am GMT)
- Rockstar Newswire: Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10 (PS5 midnight local, Xbox 12am GMT, up to 212 GB, code in box from 12 Nov, 3 Nov 2026)
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