1Gb full fibre with three months free, then £26 a month, plus planned network maintenance paused for pre-load day

As excitement builds for the first ever download-only Grand Theft Auto launch, award-winning full fibre broadband pioneer Hyperoptic is calling on households to check their broadband is up to the job. With even boxed copies containing just a download code, every Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) player will need to download the game before they can play on 19 November.

On Hyperoptic’s 1Gb full fibre, with average speeds of 900Mbps, GTA 6’s expected 150GB to 200GB download would take around half an hour. On the UK average of 100.8Mbps, it could take up to four and a half hours.*

To help households get ready, Hyperoptic is offering new customers 1Gb full fibre with their first three months free, then £26 a month on a 24-month contract. Those three free months are worth £78, more than the £69.99 price of a standard copy of GTA 6. Switchers can also get up to £300 bill credit towards exit fees.

Hyperoptic is also pausing all planned network maintenance on 12 November, when pre-loading opens. Only emergency work to keep customers connected will go ahead.

Mark Bartlett, COO at Hyperoptic, said: “As one of the UK’s full fibre pioneers, we know how important a reliable connection is when gaming. There’s no disc for GTA 6, so every copy has to be downloaded, whether it’s bought online or in a shop. If you’re playing, or someone in your household is, make sure your broadband is ready so you don’t get caught out on launch night. We’re doing our bit by pausing all planned network work on pre-load day. And with three months free, the deal more than covers the cost of the game.”

Three tips for launch night

• Preload early. Start the download when preloading opens on 12 November. Bought a boxed copy? Redeem the code the day it arrives.
• Clear space. Free up at least 200GB of console storage now. Yes, that might mean finally deleting the game you swore you’d go back to.
• Plug in. Use an ethernet cable if you can, and pause other downloads and streaming in the house while it downloads. Your housemates’ Netflix can wait.

Check availability and sign up at the Hyperoptic Gamers offer page: Gamers