Spectrum gives eligible customers a free speed boost to 1 gig for GTA 6's download, Nov. 9 to 30
Spectrum is lifting eligible home internet plans to 1 gig, or 2 gig in some areas, from Nov. 9 to Nov. 30, in time for GTA 6's pre-load. Who qualifies, how to opt in and how long a 212 GB download takes.
Spectrum is giving eligible home internet customers a free speed upgrade for the weeks around Grand Theft Auto VI's launch. Its Gig Speed Lift raises qualifying plans to 1 gigabit per second from Nov. 9 to Nov. 30, and in select areas moves customers who already have 1 gig up to 2 gig, Charter Communications, the company behind Spectrum, announced Nov. 4.
The dates cover GTA 6's pre-load, which opens on Xbox Series X|S on the evening of Nov. 9 in the US and on PS5 at midnight on Nov. 10, as well as the Nov. 19 launch and Thanksgiving week.
Who can get it
- Who: Spectrum residential internet customers with a qualifying plan and compatible equipment, and no outstanding obligation to Spectrum. Charter says restrictions apply and the offer is subject to change.
- How: opt in with one tap in the My Spectrum app, any time until Nov. 30. The Desk reports that eligible customers see the option in their account.
- What you get: 1 gig from Nov. 9. In select areas, customers already on 1 gig go to 2 gig.
- What it costs: nothing. Speeds return to your old tier after Nov. 30, with no change to your bill and nothing to cancel.
Charter didn't say which plans qualify or which areas get 2 gig. It says Spectrum offers speeds up to 1 gig across its 45-state service area and up to 2 gig in select markets.
How long GTA 6 takes to download
Spectrum says customers with gig internet can download GTA 6 in "less than 30 minutes." Rockstar says the pre-load needs up to 212 GB, depending on the console, so here is what that size takes at a steady top speed:
| Internet speed | 212 GB at full speed |
|---|---|
| 100 Mbps | about 4 hours 43 minutes |
| 300 Mbps | about 1 hour 34 minutes |
| 500 Mbps | about 57 minutes |
| 1 gig | about 28 minutes |
| 2 gig | about 14 minutes |
Those are best cases. The actual time depends on your Wi-Fi or cable, your console's own network connection and how busy the PlayStation and Xbox servers are. Pre-loading early keeps the big download off launch night: once the game is on your console, it unlocks on Nov. 19 without it.
Our file size guide explains how much space to clear on PS5 and Xbox, and the pre-load guide covers digital and boxed copies.
When pre-load opens
- Xbox Series X|S: midnight GMT on Tuesday, Nov. 10, which is 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 9, everywhere at once.
- PS5: midnight local time on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
- Boxed copies: the box holds a download code, in stores from Nov. 12, and it can pre-load too.
- Launch: US store listings unlock GTA 6 at midnight Eastern on Nov. 19, which is 9 p.m. Pacific on Nov. 18. Our release time guide has the time where you live.
The lift then runs through Thanksgiving to Nov. 30. Charter pitches the extra speed for holiday guests' phones and laptops on the home Wi-Fi, and for streaming and shopping from Black Friday through Cyber Monday.
Questions readers ask
- Is Spectrum giving a free speed boost for GTA 6?
- Yes, to eligible customers. Spectrum's Gig Speed Lift raises qualifying home internet plans to 1 gig, and some customers already on 1 gig to 2 gig, from Nov. 9 to Nov. 30, at no charge. It's Spectrum's promotion, not Rockstar's.
- How do I get Spectrum's Gig Speed Lift?
- Opt in through the My Spectrum app by Nov. 30. Spectrum says you need a qualifying residential internet plan, compatible equipment and no outstanding obligation to Spectrum. Speeds go back to your old tier after Nov. 30, and your bill doesn't change.
- How long does GTA 6 take to download on gig internet?
- Rockstar says the download needs up to 212 GB. At a steady 1 gigabit per second that takes about 28 minutes, and about 14 at 2 gig; Spectrum advertises less than 30 minutes. Your Wi-Fi, your console and the store's servers decide how close you get.
- When can I pre-load GTA 6?
- From Nov. 10, Rockstar says: on PS5 at midnight local time, and on Xbox Series X|S at midnight GMT, which is 7 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 9. The game unlocks Nov. 19.
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