Call of Duty launch could cause huge broadband usage spike

Broadband provider, Trooli, has revealed that major game releases have been behind all the largest spikes in usage across its network. Most recently, the company saw usage increase by 17% on 17th September following the release of Final Fantasy 16 (PC), with traffic remaining at higher-than-average levels for the next four days.

However, the hotly anticipated release of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is likely to generate even higher demand. Previous launches have led to record broadband usage spikes, with Trooli tracking increasingly high traffic with every new release in the franchise. The launch of Warzone 2 in October 2022 saw a 25% rise in download traffic across the network, whilst the arrival of Modern Warfare III in November 2023 caused a 30% spike.

This, combined with the large file size and multiplayer nature of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 means some household broadband connections are set to be tested to their limits on launch day, with those who already suffer from slow speeds likely to face significant challenges.

Andy Conibere, broadband expert and CEO of Trooli, comments: “Our data shows that broadband usage has increased by up to 30% on the day of major game launches in the past, and this demand has been growing with every new Call of Duty launch. So, we expect usage to spike even more significantly when Black Ops 6 launches. This means we could be experiencing record demand on broadband networks across the country on 25th October.

“Households connected to ultrafast broadband shouldn’t be affected by this increased demand. However, for those whose internet already struggles to keep up with day-to-day demand, this could cause a major problem, both for those who want to play the game and others trying to work or stream using the same connection.

“To help minimise the risks of frustrating buffering and freezing whilst gaming, it’s worth checking if your current broadband package offers the speeds required for gamers. The average household with multiple connected devices needs speeds of over 100Mbps as a bare minimum, but between 1-2Gbps is recommended to guarantee a truly seamless gaming experience.”

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