Grand Theft Auto VI is shaping up to be one of the biggest video game launches in history, and with millions of gamers expected to download Rockstar's long-awaited sequel, it's fair to wonder whether Australia's internet infrastructure can cope with the demand.

After all, GTA VI is confirmed to require a hefty 212GB download, meaning even a single copy will consume a considerable amount of bandwidth. Multiply that by potentially hundreds of thousands of Australian gamers all wanting to get their hands on the game at once, and it's easy to imagine the strain it could place on the country's broadband network.

We put that question to NBN Co, and its response was reassuring. Not only does the company believe its network is ready for the game's arrival, but it also suggested GTA VI could potentially set a new record for the amount of data downloaded over a single game launch period.

Despite the enormous anticipation surrounding GTA VI, NBN Co doesn't appear particularly concerned about the network being overwhelmed when the game launches.

"We've planned for major download events like this, and we're confident the NBN network is ready for the increased demand," an NBN Co spokesperson told us.

The company explained that it works closely with content distributors to model the potential impact of major game releases, allowing it to prepare for periods of particularly heavy demand.

Part of that preparation involves working with distributors to spread downloads over a longer period, rather than allowing everyone to begin downloading at the same time.

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