Internet, workplaces brace for new game's big impact

Grand Theft Auto VI sparked a download frenzy this week. Photo: Ian Currie/AAP PHOTOS Australia's payroll managers and internet technicians have begun preparing for the release of the most eagerly anticipated video game in years. Subscribe today for the news that matters or signup to continue reading BLACK FRIDAY OFFER - SAVE 50% All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All other in your area Grand Theft Auto VI became available for download for Australian gamers on Tuesday to those who had pre-ordered the game.

It has been 13 years since the last instalment in the franchise was released and Grand Theft Auto V has consistently been one of the top selling games in Australia for the whole period. Eager players can't start playing the new game until next Thursday but many have started pre-loading on to consoles to be ready to play as soon as it becomes available.

Grand Theft Auto VI's file size has pushed household internet connections to their limits. (Ian Currie/AAP PHOTOS) But the developer Rockstar Games has previously stated the game may require up to 212 gigabytes of storage on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X consoles, about 10 times the size of the previous instalment.

This could leave a potentially mammoth strain on many households' internet connections. Depending on your NBN plan speed, downloading the game in its entirety could take up to 39 hours, comparison website Finder.com.au said. There was a 10 per cent rise in demand across the NBN network when the game first became available for pre-loading on Tuesday, a spokesman for NBN Co said.

"We expect much of the downloading to take place earlier in the pre-loading period and don't expect any traffic records on launch day," the spokesman said. This game download is about 40 per cent of what the average home downloads in a month, so NBN speed plans will make a big difference to how soon gamers can start playing." But internet connections are not the only thing preparing for significant strain in coming days.

Many workplaces, particularly those with a high proportion of young male employees, are wary of a spike in leave requests from dedicated gamers wanting to play the new release instantly. The Fair Work Ombudsman made a tongue-in-cheek Instagram post on November 4 hinting to those looking to chuck a sickie next Thursday to play the game that they are risking more than embarrassment.

"Your employer can ask for evidence that shows you weren't able to work because of an illness or injury," the post warned. To avoid the risk, many others are taking the safer approach and applying for annual leave. Requests for leave for next Thursday from males aged between 18 and 44 are up 84 per cent compared to the most comparable day last year, online platform Employment Hero reported.

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