Netflix US mobile viewership rose 35% hour-over-hour during Grand Theft Auto 6’s extended preview yesterday, according to data from Sensor Tower.
As reported by GamesBeat, mobile app users went up by 50% compared to the average for the same time over the last 12 Thursdays.
Web traffic rose 125% above average, causing the streaming platform to crash. Twitch, where creators reacted to the preview, also reportedly experienced outages an hour after the premiere.
Additional data from Sensor Tower puts pre-orders for GTA 6 at 4.6 million units, with 77% on PlayStation 5 (the platform the preview was captured on).
“Utilising lexicon-stirring events tied to notable IP has helped expand Netflix’s appeal as an all-encompassing entertainment platform,” said Sensor Tower senior insights analyst Abe Yousef.
“By aligning itself with the launch of a highly anticipated console title, Netflix is converting heightened consumer interest into re-engagement from lapsed viewers and sign-ups from non-subscribers.”
Ahead of the premiere, a hacker group leaked gameplay and information. Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, subpoenaed Microsoft, Discord, and X as part of its investigation.
Rockstar then issued a statement, saying the leaks had been “heartbreaking” for its development team and were “not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time.”
“We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has – from getting the game finished (nearly there) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know.”