Download speeds and their real-life time equivalent: Gaming edition!

 

In a world of instant gratification, slow Internet connections are more than just a nuisance. For gamers? Speed means getting the latest patch in minutes rather than hours (or even days). We’ve all been there - hitting “Download” on a game update, then watching a progress bar as the seconds tick away, anxiously awaiting that new character skin, that crucial bug fix, that next mission…

Large updates can take hours to download, especially with a slow Internet connection. Ever wonder how download-friendly your favorite games are? Or how much time your Internet speed may have cost you?

Let’s take a look at some of the world’s most update heavy video games and their typical download times.

call of duty modern warfare illustration

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for example has had over 500GB worth of updates since it’s release in late 2019, and if your Internet hasn’t been up to scratch, you could have wasted days of your life waiting for them to download.

call of duty modern warfare illustration

Even better, let’s put those wait times from varying Internet speeds into a real-world perspective…

 
 
call of duty modern warfare illustration

Call of Duty Modern Warfare Download

Released

October 2019

Original Game Size

175 GB

Call of Duty Modern Warfare Download Size of Updates:

542.0 GB

 

1mb/s

180 hrs and 36 mins

In the time it would take you to download all updates on a 1mb/s Internet connection, you could fly to the International Space Station, orbit the earth once, touchback down and then run a marathon. And you’d still have time to watch an episode of Law and Order. Phew, that’s a lot of download time!

call of duty modern warfare comic

 

10mb/s

18 hours and 6 minutes

With a 10mb/s Internet connection, you could watch the entire Lord of The Rings trilogy, spend a full day at your local zoo, take an hourlong spin class, and then read a chapter of your favorite book.

COD comic

 

25mb/s

7 hours and 12 minutes

With a 25mb/s Internet connection, you could fly from New York to Reykjavíc, Iceland to see the Northern Lights, watch one episode of Breaking Bad, and then boil an egg for your lunch. Hard-boiled or soft?

call of duty comic

 

50mb/s

3 hours and 36 minutes

With a 50mb/s Internet connection, you could watch an entire baseball game, then run 5km at an average pace. If you’re a keen runner, make it 10km.

call of duty comic

 

100mb/s

1 hour and 48 minutes

With a 100mb/s Internet connection, you could listen to one episode of the ‘Crime Junkie’ podcast, do and 30-minute workout, and then freshen up with a long, hot shower.

call of duty comic

 

200mb/s

54 minutes and 20 seconds

With a 200mb/s Internet connection, you could squeeze in two episodes of How I Met Your Mother, with a snack break in between. With an internet speed that quick, you’d be back to aiding Captain Price and the SAS before you know it!

call of duty comic
 

With Internet speeds up to 1 Gig, we’ve got a speed that can handle whatever the latest games throw at you

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1 GIG

Up to 940 Mbps

With a speed this fast you could download the total sum of all Call of Duty: Modern Warfare update in less than 12 minutes!

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500

Up to 500 Mbps

Stream 4K UHD on multiple devices and power all your connected home devices.

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300

Up to 300 Mbps

The perfect speed for multi-device HD streaming, gaming and more.

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final fantasy XV (FFXV) illustration

Final Fantasy XV Download

Released

November 2016

Original Game Size

100 GB

Final Fantasy XV Download Size of Updates

110.24 GB

 

1mb/s

36 hours and 42 minutes

In‌ ‌the‌ ‌time‌ ‌it‌ ‌would‌ ‌take‌ ‌you‌ ‌to‌ ‌download‌ ‌all‌ ‌updates‌ ‌on‌ ‌a‌ ‌1mb/s‌ ‌Internet‌ ‌connection,‌ ‌you‌ ‌could‌ ‌watch‌ ‌every‌ ‌single‌ ‌Star‌ ‌Wars‌ ‌film‌,‌ ‌take‌ ‌a‌ ‌Las‌ ‌Vegas‌ ‌hot‌ ‌air‌ ‌balloon‌ ‌ride‌,‌ ‌then‌ ‌squeeze‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌ few‌ ‌episodes‌ ‌of‌ ‌your‌ ‌favorite‌ ‌90s‌ ‌cartoon‌ ‌series‌.‌ ‌Dexter’s‌ ‌Laboratory,‌ ‌anybody?‌ ‌

ffxv comic

 

50mb/s

44 minutes

With a 50mb/s Internet connection, you could squeeze in a speedboat sightseeing tour of Miami. Unlike your download speed, at least the boat would be fast…

ffxv comic

 

100mb/s

22 minutes

With a 100mb/s Internet connection, you’d barely have time to watch one episode of The Big Bang Theory. Say goodbye to Penny and Sheldon, it’s time to play your latest download!

ffxv comic
 
call of duty black ops 3 illustration

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Download

Released

August 2015

Original Game Size

60 GB

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Download Size of Updates:

83.67 GB

 

1mb/s

27 hours and 48 minutes

In the time it would take you to download all updates on a 1mb/s Internet connection, you could go on every single ride at Disney World, enjoy a full night’s sleep, play a 90-minute game of soccer, and still find time to get a quick trim at the barbers!

call of duty black ops 3 comic

 

50mb/s

33 minutes and 24 seconds

With a 50mb/s Internet connection, you could take a 20-minute power nap, then whip yourself up a tasty lunch. The gamer special? A ham and cheese toastie. And chips, of course.

call of duty black ops 3 (CODBO3) comic

 

100mb/s

16 minutes and 42 seconds

With a 100mb/s Internet connection, you could take your dog for a mile-long wander around your local park. By the time you hang up the leash, it’ll be game time!

call of duty black ops 3 comic
 
Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) illustration

Red Dead Redemption 2 Download

Released

October 2018

Original Game Size

107 GB

Red Dead Redemption 2 Download Size of Updates:

68.29 GB

 

1mb/s

22 hours and 42 minutes

In the time it would take you to download all updates on a 1mb/s Internet connection, you could grab some popcorn for a back-to-back Harry Potter movie marathon, take a leisurely stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge, then make yourself a cup of tea.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) comic

 

50mb/s

27 minutes and 18 seconds

With a 50mb/s Internet connection, you could do a quick grocery shop, then find your inner calm by unwinding with a mini, pre-game meditation.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) comic

 

100mb/s

16 minutes and 36 seconds

With a 100mb/s Internet connection, you could ring a family member for a quick catch up. Unless your family are a chatty bunch, then get yourself comfy — the game will have to wait.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2) comic
 
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (CoD: IW) illustration

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Download

Released

November 2016

Original Game Size

74.2 GB

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Download size of Updates to Date:

59.41 GB

 

1mb/s

19 hours and 48 minutes

In the time it would take you to download all updates on a 1mb/s Internet connection, you could fly from New York to LA and back again, catch up on Wrestlemania 36, treat yourself to an indulgent spa massage, then pop some delicious ready-made cookies in the oven for the ultimate gaming snack.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (CoD: IW) comic

 

50mb/s

23 minutes and 42 seconds

With a 50mb/s Internet connection, you could cook yourself a tray of cheesy nachos, then catch up on the latest news and current events.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (CoD: IW) comic

 

100mb/s

11 minutes and 48 seconds

With a 100mb/s Internet connection, you could give your living space a quick tidy up, then grab your controller because it’s time to play!

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (CoD: IW) comic
 
The Witcher 3 illustration

The Witcher 3 Download

Released

May 2015

Original Game Size

30 GB

The Witcher 3 Download Size of Updates:

49.5 GB

 

1mb/s

16 hours and 30 minutes

In the time it would take you to download all updates on a 1mb/s Internet connection, you could take an Area 51 tour from Las Vegas, see a live music concert, watch an average game of hockey and then take a turn on the Fly LINQ Zipline, Las Vegas.

The Witcher 3 comic

 

50mb/s

19 Minutes and 50 seconds

With a 50mb/s Internet connection, you could send a message to Mars using NASA’s Deep Space Network. It’s unlikely you’ll get a response though unless one of the rovers is feeling particularly chatty.

The Witcher 3 comic

 

100mb/s

9 minutes and 54 seconds

With a 100mb/s internet connection, you could listen to a guided meditation to ensure your brain is in tip top condition for fighting those necrophages and wyverns.

The Witcher 3 comic
 

We hope you’ve enjoyed our round up. If you’d like to find out how Optimum could help you get the best Internet speeds available, then give us a call on 1.866.200.7273, or follow the link below.

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Sources and Methodology

* Approximate sizes only. Download sizes have been calculated by totalling all the major updates to date (November 2020) for each title. Note: download sizes for each update will vary slightly depending on which country you are in and what platform you are on, so where possible we’ve used sizes for the PC version of the game, and USA as the country of origin.

Download times are based on having a stable connection of said mb/s for the duration of the time downloading.

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2020

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