How to Use the Game Download Time Calculator
Waiting for a massive 150GB game to install can ruin a weekend if your broadband isn’t up to the task. Our game speed calculator takes the guesswork out of your evening.
Here is how to get your estimate:
- Choose a Game: Click on one of our popular presets (like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 or Baldur’s Gate 3) to automatically load its average over-the-wire download size.
- Or Enter a Custom Size: Downloading an indie title or a massive DLC update? Type your exact file size in Gigabytes (GB) into the custom field.
- Select Your Speed: Choose your current internet speed from the options, or hit ‘Custom’ to type in your exact Mbps.
- See Your Results: The calculator will instantly show you how long the download will take, and visually compare your wait time against faster broadband tiers so you can see exactly what you might be missing out on.
Why Do Mega-Hits Take So Long to Download?
If you feel like downloads are taking longer than they used to, you aren’t imagining things. Just a few years ago, a 40GB game was considered massive. Today, titans like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 / Warzone can demand upwards of 175GB, and Red Dead Redemption 2 sits securely at 120GB.
The biggest point of confusion for most gamers is the difference between file size and internet speed:
- File sizes are measured in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB).
- Broadband speeds are measured in Megabits per second (Mbps) or Gigabits per second (Gbps).
Because there are 8 bits in every byte, a “100 Mbps” broadband connection does not download 100 Megabytes a second, it downloads roughly 12.5 Megabytes a second. If you aren’t a human calculator, doing the math on a 175GB file is a nightmare. That’s exactly why we built this tool.
What’s a Good Download Speed for Gaming?
While standard fibre (around 35-60Mbps) is fine for everyday streaming, modern gamers are increasingly switching to Full-Fibre (FTTP) connections to handle these gigantic game files. Full-fibre speeds typically start at 150Mbps and can reliably hit 1.1Gbps – or even a staggering 7Gbps with specialist providers like YouFibre.
But sheer download speed isn’t the only thing that matters for smooth gameplay. If you want to dive into the technical details of latency, ping, and upload speeds, check out our comprehensive guide on What is a Good Broadband Speed for Gaming?
Stop Waiting, Start Playing
If your current broadband is leaving you stuck on a loading screen for 10 hours while your squad is already playing online, it’s probably time for an upgrade.
As a savvy saver, you shouldn’t have to overpay for ultrafast speeds. Whether you need a simple 150Mbps upgrade or the ultimate 1Gbps gigabit connection, Switchity makes it easy to find a package that perfectly balances performance and budget.
Ready to make download anxiety a thing of the past? Compare the Best Gaming Broadband Deals in Your Area.