GTA 6 Extended Look Drives Netflix Viewership Spike, But Streaming Glitch Causes Brief Wobble

Netflix's US audience saw a 50% surge yesterday as Rockstar unveiled its Grand Theft Auto 6: Extended Look. According to audience data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, provided exclusively to IGN, the streamer's US viewership for that time period jumped compared to the previous day.

Mobile usage was up nearly 50% compared to Netflix's average US viewership on a Thursday over the past 12 weeks, while web visitors soared by an impressive 125%, as countless subscribers tuned in from their PCs—perhaps sneakily watching during work or classes.

Despite the successful launch of the GTA 6 broadcast, users in several countries encountered brief technical hiccups at the moment of its premiere. If you saw the error screen featuring a hand and a rather lopsided cake, you weren't alone. Many users, including high-profile streamers, reported similar issues across social media, and we at IGN experienced it too. Fortunately, the problem resolved itself within about 30 seconds.

"Utilizing lexicon-stirring events tied to notable IP has helped expand Netflix's appeal as an all-encompassing entertainment platform," said Abe Yousef, Senior Insights Analyst. "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."

Sensor Tower data also provided an update on GTA 6's pre-order numbers, revealing that over 4.5 million copies have already been sold, generating nearly $450 million in revenue—and that's before the Extended Look aired. It's likely that number has since climbed significantly higher. Of the copies sold so far, more than three-quarters are for PlayStation 5.

Meanwhile, 90% of pre-orders are for the game's $100 Ultimate Edition. This is an impressive statistic, though pre-order customers tend to be more hardcore players, so this percentage may skew higher than it will at launch.

IGN is one of the few outlets granted an exclusive preview of GTA 6. We also have details on GTA 6's romance system, how long it will take to beat, every side activity we've spotted so far, and how the bigger map compares to past Rockstar games as part of our exhaustive ongoing coverage. If you're all caught up, here are 69 new gameplay details we discovered during our time with GTA 6.