Sensor Tower: Netflix US mobile viewership increased 35% during GTA 6 extended preview

Netflix successfully leveraged Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6 extended preview to drive significant engagement across its platform. The 26-minute PS5 gameplay footage generated a 50% spike in Netflix US mobile viewership when compared to average Thursday traffic over the past 12 weeks. Web traffic experienced an even more dramatic surge, increasing 125% above normal levels as viewers tuned in from computers.

The unprecedented demand for the streaming event pushed both Netflix and Twitch—where creators live-reacted to the preview—to experience technical difficulties. Netflix encountered outages, while Twitch faced similar issues approximately an hour after the preview’s debut. Despite these momentary setbacks, the platforms managed to handle the traffic surge relatively well.

The collaborative partnership between Netflix and Rockstar paid off handsomely. Less than 12 hours after launch, the GTA 6 extended preview became the #1 movie on Netflix, surpassing traditional films in the platform’s rankings. This unusual arrangement—streaming gameplay footage rather than traditional entertainment content—marked a notable shift in how major gaming announcements reach audiences.

The extended look also coincided with strong pre-order momentum for GTA 6, with market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reporting 4.6 million units pre-ordered, with 77% of those orders placed for PlayStation 5, the platform featured in the preview footage. The event demonstrated Netflix’s growing interest in gaming content while providing Rockstar with an enormous, captive audience for its most anticipated title.

Sensor Tower: Netflix US mobile viewership increased 35% during GTA 6 extended preview

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