Is BT Good for Gaming?

This article looks gaming across BT’s full fibre packages (100, 500 and 900) providing an assessment and verdict on each. It also provides a comprehensive league table of some of the popular games and tells you how quickly it takes to download them on each of BT’s packages. This is a great resource for gaming enthusiasts looking to select one of BT’s Full Fibre packages.

Gaming with BT Full Fibre

When it comes to online gaming, you don’t only want fast speeds; you also want low latency and outstanding reliability. While gaming-specific broadband is uncommon, there are packages designed to provide an enhanced gaming experience. With its fast, reliable, and dedicated fibre connection, BT’s Full Fibre series checks all of these boxes. The service is further strengthened with additional benefits tailored to gamers.

What sets BT’s Full Fibre apart is its transition from traditional copper cabling to a full fibre approach, which significantly reduces lag instances. The guaranteed speed during peak hours is a testament to its reliability.

The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundled with Full Fibre 500 and Full Fibre 900 packages is a testament to BT’s commitment to the gaming community. In fact, BT has whole page dedicated to gaming. It not only provides a high-speed connection but also keeps gamers engaged with a plethora of games. The emphasis on low latency ensures smoother multiplayer experiences and live streaming capabilities.

ProductDownload Stay Fast GuaranteeUpload Stay Fast Guarantee
Full Fibre 100100Mbps10Mbps
Full Fibre 500250Mbps10Mbps
Full Fibre 900700Mbps10Mbps

Choosing the right Full Fibre package will come down to individual gaming needs, but BT’s offerings provide a robust foundation for an unmatched online gaming experience.

BT Full Fibre 900

Full Fibre 900 package offers a whopping 900 Mbps download speed. While speed is a significant aspect of this package, it’s also bundled with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for 12 months is what truly sets it apart. This combination ensures users can download games quickly and with a vast library to choose from.

  • Download Speed: 900Mb
  • Original Price: £54.99
  • Discounted Price: £40.99 for a 24-month contract
  • Postage & Packaging: £9.99
  • Add-on: Entertainment on BT TV for £12 a month
  • Landline: No service included
  • Special Features: Gigafast speeds with a dedicated fibre connection 12 months’ Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included 700Mb Stay Fast Guarantee 110Mb Upload Speed

 

Our verdict: ★★★★★

If you want the ultimate package for gaming, BT Full Fibre 900 is really your best bet. We love the fact that you get a free 12 months XBOX Game Pass Ultimate. Stable streaming, low ping rate, and downloading weighty games like ARK in under 40 minutes is a real plus.

BT Full Fibre 500

A balanced choice for gamers, the full fibre 500 package boasts a 500 Mbps download speed. Coupled with a 6-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, this package is a sweet spot for regular and hardcore gamers alike.

  • Download Speed: 500Mb
  • Upload Speed: 500Mb
  • Original Price: £44.99
  • Discounted Price: £32.99 for a 24-month contract
  • Postage & Packaging: £9.99
  • Add-ons: Entertainment on BT TV for £12 a month
  • Landline: No service included
  • Special Features: Ultrafast streaming, gaming, and downloading with a dedicated fibre connection 6 months’ Xbox Game Pass Ultimate included 425Mb Stay Fast Guarantee

 

Our verdict: ★★★★

If you’re after a fast package that won’t let you down, but you don’t want to fork out an extra £8 a month on fibre, then this is a good package to choose.

BT Full Fibre 100

The perfect package for casual gamers, BT’s Full Fibre 100 still offers a respectable 150Mb download speed, ensuring smooth gameplay and decent streaming quality. The package’s consistency is fortified by the “Stay Fast Guarantee,” ensuring a stable experience throughout.

  • Download Speed: 150Mb
  • Stay Fast Guarantee: 100Mb
  • Upload Speed: 30Mb 
  • Price: £29.99 for a 24-month contract
  • Postage & Packaging: Free with no upfront costs
  • Add-on: Entertainment on BT TV for £12 a month
  • Landline: No service included
  • Special FeaturesStream and download with a dedicated fibre connection

Our verdict: ★★★

If you’re just a casual gamer who tends to play games a couple of times a week, and you don’t need an Xbox pass, then this is a good package to go with. For start, it’s a lot cheaper than the Full Fibre 900 package.

Downloading Games on BT’s Broadband Packages

The table below looks estimated times to download some of the popular Xbox and PS5 and PC games on BT’s Full Fibre Packages. Packages in the comparison table include BT’s Full Fibre 100, Full Fibre 500, and Full Fibre 900 broadband. Calculations are determined by size of download and average speed of the package rather than real-life tests. Here’s how they stack up in terms of download times for popular gaming titles in 2023:
Game Title & Size BT Full Fibre 900 (900 Mbps) BT Full Fibre 500 (500 Mbps) BT Full Fibre 100 (150 Mbps)
Xbox One Minecraft (1.3GB) 12 seconds 21 seconds 1 minute
Xbox Series X/S Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1 (18GB) 2 minutes, 40 seconds 5 minutes 16 minutes
PS5 FIFA 23 (50GB) 7 minutes, 20 seconds 13 minutes, 20 seconds 47 minutes
Xbox Series X Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (104GB) 15 minutes, 24 seconds 27 minutes, 38 seconds 1 hour, 37 minutes
PS5 Destiny 2 (105GB) 15 minutes, 33 seconds 28 minutes 1 hour, 40 minutes
PS5 Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War (220GB) 32 minutes, 44 seconds 58 minutes, 40 seconds 3 hours, 26 minutes
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (58GB) 8 minutes, 34 seconds 15 minutes, 24 seconds 54 minutes, 40 seconds
Quantum Break (68GB) 10 minutes, 4 seconds 18 minutes, 24 seconds 1 hour, 5 minutes
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (75GB) 11 minutes, 6 seconds 20 minutes 1 hour, 10 minutes
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (87GB) 12 minutes, 51 seconds 23 minutes, 4 seconds 1 hour, 21 minutes
Hitman 2 (93GB) 13 minutes, 45 seconds 24 minutes, 36 seconds 1 hour, 27 minutes
Middle Earth: Shadow Of War (97GB) 14 minutes, 18 seconds 25 minutes, 36 seconds 1 hour, 30 minutes
The Last Of Us Part 1 (100GB) 14 minutes, 44 seconds 26 minutes, 24 seconds 1 hour, 33 minutes
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (HD Texture Packs Included) (100GB) 14 minutes, 44 seconds 26 minutes, 24 seconds 1 hour, 33 minutes
Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare (101GB) 14 minutes, 54 seconds 26 minutes, 48 seconds 1 hour, 34 minutes
Destiny 2: Lightfall (102GB) 15 minutes, 4 seconds 27 minutes, 12 seconds 1 hour, 36 minutes
Gears Of War 4 (103GB) 15 minutes, 13 seconds 27 minutes, 36 seconds 1 hour, 37 minutes
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (110GB) 16 minutes, 14 seconds 29 minutes, 12 seconds 1 hour, 43 minutes
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3 (112GB) 16 minutes, 29 seconds 29 minutes, 36 seconds 1 hour, 45 minutes
Red Dead Redemption 2 (120GB) 17 minutes, 46 seconds 32 minutes 1 hour, 54 minutes
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (125GB) 18 minutes, 31 seconds 33 minutes, 20 seconds 2 hours, 3 minutes
Microsoft Flight Simulator (127GB) 18 minutes, 45 seconds 33 minutes, 48 seconds 2 hours, 5 minutes
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare (133GB) 19 minutes, 39 seconds 35 minutes, 36 seconds 2 hours, 12 minutes
Borderlands 3 (135GB) 20 minutes 36 minutes 2 hours, 15 minutes
Final Fantasy 15 (148GB) 21 minutes, 56 seconds 39 minutes, 36 seconds 2 hours, 27 minutes
Forspoken (150GB) 22 minutes, 13 seconds 40 minutes 2 hours, 30 minutes
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (155GB) 22 minutes, 54 seconds 41 minutes, 24 seconds 2 hours, 35 minutes
ARK: Survival Evolved (250GB) 36 minutes, 40 seconds 1 hour, 6 minutes 4 hours, 17 minutes

Which BT Full Fibre Package Should I Choose?

 

Which BT Full Fibre Broadband package should you chose? Well, it depends. If you’re casual gamer, and happy with lightweight titles like Xbox One Minecraft, you might not notice much of a difference between the packages. Realistically the wait difference for under 5 GB titles is minimal – just a minute or so. But if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool gamer, who is always on the lookout for the next big title and regularly handles hefty updates, the landscape changes dramatically. Let’s put it into perspective: For behemoths like ARK: Survival Evolved (250GB), the BT Full Fibre 900 (900Mb) package is a game-changer, cutting down over 3 hours of download time compared to the slower 150 Mbps average of Full Fibre 100. That’s less waiting and more gaming!

If you’re somewhere in the middle, playing sizable games like Red Dead Redemption 2 but only occasionally, the 900Mb package could still be a smart pick, saving you about an hour of download time. And let’s not forget the trajectory of gaming – titles are continually growing in size. While the 150Mb might seem ample today, the 900Mb ensures you’re prepared for tomorrow’s gaming demands. Think about streaming, multiplayer modes, and those pesky game patches – the extra speed will be a blessing. So, reflect on your gaming habits, anticipate those future downloads, and gear up with the right package.

BT-Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

BT and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

BT has a fantastic offer on BT’s Full Fibre 500 and 900 packages right now for gaming enthusiasts. The Full Fibre 900 package not only provides a blazing 900Mb download speed but also gifts subscribers with a full year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, ensuring a diverse range of games are at your fingertips. Alternatively, on the BT Full Fibre 500 package you can get a 6-month complimentary access to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This is a golden opportunity for gamers to couple high-speed internet with an extensive gaming library, all under one seamless package. But of course the deal doesn’t cover full 24 month contract so if you want to continue you’ll need to get the The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Add-On which comes at a charge of £10 per month. By comparison, Microsoft’s direct Xbox Game Pass Ultimate currently retails at £12.99/month. This package equips subscribers with access to the comprehensive Xbox Game Pass library suitable for both game consoles and Windows 10 PCs, the multiplayer benefits of Xbox Live Gold for consoles, and the beta version of Cloud Gaming compatible with select mobile devices. The services are adaptable to a wide range of devices including mobile phones and tablets with Android 6.0+, iOS 10+, and Windows 10/11 operating systems. For an exhaustive list of compatible devices and more detailed insights, click here. Opting for the Xbox Add-On is a fairly straightforward affair. It operates on a 30-day rolling contract basis, with the cost automatically added to your BT account every month. For those who have previously used the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from Microsoft, the switch to BT’s offer should be seamless; it updates to the Xbox Add-On at your next renewal date. Cancellation is generally hassle-free, and the service ceases at the next monthly renewal. One essential aspect to note is that while the Xbox Add-On is facilitated through BT, it’s essentially a third-party service provided by Microsoft, so worth reading carefully through Microsoft’s Terms and Conditions. You can find BT’s Xbox game pass terms and conditions here.

What are the Gaming Pros and Cons of BT Broadband?

Pros:

  • Fast Speeds: BT offers a range of speed packages, with Full Fibre 900 providing a whopping 900 Mbps download speed.
  • Low Latency: The transition from traditional copper cabling to full fibre reduces lag instances.
  • Dedicated Connection: BT’s Full Fibre packages provide a dedicated fibre connection that ensures a consistent and smooth online experience.
  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: BT Full Fibre 500 and Full Fibre 900 packages come bundled with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which offers a plethora of games.
  • Stay Fast Guarantee: This ensures the speed doesn’t drop below the guaranteed rate, even during peak hours, providing a consistent gaming experience.
  • Broad Coverage: BT’s service is widely available across the UK.
  • Hybrid Connect: Uses EE’s 5G network as a backup if the broadband goes down, ensuring continuous gameplay.
  • No Fair Usage Policy: Truly unlimited broadband ensures gamers can play as much as they want without worrying about hitting any data caps.
  • BT’s Commitment to Gaming: BT has an entire page dedicated to gaming, highlighting its commitment to the gaming community.
  • Unbreakable Broadband: The combination of the Smart Hub 2 router and Hybrid Connect offers the promise of an ‘unbreakable’ broadband connection.

Cons:

  • Cost: BT broadband is more expensive than some other providers like TalkTalk and Plusnet.
  • Limited Availability for High Speed: While BT offers high-speed broadband, services like Full Fibre 900 are not available everywhere.
  • Customer Service Concerns: Despite a decent rating from Ofcom, BT’s score on Trustpilot is relatively low, which may raise concerns about potential customer service issues

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