How Much Data Does Gaming Use?
Online gaming actually uses less data than most parents expect — but updates and downloads are a different story. Here's the full picture.
Data usage by popular game
| Game | Data per hour | 1hr/day monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Roblox | ~60MB | ~1.8GB |
| Minecraft | ~80MB | ~2.4GB |
| Fortnite Mobile | ~100MB | ~3GB |
| FIFA / EA Sports FC | ~120MB | ~3.6GB |
| Call of Duty Mobile | ~200MB | ~6GB |
| PUBG Mobile | ~300MB | ~9GB |
Playing games uses relatively little data — but game downloads and updates can use gigabytes in minutes. Always update games on Wi-Fi.
Game downloads and updates
| Game | Initial download size |
|---|---|
| Roblox | ~100MB |
| Fortnite Mobile | ~2GB |
| Call of Duty Mobile | ~2.5GB |
| PUBG Mobile | ~2GB |
| EA Sports FC Mobile | ~1.5GB |
A single game update can wipe out a child's monthly data allowance. This is one of the most common causes of unexpected bill shock.
Tips to manage gaming data
- Always update games on Wi-Fi — disable mobile data updates in your phone's app store settings.
- Turn off background app refresh — games often sync data in the background even when not being played.
- Check for auto-downloads — some games download new content packs automatically.
- Use unlimited data — the only way to guarantee a surprise update won't cause bill shock.
Frequently asked questions
Roblox uses approximately 50–80MB per hour of gameplay, making it one of the lighter games on data. However, game updates and new experiences can add unexpected usage.
Yes. If a child watches gaming streams on Twitch or YouTube while playing, the streaming data (1.5–3GB/hr) is added on top of the game data. This can add up very quickly.
Streaming uses far more data during play — up to 3GB/hr vs 300MB/hr for gaming. But game downloads and updates can be larger than many films. Both need to be managed carefully on a capped plan.