EE unleashes colossal broadband boost for millions, and bundles bonus for Xbox, PC, and Fire TV Stick users

a hand holds an xbox wireless controller with a smartphone enabling game mode with forza in the background from xbox game pass

EE has pulled out all the stops for gamers, with a dedicated Game Mode baked into the Wi-Fi router, support for speedier WiFi 6, and an Xbox Game Pass subscription included for two-years

EE PRESS OFFICE
Aaron Brown

By Aaron Brown


Published: 02/07/2024

- 09:37

Unlock hundreds of brand-new games, including the next Call of Duty

All products and promotions are independently selected by our experts. To help us provide free impartial advice, we will earn an affiliate commission if you buy something. Click here to learn more

EE has launched a brand-new broadband bundle designed for video game fans. It includes some of the fastest home broadband speeds currently available — regularly topping 1,600Mbps, a next-generation Wi-Fi router with a dedicated Game Mode, and 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription worth over £300.


Dubbed EE Broadband Made for Gamers, the package offers several features designed to appeal to players who favour reliable, lightning-fast download speeds, and low latency above all else. With download speeds of 1.6Gbps, the average update to a blockbuster game (20GB) can be downloaded in under two minutes compared to roughly 40 minutes with the average UK home broadband speed of 69Mbps.

EE has fine-tuned the performance to suit the needs of gamers, with overall latency reduced by over a third compared to standard home broadband plans.

With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you'll be able to play hundreds of games — like Minecraft, Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Sea of Thieves, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Dead Space — on your Windows PC, Mac, Xbox console, iPad, Android phone and tablet, and in the coming days, your Fire TV Stick too.

a series of xbox games box art on the ground with an xbox series s in the centre

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate packs hundreds of titles from developers like Bethesda, Activision Blizzard, The Coalition, Double Fine Productions, Playground Games, and EA, to name just a few

XBOX PRESS OFFICE

Play around the house (or on the move) and your in-game progress will be synchronised across all devices.

To ensure you've got good Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, EE Broadband Made for Gamers arrives with the company's Smart Wi-Fi guarantee. This is designed to boost your wireless signal so that every corner of your home is blanketed with your full-fibre internet connection. If not, you'll be refunded £100 from EE immediately.

EE will ship its most advanced Wi-Fi router to those who sign up for this gamer-focused bundle. Dubbed the EE Smart Hub Plus, which has support for the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard that offers a much wider bandwidth than Wi-Fi 5. The latter is the best wireless standard available across BT's broadband routers. The Smart Hub Plus can connect up to 190 devices at any one time, which should be enough for the busiest households.

The Wi-Fi router has been equipped with a dedicated Game Mode with a few extra perks. These include:

  • Geo Filter | This advanced setting chooses the highest quality servers — forgoes any that have increased lag to ensure you always get the best possible experience during online gameplay and streamed titles
  • Ping Optimiser | Fine-tune your connection to reduce buffering when playing games — this nifty feature will reduce server ping by up to 24%, tests carried out by developers Netduma show
a man enables Game Mode from a smartphone app linked to the EE WiFi router

EE includes its flagship Smart Wi-Fi offering, which includes a £100 refund for anyone who doesn't get decent wireless coverage throughout their home, and an improved Wi-Fi router with a Game Mode

EE PRESS OFFICE

Speedrunner Josh Edwards, who tested the EE broadband ahead of its launch, said: "It honestly felt like my performance was on another level using the EE Broadband Made for Gamers bundle – it was a huge help in shaving off those crucial seconds so that we could smash the records."

EE Broadband Made for Gamers is available in areas that've been upgraded to the latest full-fibre speeds by BT-owned Openreach. So far, Openreach has built its next-generation full-fibre connections to roughly 13.8 million premises in the UK — meaning it's on track to reach its goal of 25 million homes and businesses by 2026.

You can check your postcode to see whether you'll benefit from the best EE broadband speeds here.

Speaking about the launch of its video game-focused plan, Director of Gaming at EE, Sam Kemp said: "By introducing Broadband Made for Gamers, we’re taking the next step in our ambition to become the number one destination for gaming in the UK, with a broadband package tailored to enhance in-game experiences.

"With features such as Game Mode and 1.6Gbps Full Fibre speeds, gamers will have that extra edge when they’re playing, and they’ll never be short on the latest and most exciting titles with our inclusive 24-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate."

As well as its tailor-made broadband package for gaming, EE now sells the latest generation of game consoles and accessories from its high street and online stores. Customers can take out the Broadband Made for Gamers bundle for £79.99 per month.

BT also offers Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with some of its broadband plans, although you'll miss out on the dedicated Game Mode, Wi-Fi 6 support, and other perks.

You may like