Could turning on all the arcade games at once be knocking out the internet?

Those details alone don’t point to bandwidth. Many connected games use very little data while idle, though simultaneous startup could create a brief burst of connection requests. A red router light can mean several things, depending on the model, including a problem with the internet service rather than too many devices.

Before buying anything, write down the router model, what the light means according to its manual, how the games connect, and whether other devices lose internet too. Check whether the router itself is restarting, and ask the internet provider whether there are service or equipment faults. That should narrow down the cause.

Try a simple opening test: turn on a few games at a time, with a short pause between groups, and note when the red light appears. Also check whether the router is powered from the same strip or circuit as the games. If it loses power or reboots at startup, replacing it with a bigger router won’t fix the underlying power issue.

If possible, connect a game and a laptop by Ethernet for comparison. If wired devices work but Wi-Fi devices drop, focus on wireless coverage or interference. If everything goes offline together, look at the router, its power, or the provider connection.

For a business with many devices, reliable network gear and support can be worthwhile, but I wouldn’t start by assuming you need more bandwidth. First find out whether the games actually use Wi-Fi or cables, what router and internet plan you have, and whether the red light means loss of internet or a router fault.

If the router is older, overheats, or has a documented device limit that you’re approaching, replacing it may make sense. A separate access point or business-oriented setup could also help if the issue is wireless coverage. Get the basic diagnosis before spending money.

Random games going offline later may be a separate clue. Check whether the affected games are all wireless, in the same area, or connected through the same switch. If only particular machines drop while the rest stay online, inspect those cables, ports, and wireless signal before blaming the internet plan.

Keep a quick log of the time, which games disconnect, and whether phones or other devices still have internet. That’s much more useful than repeatedly restarting everything without knowing what changed.