diff --git a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkConnection.cpp b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkConnection.cpp
index 270e68098b..74b09886cc 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkConnection.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkConnection.cpp
@@ -51,13 +51,13 @@ int32_t NetworkConnection::ReadPacket()
             {
                 return NETWORK_READPACKET_DISCONNECTED;
             }
-            InboundPacket.Data->resize(InboundPacket.Size);
+            InboundPacket.Data.resize(InboundPacket.Size);
         }
     }
     else
     {
         // read packet data
-        if (InboundPacket.Data->capacity() > 0)
+        if (InboundPacket.Data.capacity() > 0)
         {
             void* buffer = &InboundPacket.GetData()[InboundPacket.BytesTransferred - sizeof(InboundPacket.Size)];
             size_t bufferLength = sizeof(InboundPacket.Size) + InboundPacket.Size - InboundPacket.BytesTransferred;
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ bool NetworkConnection::SendPacket(NetworkPacket& packet)
     std::vector<uint8_t> tosend;
     tosend.reserve(sizeof(sizen) + packet.Size);
     tosend.insert(tosend.end(), reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(&sizen), reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(&sizen) + sizeof(sizen));
-    tosend.insert(tosend.end(), packet.Data->begin(), packet.Data->end());
+    tosend.insert(tosend.end(), packet.Data.begin(), packet.Data.end());
 
     const void* buffer = &tosend[packet.BytesTransferred];
     size_t bufferSize = tosend.size() - packet.BytesTransferred;
@@ -106,15 +106,15 @@ bool NetworkConnection::SendPacket(NetworkPacket& packet)
     return sendComplete;
 }
 
-void NetworkConnection::QueuePacket(std::unique_ptr<NetworkPacket> packet, bool front)
+void NetworkConnection::QueuePacket(NetworkPacket&& packet, bool front)
 {
-    if (AuthStatus == NETWORK_AUTH_OK || !packet->CommandRequiresAuth())
+    if (AuthStatus == NETWORK_AUTH_OK || !packet.CommandRequiresAuth())
     {
-        packet->Size = static_cast<uint16_t>(packet->Data->size());
+        packet.Size = static_cast<uint16_t>(packet.Data.size());
         if (front)
         {
             // If the first packet was already partially sent add new packet to second position
-            if (!_outboundPackets.empty() && _outboundPackets.front()->BytesTransferred > 0)
+            if (!_outboundPackets.empty() && _outboundPackets.front().BytesTransferred > 0)
             {
                 auto it = _outboundPackets.begin();
                 it++; // Second position
@@ -134,9 +134,9 @@ void NetworkConnection::QueuePacket(std::unique_ptr<NetworkPacket> packet, bool
 
 void NetworkConnection::SendQueuedPackets()
 {
-    while (!_outboundPackets.empty() && SendPacket(*_outboundPackets.front()))
+    while (!_outboundPackets.empty() && SendPacket(_outboundPackets.front()))
     {
-        _outboundPackets.remove(_outboundPackets.front());
+        _outboundPackets.pop_front();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.cpp b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.cpp
index e1e4d860c6..59a8d0865c 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.cpp
@@ -15,35 +15,32 @@
 
 #    include <memory>
 
-std::unique_ptr<NetworkPacket> NetworkPacket::Allocate()
-{
-    return std::make_unique<NetworkPacket>();
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<NetworkPacket> NetworkPacket::Duplicate(NetworkPacket& packet)
-{
-    return std::make_unique<NetworkPacket>(packet);
-}
-
 uint8_t* NetworkPacket::GetData()
 {
-    return &(*Data)[0];
+    return Data.data();
+}
+
+const uint8_t* NetworkPacket::GetData() const
+{
+    return Data.data();
 }
 
 NetworkCommand NetworkPacket::GetCommand() const
 {
-    if (Data->size() < sizeof(uint32_t))
+    if (Data.size() < sizeof(uint32_t))
         return NetworkCommand::Invalid;
 
-    const uint32_t commandId = ByteSwapBE(*reinterpret_cast<uint32_t*>(&(*Data)[0]));
-    return static_cast<NetworkCommand>(commandId);
+    uint32_t commandId = 0;
+    std::memcpy(&commandId, GetData(), sizeof(commandId));
+
+    return static_cast<NetworkCommand>(ByteSwapBE(commandId));
 }
 
 void NetworkPacket::Clear()
 {
     BytesTransferred = 0;
     BytesRead = 0;
-    Data->clear();
+    Data.clear();
 }
 
 bool NetworkPacket::CommandRequiresAuth()
@@ -63,9 +60,10 @@ bool NetworkPacket::CommandRequiresAuth()
     }
 }
 
-void NetworkPacket::Write(const uint8_t* bytes, size_t size)
+void NetworkPacket::Write(const void* bytes, size_t size)
 {
-    Data->insert(Data->end(), bytes, bytes + size);
+    const uint8_t* src = reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(bytes);
+    Data.insert(Data.end(), src, src + size);
 }
 
 void NetworkPacket::WriteString(const utf8* string)
diff --git a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.h b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.h
index 507082e81e..6f8bd3fd9b 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkPacket.h
@@ -20,14 +20,13 @@ class NetworkPacket final
 {
 public:
     uint16_t Size = 0;
-    std::shared_ptr<std::vector<uint8_t>> Data = std::make_shared<std::vector<uint8_t>>();
+    std::vector<uint8_t> Data;
     size_t BytesTransferred = 0;
     size_t BytesRead = 0;
 
-    static std::unique_ptr<NetworkPacket> Allocate();
-    static std::unique_ptr<NetworkPacket> Duplicate(NetworkPacket& packet);
-
     uint8_t* GetData();
+    const uint8_t* GetData() const;
+
     NetworkCommand GetCommand() const;
 
     void Clear();
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ public:
     const uint8_t* Read(size_t size);
     const utf8* ReadString();
 
-    void Write(const uint8_t* bytes, size_t size);
+    void Write(const void* bytes, size_t size);
     void WriteString(const utf8* string);
 
     template<typename T> NetworkPacket& operator>>(T& value)
@@ -58,8 +57,7 @@ public:
     template<typename T> NetworkPacket& operator<<(T value)
     {
         T swapped = ByteSwapBE(value);
-        uint8_t* bytes = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(&swapped);
-        Data->insert(Data->end(), bytes, bytes + sizeof(value));
+        Write(&swapped, sizeof(T));
         return *this;
     }