GTA 6: pre-load starts on 10 November, up to 212 GB needed

On 3 November 2026, Rockstar Games published the pre-load schedule for Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), the new game in its open-world series. Pre-loading, which means installing the game on the console before release, starts on 10 November for players who have pre-ordered the digital version. The file needs up to 212 GB depending on the console. The release date is still 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

GTA 6 pre-load: start times on PS5 and Xbox Series, and the space to free up

On PS5, pre-loading of the digital version opens on Tuesday 10 November at midnight, local time. In the UK, it therefore starts in the night from Monday 9 to Tuesday 10 November. On Xbox Series X|S, Rockstar has set a single time for the whole world: 10 November at midnight GMT.

To pre-load the game, you need to have pre-ordered the digital version. The file needs up to 212 GB depending on the console. Rockstar advises freeing up space on your drive in advance, so you can start the download as early as possible. The studio answers practical questions in a pre-load FAQ on its support site, as well as in its official announcement.

In France, the boxed versions arrive in shops from 12 November, on PS5 and Xbox. These boxes contain a download code that gives access to the game. Players who buy a boxed copy will therefore also have to download GTA 6 before they can play it, with a week to go before release.

On 19 November, release day, Rockstar will offer two printable files as free downloads on the game's official website: a poster of the cover art and a map of Leonida, the fictional state where GTA 6 takes place. A printed, double-sided version of the poster will follow on the Rockstar online store. It will be given away with any purchase from that store. The size of Leonida in the game is covered in our article on the GTA 6 map.

To buy the game, its Standard Edition comes in two versions, one for each console.

GTA 6 on PS5 and Xbox Series: the two versions of the Standard Edition

GTA 6 is released on 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Each product page compares prices from partner shops for its console.