GTA 6 launch checklist
Pre-load now, keep 212 GB free and leave the console in rest mode connected to the internet. Then GTA 6 starts the moment it unlocks, midnight on 19 November.
Your checklist
Pick your console and how you bought the game. Your ticks stay on this device.
Storage
Rockstar and Sony both say to keep up to 212 GB free. A 512 GB Xbox Series S has roughly 362 to 364 GB usable, so GTA 6 takes more than half. Check your numbers in the file size guide.
Pre-load and codes
- Pre-load opened on November 10 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Code-in-box buyers can pre-load once they redeem the code. The box has no disc.
- PlayStation codes are region-locked and must match your PSN account region. Xbox codes are not.
- Japanese product codes expire 170 days after November 19.
Bonuses and deadlines
- The Vintage Vice City Pack comes with any purchase made before November 20.
- One month of GTA+ comes with digital purchases. On the PS Store, claim it by March 31, 2027. On the Microsoft Store, redeem within 180 days.
- Rockstar says before November 20, the PS Store says by November 19 and Xbox says before 19 November 23:59:59. Buy by November 19 to be safe.
- The Ultimate Edition Upgrade is $20 in the US and can be bought at any time.
By console
- PS5 and PS5 Pro: keep 212 GB free. PS5 Pro adds PSSR and ray-traced shadows, and DualSense haptics can be adjusted in accessibility settings.
- Xbox Series X|S: Series S has about 364 GB usable on 512 GB, so clear space first.
- Xbox One: buy the game, then stream it. From November 11, buying cloud playtime in supported markets lets you stream without Game Pass.
Rockstar says Remote Play is fully supported. The game is rated ESRB Mature 17+, PEGI 18 and USK 18. Vandal reports English-only voice acting, and the Microsoft Store lists 13 supported languages. Rockstar has not published the full accessibility options list.
The night itself
Unlock is at midnight local time, or 9 PM PT on November 18 for the US West Coast. Vice reports update 1.002.000 of about 1.07 GB on PS5 and 2.18 GB on Xbox. Rockstar has not published patch notes. Xbox One players stream through Xbox Cloud Gaming, which starts at 1 a.m. ET.
Questions
Do I need to pre-load GTA 6?
No, but without it you download up to 212 GB on launch night, when servers are busiest.
How do I pre-load GTA 6?
Buy the game or redeem your code, then download it before launch. Pre-load has been open since November 10. See the pre-load guide for sizes.
Does the boxed version have a disc?
No. The box contains a download code, so the same storage and download rules apply.
Can I still get the pre-order bonus?
Yes, for any purchase made before 20 November.
What do I need before GTA 6 unlocks?
About 212 GB of free space, the game pre-loaded, and your code redeemed if you bought a boxed copy.
Sources
Guides
- Pre-load212 GBGTA 6 pre-load opened November 10 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Start times, the 212 GB size, how code-in-box copies pre-load and the first update.
- Download and play timesGTA 6 pre-load has been open since November 10 and the download is up to 212 GB. You can play at midnight local time on November 19. Boxed code and update.
- Xbox One and cloudGTA 6 has no native Xbox One version. Xbox One and Series X|S can stream it with Xbox Cloud Gaming from 1 a.m. ET on November 19. What Xbox has stated.
- File size212 GBWill 212 GB fit on your console, and how long the download takes.