GTA 6 pre-loading begins on Tuesday, November 10, nine days before the November 19 launch, Rockstar announced on November 3: at midnight local time on PS5, and at the same moment everywhere on Xbox Series X|S, 00:00 GMT. The pre-load file will require up to 212 GB depending on your console. Here is when it starts where you live, how much room to clear and how to set it up on each console.
GTA 6 pre-load times and download size
| Console |
Pre-load opens |
Download |
| PlayStation 5 |
November 10 at midnight, local time |
Up to 212 GB |
| Xbox Series X|S |
November 10 at 00:00 GMT, everywhere at once |
Up to 212 GB |
Rockstar gives one figure for both consoles (Rockstar Newswire, November 3). Each store will show its exact size once pre-loading opens, and a day-one update can add to it: we will add both here as soon as a store or Rockstar lists them. GTA 6 has no disc: the boxed version holds a download code and reaches shops from November 12, so it downloads the same way once the code is redeemed.
When GTA 6 pre-loading starts where you live
On PS5, pre-loading starts at midnight on November 10 in your own time zone. On Xbox Series X|S it starts for everyone at 00:00 GMT on November 10, which is still November 9 in the Americas:
| City |
Xbox Series X|S pre-load |
| Los Angeles |
November 9, 4:00 PM |
| New York |
November 9, 7:00 PM |
| São Paulo |
November 9, 9:00 PM |
| London |
November 10, 12:00 AM |
| Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome |
November 10, 1:00 AM |
| Moscow |
November 10, 3:00 AM |
| Beijing, Taipei |
November 10, 8:00 AM |
| Seoul, Tokyo |
November 10, 9:00 AM |
| Sydney |
November 10, 11:00 AM |
The game stays locked until it unlocks at midnight local time on November 19: our GTA 6 release time by country gives the hour where you live, and our GTA 6 release countdown counts down to your store's midnight.
How to pre-load GTA 6 on PS5
These are Sony's steps for a pre-ordered game:
- Go to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode, and turn on Stay Connected to the Internet.
- Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates, and turn on Auto-Download.
- From your games home, select Game Library, then GTA 6: a timer counts down to its release. Select the timer and check that the game's content is ticked for auto-download.
To see your free space, go to Settings > Storage. A PS5 game is played from the console storage or an M.2 SSD: a USB drive can hold it, but Sony says you have to move it back before you play. An added M.2 SSD must be a PCI-Express Gen4x4 M.2 NVMe SSD of 250 GB to 8 TB.
How to pre-load GTA 6 on Xbox Series X|S
Microsoft says you can pre-install a pre-ordered game, install it remotely from your phone while you are away from the console, and turn on automatic updates so it is waiting for you. The Microsoft Store lists GTA 6 as Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, and Microsoft says such games are played only from the console's internal SSD or a Storage Expansion Card: a USB drive can store the game, but not run it.
Before you pre-load
- Clear at least 212 GB on the drive you will play from, on PS5 or Xbox.
- Leave the console in rest mode with the internet on, so the download runs overnight.
- Pre-ordering is still open until launch: our GTA 6 pre-order guide has the editions, the bonus and how to cancel.
On November 19: a free poster and map
On launch day, Rockstar adds an official printable GTA VI cover-art poster and a map of Leonida as a free digital download on its official site. A double-sided printed version follows shortly after launch on the Rockstar Store: $0.99 on its own, or free with any purchase there.
