GTA 6 Preload Guide: 212GB Size, Staggered Start Times And What To Know
It's hard to believe that after years of waiting and amid all the hype, Grand Theft Auto VI is now only just two weeks away from releasing to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Those who preorder a copy will have the opportunity to preload the game starting next Tuesday, November 10 (with a caveat - more on that in a moment). Ahead of that date, Rockstar Games confirmed just how storage space you'll need, as well as provided more key details.
File Size Confirmed And It's Massive
A recent rumor suggested that GTA VI could demand 210GB of storage, and that proved to be pretty much dead on. In a blog post, Rockstar Games revealed that preloading the upcoming title will require "up to 212GB depending on your device, so make sure you've got ample space."
That could require uninstalling games on your PS5 or Xbox console to make space. For example, the original PS5 shipped with an 825GB SSD, and after accounting for the operating system and other overhead, the usable space is closer to 667GB. Games like Call of Duty, Gran Turismo 7, Cyberpunk 2077, NBA 2K26, and several others can push the limits of your system's storage.
As we previously highlighted, instead of uninstalling games, you could opt to splurge on a storage upgrade. The market is rough right now, but you can score a 1TB SSD for under $200 and plop it into your PS5 console (see our how-to guide).
- 1TB Samsung 990: $189.99 (17% off)
- 1TB Acer Predator GM7: $189.99
- 1TB Crucial P310 w/ heatsink: $184.99
If you go hunting on your own for an SSD, just be sure it meets the requirements for the PS5.
For Xbox owners, upgrading the SSD is quite a bit more involved. The folks at iFixit have a teardown guide that can help, though the easier path is to utilize a Storage Expansion Card. You can pick up a 2TB Seagate Expansion Card for $299 at Walmart, or get a USB drive like Seagate's 2TB Game Drive for $139.99 at Best Buy. You can't play games off of a Game Drive, but you can move your games over to free up space.
Preload Start Times Are Different For PS5 And Xbox
While the preload date is set for November 10, 2026 for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the start time differs. On the PS5, digital preloads begin at midnight local time in whatever time zone you reside in. For the Xbox Series X|S, preloading unlocks globally at 12:00 a.m. GMT. If you live in the U.S. and own an Xbox console, that means you get a head start on your PS5 brethren, as that equates to 7:00 p.m. EST / 4:00 p.m. PST the day before (November 9).
Sony and Microsoft both have preload support pages that are live:
As Rockstar Games points out in its own support page, you must have auto-downloads enabled on the PS5 and automatic updates enabled on Xbox consoles. Each console must also be powered on or in Rest Mode (PS5) or Sleep Mode (Xbox).
Keep in mind that downloading 212GB could take anywhere from under a half hour to nearly a full day, depending on your internet speed. Here are some rough estimates:
- 25Mbps: ~19 hours
- 50Mbps: ~9.5 hours
- 100Mbps: ~4.75 hours
- 150Mbps: ~3.2 hours
- 200Mbps: ~2.4 hours
- 300Mbps: ~1.6 hours
- 500Mbps: ~57 minutes
- 1Gbps: ~28 minutes
Plan accordingly, and see you in Vice City (from afar, at least until an online/multiplayer mode releases)!
