GTA 6 preload: it starts November 10, here's how to be ready
GTA 6 preloading opens November 10, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, nine days before launch, with a download of up to 212GB. Start times, boxed copies and storage tips so you can play from minute one.
By Valentin
© Rockstar Games GTA 6 preloading opens on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, nine days before the game launches on November 19. Rockstar Games announced it on November 3, moving the window up two days from the November 12 date announced earlier. The game requires up to 212GB of storage depending on the console. Boxed copy owners can start downloading from November 12.
When can you preload GTA 6?
From Tuesday, November 10, 2026 if you pre-ordered the digital version, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar shared the schedule on November 3; when pre-orders opened in June, preloading had been set for November 12. The game unlocks on November 19 (see what time GTA 6 comes out).
What time does preloading start?
| Time zone | PS5 | Xbox Series X|S |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | Nov. 10, 12 AM | Nov. 9, 7 PM |
| Central (CT) | Nov. 10, 12 AM | Nov. 9, 6 PM |
| Pacific (PT) | Nov. 10, 12 AM | Nov. 9, 4 PM |
| London (GMT) | Nov. 10, 12 AM | Nov. 10, 12 AM |
PS5 preloading rolls out region by region at midnight local time, while Xbox unlocks at the same moment worldwide.
Can you preload the boxed version?
Yes, just a little later. The GTA 6 box doesn't contain a disc but a download code. It will be on shelves from November 12, leaving a full week to download the game before launch. There's no paper map in the box either: Rockstar will offer a printable Leonida map and poster as free downloads on its website on November 19.
How much storage do you need?
Rockstar says the download is up to 212GB depending on your device, without listing an exact figure for each console. That confirms the 210GB PS5 estimate spotted in PlayStation Store data in late October. On a launch PS5, whose 825GB SSD offers around 667GB of usable space, the game will take up nearly a third of the room available.
How do you get your console ready?
- Make room: free up at least 212GB by uninstalling games you no longer play or moving them to external storage.
- Turn on automatic downloads and leave your console in rest mode, connected to the internet, from November 10.
- Update your PS5 or Xbox system software before November 19. On PS5, PlayStation Store data suggests the game may require firmware 14.22, which Rockstar hasn't confirmed.
- Check your pre-order: it should show up in your library.
Haven't pre-ordered yet? Read our editions comparison. The full details of the November 3 announcement are in our story Rockstar moves GTA 6 preload up to November 10.
Frequently asked questions
When can you preload GTA 6?
From November 10, 2026 for the digital version on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S: midnight local time on PS5, midnight GMT (7 PM ET on November 9) on Xbox.
Can you preload GTA 6 with a boxed copy?
Yes, using the download code inside the box, available from November 12.
How big is GTA 6?
Up to 212GB depending on the console, according to Rockstar Games.
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