GTA 6 Preload Moved Up to November 10 as Rockstar Confirms 212GB Size

Rockstar Games announced on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that GTA 6 preloading will open on Tuesday, November 10 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, two days earlier than the November 12 date previously announced. The publisher also confirmed the game's size: up to 212GB depending on your console. Boxed copies, which contain a download code, will hit retailers on November 12, a week before the game launches on November 19.

When can you preload GTA 6?

Players who pre-ordered the digital version can start downloading on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, nine days before launch. Rockstar shared the news on the Newswire and on social media, urging fans to pre-order so they can jump in on November 19. When pre-orders opened in June, the publisher had said preloading would begin on November 12, so players now get two extra days to grab a particularly hefty file.

Every step to get ready is covered in our GTA 6 preload guide.

What time does GTA 6 preloading start on PS5 and Xbox?

Start times depend on your console. On PS5, preloading opens at midnight local time in each region, so players in New Zealand will once again be first in line.

On Xbox Series X|S, it unlocks at the same moment worldwide: November 10 at midnight GMT. In the US, that means Xbox players can start on the evening of November 9.

To find out when the game itself becomes playable, check our guide on what time GTA 6 comes out.

How much storage does GTA 6 need?

Rockstar says the download is up to 212GB depending on your device, without giving an exact figure for each console. The official number lines up with the estimate that surfaced in late October, when PlayStation Store data pointed to 210GB on PS5.

That's a lot, even for a game of this scale. On a launch PS5, whose 825GB SSD offers around 667GB of usable space, GTA 6 alone will eat up nearly a third of the room available. It's worth clearing out some games before November 10 and making sure your console is up to date: PlayStation Store data suggests the game may require firmware 14.22, although Rockstar hasn't confirmed it.

What about physical copies?

Boxed copy buyers won't benefit from the early window. As Rockstar previously stated, the physical edition of GTA 6 doesn't include a disc, just a download code. Those boxes will be on store shelves starting November 12, which still leaves a full week to download the game before launch.

Does GTA 6 come with a map in the box?

No. That's the other big piece of news: on November 19, Rockstar will add a printable cover art poster and a map of Leonida to the game's official site as free digital downloads. A double-sided physical poster will go on sale on the Rockstar Store shortly after launch for $0.99, or come free with any Rockstar Store purchase.

It's a break from series tradition. For years, boxed copies of GTA shipped with a paper map, including GTA V. With the physical edition now reduced to a download code, that tradition moves to a download or to Rockstar's own store. In the meantime, our GTA 6 map guide breaks down every known region of Leonida.

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