GTA VI pre-load will need up to 212 GB, starting 10 November on consoles

What Rockstar confirmed

Rockstar Games said on Tuesday, 3 November, that the pre-load file for Grand Theft Auto VI will take up to 212 GB, depending on the device. The figure matches rumours that had circulated in the preceding weeks, which had put the game at about 210 GB on PlayStation 5. The studio urged players to free up room before starting the download.

“make sure you've got ample space to begin pre-loading as soon as possible”

El Mundo places the game among the heaviest titles published for consoles, and it will apply to every buyer whatever the edition.

Pre-load timing by platform

Digital buyers can start the pre-load on Tuesday, 10 November. On PlayStation 5 it opens at midnight local time, while Xbox Series X|S users can start at 00:00 GMT, which Polish and Italian outlets put at 01:00 local time in their countries. Spider's Web reports that the pre-load had originally been planned for Thursday, 12 November, a week before launch. Rockstar moved it forward by two days, which TechRadar says gives players nine days to download before the 19 November launch.

Physical editions and launch

The game launches on 19 November and will be sold only as a digital download. Physical copies carry just a code in the box, so every buyer, whatever the retailer, has to download the full file from Sony or Microsoft servers, El Mundo notes. TechRadar reports that code-in-box versions should reach retailers from 12 November. The Verge gives the price as $79.99, while Adnkronos and El Mundo quote 79,99 euros.

Storage on smaller consoles

El Mundo estimates that about 667 GB remains usable on the 825 GB PlayStation 5 after the system reserve, so the game would take almost a third of that space if nothing else is installed. On the 512 GB Xbox Series S, about 364 GB is usable for games and apps, which El Mundo calculates would mean the game takes roughly 58% of the available space. Rockstar warns that the size may vary by device, and El Mundo notes that games take about 30% less space on Series S than on Series X. Expanding storage is possible on both consoles, though El Mundo points to a significant rise in memory prices over the past year.

Comparison with earlier releases

El Mundo sets the file against earlier Rockstar titles. Grand Theft Auto III occupied about 1.5 GB on a PlayStation 2 disc in 2001, the PS5 and Xbox Series version of GTA V reached 87 GB, and Red Dead Redemption 2 was around 100 GB when it released in 2018. Xataka notes that a rumour of about 210 GB had circulated days earlier, and that the confirmed figure is 212 GB.

Grand Theft Auto III (2001, PS2)1.5

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018, about 100 GB)100

Grand Theft Auto V (PS5 and Xbox Series version)87

Grand Theft Auto VI (pre-load file)212

Grand Theft Auto III (2001, PS2)

1.5 GB

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018, about 100 GB)

100 GB

Grand Theft Auto V (PS5 and Xbox Series version)

87 GB

Grand Theft Auto VI (pre-load file)

212 GB

Data from the article text

Extras and what follows

Rockstar plans to offer a printable poster with the game's cover art and a map of Leonida, the fictional state where the story is set, as a free digital download from the official site. The sources differ on the date, with TechRadar giving 19 November and La Razón giving 10 November. A double-sided physical version of the poster will be sold for $0.99 from the Rockstar Store, or given free with any purchase, according to TechRadar.

“A double-sided physical version of this poster will also be made available shortly after launch from the Rockstar Store”

A separate report cited by TechRadar claims the PC version could launch in early 2027.