Grand Theft Auto 6 launches in just over two weeks, but users who preorder online will be able to load the game digitally starting Tuesday, Nov. 10.
In announcing the news, Rockstar Games confirmed that GTA 6 is fairly large. Gamers will need up to 212GB of storage on their Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5. “Make sure you’ve got ample space to begin pre-loading as soon as possible,” it warns.
The developer published a support page with more details and instructions that involve enabling automatic updates. Users also need to keep the console on, or at least in power-saving sleep or rest mode, so the game can download.
Digital preloading on the PS5 starts on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at midnight local time in your respective time zone. But for Xbox users, the pre-loading begins globally on Nov. 10 at 12 a.m. GMT, which is 7 p.m. EST on Nov. 9.
Rockstar also says that code-in-box versions for both consoles should be available from retailers beginning Nov. 12, if you want a physical box version of GTA 6, which starts at $79.99.
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GTA 6 officially arrives on Nov. 19, and it’s poised to be the biggest video game launch in recent memory, with many users already talking about taking the day off to play. For now, it’s only launching on Xbox and PlayStation. Rumors point to a PC launch in Q1.
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Michael Kan
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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