Last updated on October 29, 2026
There will be exactly seven days between the moment you can download GTA 6 and the moment you can actually play it. If your console is packed to the brim, now is a good time to start cleaning house.
According to PlayStation Game Size on X, an account that tracks game sizes ahead of launch, Grand Theft Auto VI will take up 210 GB on PlayStation 5. Rockstar has not confirmed the number yet, but the account has a pretty solid track record.
Preload opens on November 12
GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Preloading opens one week earlier, on November 12, for everyone who pre-ordered the game.
The listed time is midnight, although it is still unclear which time zone that refers to. In short, you get a full week to pull the files onto your console, and on launch day the game simply unlocks.
Rockstar has also said that the physical edition will hit stores on November 12 as well, specifically so buyers can preload in time.
210 GB, almost double GTA 5
For comparison, GTA 5 takes up around 95 to 100 GB on PS5, and the Enhanced version on PC asks for 105 GB of free space. GTA 6 is getting close to twice the size of its predecessor.
No number has surfaced for Xbox Series X|S so far, but it should land close to the PS5 figure.
One more thing to keep in mind: 210 GB is the download size. A day one patch is practically a tradition for games this big, so it is safer to keep at least 250 GB free.
How much space you have left
A launch PS5 says 825 GB on the box, but only about 667 GB is actually usable for games. GTA 6 alone would eat almost a third of that.
Things are even tighter on Xbox Series S. Out of 512 GB, roughly 364 GB is usable, so GTA 6 would fill more than half of the available space.
How long it takes to download 210 GB
It depends a lot on your connection. Here are theoretical estimates under ideal conditions:
| Internet speed | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| 1 Gbps | about 28 minutes |
| 500 Mbps | about 56 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | about 4 hours 40 minutes |
| 50 Mbps | about 9 hours 20 minutes |
| 20 Mbps | about 23 hours |
In practice, servers will be hammered by millions of players during the same days, so real speeds can drop noticeably. The earlier you start, the better.
No disc in the box either
Something many players forget: the physical edition of GTA 6 does not include a disc. The box only contains a download code, so even people buying the game in a store will need to download the full 210 GB.
As for price, the standard edition costs $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition goes for $99.99.
What you can do right now
- Check how much free space you have in your console settings.
- Delete games you no longer play, but make sure your saves are synced to the cloud first.
- If you want more room for the long run, an extra M.2 SSD for PS5 or an expansion card for Xbox Series will sort it out.
- Leave your console in rest mode with downloads enabled so it can grab the game overnight.
- If you buy the physical edition, redeem the code as soon as you get it so you can join the preload too.
We will see whether the number gets officially confirmed on the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store once preloading opens. Until then, start making room on that SSD, because Vice City is not going to wait for you.
I’m passionate about books and video games. These two great passions represent, for me, a boundless universe where I can “escape” from reality whenever I need or want to. There are so many stories, worlds, and landscapes where I can instantly teleport that I don’t think a whole lifetime would be enough to explore them all (though it would be my greatest dream to be able to).
