After years of waiting, multiple delays, and countless rumours, Grand Theft Auto VI is finally coming to players’ consoles. Starting today, November 10, those who have preordered Rockstar’s highly anticipated open-world game can begin downloading it on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
But before you get too excited, you have to remember that this isn’t the full release. While you can download the game right now, you’ll have to wait until November 19 to actually play it. According to Rockstar’s official support page, preloading begins at different times depending on your console. PlayStation 5 users can start downloading at midnight in their respective time zones, while Xbox Series X|S owners get access simultaneously worldwide at 12 am GMT on November 10.
For American Xbox players, preloading technically began on November 9, at 7 pm ET or 4 pm PT.
Vice City is calling, but you better have a lot of storage
Before you rush to download the game, it’s worth checking if your console has available storage. Rockstar confirms that GTA 6 requires up to 212GB of free space, depending on the console. So if you already have a bunch of large games installed, this might mean you have to uninstall one or two of them. Fortunately, getting the preload started is relatively straightforward.
On PS5, navigate to your Game Library, select GTA 6, and check the countdown timer to enable automatic downloading. You’ll also need to make sure your console is powered on or in Rest Mode with automatic downloads enabled. Xbox owners should enable automatic updates and leave their consoles powered on or in Sleep Mode. If you’ve already preordered the game, check your game library for the available download.
The preload should save players from having to download the entire game when it officially unlocks, but there will most definitely be additional updates that should drop on launch day.
The wait is almost over
GTA 6 officially launches on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, taking players back to Vice City and the sprawling state of Leonida. But as we get closer to the release, there’s a major question hanging over the release.
As I reported yesterday, PlayStation backend references have revealed potential multiplayer functionality, but Rockstar still hasn’t announced a successor to GTA Online. So the focus clearly remains on Jason and Lucia’s adventure in single-player. With just nine days separating the preload from launch, Vice City’s long-awaited return is finally within reach for me.
