GTA VI preload: when the download starts, how much space is needed, and how to free up space

Rockstar Games has confirmed that the digital preload for Grand Theft Auto VI will begin on Tuesday, November 10. Players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S will be able to download the files in advance; the game itself launches on November 19. The preload will require up to 212 GB of free space, so if you have a console with a smaller storage capacity, now is the time to start clearing space.

When does the preload start?

Rockstar announced the date on November 3. The start time varies by console:

• PS5: at midnight local time on Tuesday, November 10. In Slovakia, that’s at 12:00 a.m. on the night from Monday to Tuesday.
• Xbox Series X|S: a global start at 00:00 GMT. In Slovakia (Central European Time), that’s 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

The game launches on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Preloading does not start the game; it only downloads the game files. You can start playing only after the game is unlocked at launch.

Who Can Preload

Players who have pre-ordered the game digitally can pre-download it. Rockstar also has no plans to produce physical discs. A boxed version is available for purchase, but it contains only a download code. According to Rockstar, these versions should be available in stores starting November 12; however, we have not yet confirmed this date for Slovak retailers.

How Much Storage Space Do You Need

Rockstar states that the preload requires 212 GB of free storage space. Some media outlets reported approximately 200 GB even before the official announcement, but the publisher’s figure is the definitive one. It’s important to note that this refers to free space, not just the game’s size after installation.

This will be most noticeable on consoles with smaller storage capacities. If your storage is nearly full, a single game can take up a significant portion of your capacity, so it’s wise to decide which games to temporarily uninstall.

How to free up space

The procedure may vary slightly depending on your console’s operating system version.

1. In Settings, open Storage Management and view the list of games and apps.
2. Sort them by size to see which ones are taking up the most space.
3. Uninstall any games you won’t be playing in the coming weeks. Your saved progress will remain in the cloud if you’ve backed it up, and you can download the game again later.
4. Also check your recordings and screenshots, which often take up more space than you’d expect.

Games for the PS5 and Xbox Series typically run from the internal drive or a supported SSD expansion drive. A standard external USB drive is usually only used to store games, not to play them.

How long will the download take?

Theoretical calculation for 212 GB at full connection speed, without overhead or fluctuations:

• 50 Mbit/s: approximately 9.4 hours
• 100 Mbit/s: approximately 4.7 hours
• 300 Mbit/s: approximately 1.6 hours

In practice, the time may be longer, especially if many players connect at once during the first few hours. If your internet provider has a data cap, check it before the start.

What to Check Before November 10

• Have you pre-ordered the game digitally, and is it linked to your PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store account?
• Do you have at least 212 GB of free space on your hard drive?
• Is your console connected to the internet and set up to download overnight?
• Have you read the official FAQ about preloading on the Rockstar support page?

What preloading won’t change

Preloading won’t speed up the launch itself or let you play before November 19. It just saves you the wait for the files to download on release day.