GTA 6 pre-load is open: times for PS5 and Xbox, and the 212 GB download
Pre-loading Grand Theft Auto VI opened on 10 November: PS5 at midnight local time, Xbox at 00:00 GMT (01:00 CET). The download is up to 212 GB.
Confirmed Updated 2 min read By Redaktion, first published 9 Nov 2026, 09:40 CET
TL;DR: The digital pre-load for Grand Theft Auto VI has been open since Tuesday, 10 November 2026. On PS5 it opened at midnight local time. On Xbox Series X|S it opened worldwide at 00:00 GMT, which was 01:00 CET in Germany and the evening of 9 November in the Americas. Plan for up to 212 GB of free space.
Update 11 Nov, 09:15 CET: Rockstar's schedule for 10 November stands, and MP1st reported the pre-load live on 9 November US time, when 10 November had already begun in the earliest time zones. We have no own console to check the download. Unverified
When the pre-load opened
| Platform | Rule | Example times |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Midnight local time on 10 Nov | 00:00 in Berlin, 00:00 in London, 00:00 in New York – each in its own time zone |
| Xbox Series X|S | One global moment: 00:00 GMT on 10 Nov | 01:00 CET (10 Nov) · 7:00 PM EST (9 Nov) · 4:00 PM PST (9 Nov) |
For you, the Xbox start was (shown in your device time zone when JavaScript is on).
So on the US East Coast, Xbox owners could start about five hours before PS5 owners in the same city. In Germany the order flipped: PS5 opened at 00:00 CET, Xbox one hour later at 01:00 CET.
How much space you need
Rockstar says the download needs up to 212 GB and that the exact amount depends on your device. That is the figure to plan for on both consoles. If your internal SSD is close to full, clear space first so the download is not interrupted.
What changed
Rockstar first planned the pre-load for 12 November, the date in Take-Two’s pre-order announcement from 24 June 2026. On 3 November Rockstar moved it two days earlier to 10 November. The physical editions arrive in stores on 12 November; the box contains a download code, not a disc, so those buyers download the game too.
What we don’t know yet
- The exact unlock hour on 19 November. Rockstar has confirmed the release date, not the hour. See our release time page for both scenarios and a table by region. Unverified
- A day-one patch. Nothing has been announced. When one appears, it goes into our patch notes database.
Sources (5)
- Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10Rockstar Newswire 3 Nov 2026Confirmed
- GTA 6 pre-load go live, with main menu theme song and release times revealedMP1st 9 Nov 2026Unverified
- GTA 6 pre-load starts November 10, file size is 212 GBShacknews (summary of the Rockstar post) 3 Nov 2026Confirmed
- GTA 6's massive download size confirmed as Rockstar moves pre-load date forwardNotebookcheck 3 Nov 2026Confirmed
- Rockstar Games announces pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI (original pre-load date 12 Nov)Take-Two Interactive 24 Jun 2026Confirmed
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