Clear some space: Grand Theft Auto VI pre-loading starts on November 10. Rockstar announced the date in a Newswire post headlined "Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10". The body of that post didn't load for us, so the details below come from the outlets that reported it, credited as we go. Video Games Chronicle reports that the pre-load opens on Tuesday, November 10, ahead of the game's November 19 release.
How big is it?
Up to 212GB. VGC reports the pre-load is up to 212GB "depending on the device", and Pure Xbox gives the same 212GB maximum for Xbox Series X|S, advising players to have at least that much free. Push Square reports 212GB to download and install on PS5. Push Square adds that a file size had been rumoured the week before by an unnamed social media account; now it's confirmed, so there's no more guessing.
None of these reports gives a separate figure for Series X and Series S, so plan for the full 212GB on either.
When can you start?
The start time depends on your console, according to VGC.
- PS5: pre-loading opens at midnight local time on November 10, in your own time zone. VGC notes that means players in New Zealand get going first.
- Xbox Series X|S: the download starts at 12am GMT on November 10, which VGC puts at 4pm PT / 7pm ET on Monday, November 9.
Pure Xbox lists the Xbox start for Australia as 11am AEDT and 8am AWST on November 10. Queensland doesn't use daylight saving, so by our own conversion from 12am GMT, that's 10am in Brisbane. PS5 players in Australia don't need to do any maths: on VGC's description, their pre-load opens at their own local midnight.
Bought a physical copy?
VGC reports that physical code-in-box versions should be available from retailers starting November 12, two days after the digital pre-load opens.
Push Square has one more detail for anyone hoping for a paper map in the box: it won't be there. Quoting Rockstar, the outlet reports that on November 19 Rockstar will add an official printable GTA VI cover art poster and a map of Leonida as a free download, and that a double-sided physical version of the poster will be sold "shortly after launch" on the Rockstar Store, "for $0.99 on its own or as a free gift with any purchase". Push Square says the physical map isn't included in code-in-box editions.
The short version
- Pre-load: from November 10 (PS5 at local midnight; Xbox at 12am GMT).
- Code-in-box copies: at retailers from November 12, per VGC.
- Space: up to 212GB.
- Launch: November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Jax's take: The number that matters here isn't the date, it's the 212GB. If you're running a smaller console drive that's already full of other games, the time to decide what gets deleted is this weekend, not 10am on the 10th with the download bar sitting at zero. And if you're buying a code in a box, note that VGC's retail date is the 12th, not the 10th.
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