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Preload, November 12, 2026

Preloading GTA VI:
what’s certain, and what’s still pending.

GTA VI preloading starts on November 12, 2026 at midnight, local time, one week before the release on the 19th: that’s what Rockstar Support says. The download size and the unlock time on the 19th, on the other hand, haven’t been announced yet. This page says what’s official, how to get ready on PS5 and Xbox, and where the last numbers will drop.

The editions and pre-orders What’s confirmed
Jason at the wheel of a convertible, Lucia next to him with a pistol in her hand, official Rockstar Games imageJason and Lucia
The official GTA VI cover art: Jason and Lucia in the center, surrounded by Boobie, Raul, an alligator and scenes from Leonida, official Rockstar Games imageOfficial cover art
Vice City at night, lit-up Ferris wheel and buildings along the water, official Rockstar Games imageVice City at night

Where things stand as of October 20, 2026

When does GTA VI preloading start?

November 12, 2026, according to Rockstar Support. Three dates to remember, each with its source.

Today

Preloading isn’t open yet: it starts on November 12, 2026 at midnight, local time. This page will change state that day, with the game’s file size as soon as it’s published.

What your console will show

The official GTA VI cover art, official Rockstar Games visualGTA VI preloadFrom November 12, 2026, midnight local time
Download pending

Size: not announced yetPlayable on November 19

  1. Preloading starts

    At midnight, local time, for pre-ordered digital versions; the box, available the same day, contains a code that lets you preload right away.

    Rockstar Support

  2. GTA VI comes out

    On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The French PlayStation Store shows an unlock at midnight, Paris time; Rockstar hasn’t announced a time. Check your store the day before.

    Rockstar Newswire

  3. End of the pre-order bonuses

    A digital purchase made before this date gets you the Vintage Vice City Pack and a month of GTA+.

    Rockstar Support

Step by step

How to preload GTA VI on PS5 and on Xbox Series

What the PlayStation and Xbox support pages say about a pre-ordered game. Nothing specific to GTA VI has been published: these are the usual rules of the two consoles, and the PlayStation Store shows “preload 7 days early” on the game’s listing.

On PlayStation 5

  1. Pre-order on the PlayStation StoreWith the account that will play. The pre-order shows up right away in your Game Library, with a countdown.
  2. Check the automatic download boxIn the library, open the pre-ordered game, then its countdown: if the content’s box is checked, it downloads on its own as soon as it’s available.
  3. Leave the console in rest modeIn the settings, turn on automatic updates and “Stay Connected to the Internet” in rest mode: the download starts without you, as soon as preloading opens.

OfficialPlayStation Support

On Xbox Series X|S

  1. Pre-order on the Microsoft StoreOn the console or on xbox.com, with the account that will play. Xbox codes aren’t region-locked.
  2. Automatic install in sleep modeA game you own installs on its own on your home console if it’s in sleep mode and “Keep my games & apps up to date” is turned on.
  3. Otherwise, from “My games & apps”My games & apps, Full library, Owned games: the game shows a download icon; select Install. Never buy the game again if a price shows up instead of Install.

OfficialXbox Support

With the box, it’s the same thing once the code is entered in your console’s store. Preloading opens at midnight, local time, on November 12: the console handles it overnight if it’s in sleep mode, otherwise you start it yourself the next day.

How long?

Download time, based on your connection

The size of GTA VI hasn’t been announced. Type a size and your speed: the result is your own calculation, not game data. Red Dead Redemption 2’s sizes at launch give a series benchmark.

Your download time
GB
Not announced as of October 20, 2026: type an assumption. The page will use the real size as soon as it is published.
Mbit/s
Estimated timeType a sizeAt a constant speed, with no slowdown from the store or the console. A speed test gives you your real figure.

Series benchmark

Red Dead Redemption 2 at launch, in 2018

  • 99 GBon PlayStation 4
  • 107 GBon Xbox One
  • ? GBGTA VI, not announced

Install sizes published by Rockstar Support in October 2018 and reported by Game Informer. GTA VI is another game, on other consoles: this benchmark predicts nothing. Game Informer

The boxed version

What if I buy GTA VI boxed?

Three things to know, all stated by Rockstar Support.

The official GTA VI cover art: Jason and Lucia in the center, surrounded by Boobie, Raul, an alligator and scenes from Leonida, official Rockstar Games image

  • A code, not a disc

    The box contains a download code. The game downloads like a digital version, with the same file size.

    OfficialRockstar Support

  • From November 12

    The box is available from November 12, 2026, for delivery or pickup, so you can preload the game before release.

    OfficialRockstar Support

  • No boxed Ultimate

    The Ultimate Edition doesn’t exist as a boxed version: the upgrade is bought digitally once the game’s code is redeemed.

    OfficialRockstar Support

The boxed version in detail, on the editions page

Not announced yet

The game’s file size and the time on the 19th: what isn’t confirmed

As of October 20, 2026, Rockstar has published neither the download size nor the unlock time on November 19. Here’s what we know, and where it will be announced.

  • The download size (GB)

    Not shared, by Rockstar or by the stores. It will appear on the game’s listing in each store by the time preloading opens, at the latest.

    To be confirmed

    Where it will be announced PlayStation Store , Microsoft Store

  • The unlock time on November 19

    Rockstar hasn’t announced it. The French PlayStation Store shows midnight, Paris time (November 18 at 23:00 UTC); the Microsoft Store listing shows no time. Check your store the day before.

    To be confirmed

    Where it will be announced PlayStation Store , Microsoft Store

  • And the preloading time?

    That one is official: midnight, local time, on November 12, 2026, according to Rockstar Support. The console handles it overnight if it’s in sleep mode.

    Official

    Where it will be announced Rockstar Support

This page is updated as soon as one of these numbers is published, with its source and date. If you see it before we do, report it.

Before November 12

What you can do right now

Five simple steps so the download starts without you.

While waiting for November 12

The site has plenty to fill the wait: get your game ready with what Rockstar has already shown.

Questions

Questions people ask about GTA 6 preloading

When does GTA 6 preloading start?
November 12, 2026 at midnight, local time, one week before release, according to Rockstar Support. The PlayStation Store mentions “preload 7 days early”.
How big is GTA 6 on PS5 and Xbox?
Not shared as of October 20, 2026. It will be visible on the game’s store listings by the time preloading opens, at the latest; this page will pick it up with its source.
How long does the GTA 6 download take?
It depends on the game’s size, not yet announced, and on your speed. This page’s calculation gives an order of magnitude: 100 GB at 100 Mbit/s takes a little over two hours at a constant speed. The download time calculation
Can you preload GTA 6 with the boxed version?
Yes: the box contains a download code, not a disc, and it’s available from November 12 so you can preload the game. The boxed version
What time will GTA 6 be playable on November 19?
Rockstar hasn’t announced it. The French PlayStation Store shows midnight, Paris time, on the night of November 18 to 19; the Microsoft Store listing shows no time. Check your store the day before.
Is preloading possible on PC?
No: GTA 6 is coming out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only. No PC version has been announced. GTA 6 on PC: what we know

Sources

Where each piece of information comes from

Official pages only: Rockstar, PlayStation and Xbox. Every source is dated.

  1. OfficialRockstar Support: Grand Theft Auto VI, platforms, editions and versionsRockstar Games, assistance, published on August 18, 2026, accessed on October 20, 2026

    Preloading “at local midnight on November 12, 2026”; the box contains a download code, no disc, available November 12; the Ultimate Edition doesn’t exist as a boxed version; pre-order bonuses until November 20. No file size, no unlock time.

  2. OfficialRockstar Newswire: pre-order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25Rockstar Games, published on June 24, 2026, accessed on October 20, 2026

    Digital pre-orders will be able to preload from November 12; the box, with a code and no disc, is available on November 12 for preloading.

  3. OfficialRockstar Newswire: Grand Theft Auto VI will release on November 19, 2026Rockstar Games, published on November 6, 2025, accessed on October 20, 2026

    The release date: November 19, 2026.

  4. OfficialRockstar Newswire: the official announcementsRockstar Games, accessed on October 20, 2026

    That’s where Rockstar publishes its announcements; the preloading or release time, if it’s announced, will be there.

  5. OfficialPlayStation Store: Grand Theft Auto VI, Standard EditionSony Interactive Entertainment, accessed on October 20, 2026

    The game’s page on the PlayStation Store: “Preload 7 days early”, release shown on November 18, 2026 at 23:00 UTC, which is midnight in Paris on the 19th; no download size shown as of October 20.

  6. OfficialMicrosoft Store: Grand Theft Auto VIMicrosoft, accessed on October 20, 2026

    The game’s page on the Xbox store (Xbox Series X|S only); neither an “approximate size” nor a release time shown as of October 20.

  7. OfficialPlayStation Support: pre-ordering and automatically downloading games from the PlayStation StoreSony Interactive Entertainment, accessed on October 20, 2026

    The pre-order shows up in the Game Library with a countdown; if the content’s box is checked, automatic download is on and starts as soon as the content is available; “Stay Connected to the Internet” recommended.

  8. OfficialPlayStation Support: setting up automatic downloads and updatesSony Interactive Entertainment, accessed on October 20, 2026

    PS5: Settings, Saved Data and Game/App Settings, Automatic Updates; rest mode with “Stay Connected to the Internet”.

  9. OfficialXbox Support: pre-ordering digital Xbox games from the Microsoft StoreMicrosoft, accessed on October 20, 2026

    Xbox Support’s page on pre-ordering digital games: a pre-ordered game that doesn’t show up can be found in the Store, where you select Install, without buying it again.

  10. OfficialXbox Support: finding your games and add-onsMicrosoft, accessed on October 20, 2026

    Owned games install automatically on the home console in sleep mode with “Keep my games & apps up to date”; otherwise Full library, Owned games, Install.

  11. Seen in mediaGame Informer: Rockstar confirms the install sizes of Red Dead Redemption IIGame Informer, published on October 18, 2018, accessed on October 20, 2026

    According to Rockstar’s support page: 99 GB of install space on PlayStation 4, 107 GB on Xbox One, and 50 GB more while installing the digital version on PS4.