Players who pre-ordered Grand Theft Auto VI can start downloading the game today, Tuesday 10 November 2026, nine days before it launches. Rockstar Games confirmed the preload date on 3 November, bringing it forward by two days from the date it had given before.

The download is a large one. Rockstar says the pre-load file will need up to 212GB of free space, depending on the device. Players should check their storage before the download starts, because a console without enough room will not be able to complete it.

When the GTA 6 preload starts on each console

The two consoles do not start at the same moment. On PlayStation 5, the preload opens at midnight local time on 10 November, so it rolls around the world through the day. On Xbox Series X|S, it opens at a single moment worldwide: midnight GMT on 10 November, which is 7pm Eastern and 4pm Pacific on Monday 9 November in the United States.

Downloading early does not mean playing early. The files stay locked on the console until Grand Theft Auto VI unlocks on Thursday 19 November 2026. Preloading simply spreads the download over nine days so players are ready at launch.

Boxed copies hold a code, not a disc

There is no physical disc this time. The boxed edition of Grand Theft Auto VI contains a download code instead, and Rockstar says the code-in-box editions should reach shops from Thursday 12 November. A boxed copy can only start preloading once the code inside has been redeemed in the console store.

Rockstar has also said that PlayStation 5 codes are region locked, so players should buy a copy that matches their account region. The Standard Edition costs $79.99 in the United States.

What to do before you download

Players planning to preload should free up at least 212GB first. At a steady 100 megabits per second, a download of that size takes close to five hours, and at slower speeds it takes much longer, so starting early in the day is the safer choice.

Consoles set to download automatically should begin on their own once the preload window opens. Anyone unsure whether automatic downloads are switched on should check the console settings before the window starts, rather than discovering the download has not begun on launch morning.

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It is the first new mainline Grand Theft Auto game in more than a decade, and pre-orders opened in June. The preload opening today is the first step in the final countdown to release.