Without a doubt, Grand Theft Auto VI is the most eagerly anticipated game of the year—and its release date is just around the corner. It has already sparked tons of discussion with its frequent delays and high-profile sneak peek, and we expect it to break all kinds of records.
Here’s what you need to know about Grand Theft Auto VI and what you should be doing in the lead up to its release.
Rockstar is releasing Grand Theft Auto VI on Thursday, November 19th, 2026. It will initially launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and the game will officially go live at midnight in your respective time zone.
While there’s no official release date for the PC version of GTA 6, multiple industry insiders point to a Q1 2027 release.
Anyone who has pre-ordered GTA 6 digitally will be able to download the game files ahead of the actual launch. On PS5, the pre-load begins at midnight local time on Tuesday, November 10th. For Xbox Series X/S, it starts worldwide at midnight GMT on November 10th—that means 7 PM EST on Monday, November 9th for those on the east coast.
Automatic downloads must be enabled on both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. and the console must be turned on or in sleep mode.
According to Rockstar, the download for GTA 6 will require up to 212GB of free storage space. However, the final installation size on your system may vary slightly because the file size may not be exactly the same on all consoles. To be safe, you should definitely free up at least 212GB of storage space on your console ahead of the pre-load.
There are no plans for a traditional disc version of Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar will be selling a physical edition, but it comes in “code-in-box” packaging—a box that contains a code for downloading the game.
The code-in-box editions will be available at retailers starting November 12th, but you can already pre-order via certain retailers like Amazon. Product pages are already up for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S code-in-boxes.
GTA 6 is being released in a Standard Edition and an Ultimate Edition. The latter includes an upgrade pack with extras such as vehicles, weapons, and outfits. The Standard Edition costs $79.99 while the Ultimate Edition costs $99.99, and the Ultimate Edition is currently only available via the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store.
However, there will also be a strictly limited Collector’s Edition that will retail for an eye-watering $399.99. It’ll include a 6-inch vinyl figure, a pair of Oakley sunglasses, a crossbody bag, a snapback cap, a magnetic mirror, and other physical goodies featuring Vice City branding. Notably, the Collector’s Edition doesn’t include a copy of the GTA 6 game itself. This edition does not yet have a release date and can only be pre-ordered via the Rockstar Store with a Rockstar Games account.
The GTA 6 pre-load begins nine days before the launch. If you want to play GTA 6 right from the start, you should prepare your console ASAP for the download, which means freeing up at least 212GB of storage space. Make sure you have a stable internet connection, and expect a day-one patch that’ll take up additional time and storage space.
