GTA 6 preload now starts on Tuesday, November 10, two days earlier than planned. Rockstar confirmed it on its Newswire on November 3: PS5 opens at midnight local time, Xbox Series X|S opens worldwide at 12 a.m. GMT, and the download needs up to 212 GB.
The game itself still unlocks on November 19. You just get two extra days to download it.
When does GTA 6 preload start in your time zone?
PS5 is simple: midnight on November 10 wherever you live. Xbox opens at the same moment everywhere, so in the Americas it starts on the evening of November 9.
| Where you are | PS5 preload | Xbox preload |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 7:00 PM, Nov 9 |
| US Pacific | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 4:00 PM, Nov 9 |
| Brazil (Brasília) | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 9:00 PM, Nov 9 |
| UK | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 |
| Central Europe | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 1:00 AM, Nov 10 |
| India | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 5:30 AM, Nov 10 |
| Japan | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 9:00 AM, Nov 10 |
| Sydney | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 11:00 AM, Nov 10 |
| New Zealand | 12:00 AM, Nov 10 | 1:00 PM, Nov 10 |
The Xbox times are converted from 12 a.m. GMT using each region's November clock, after daylight saving has ended in the US and Europe.
Why did the date change?
Rockstar didn't give a reason. In June it said preload would start on November 12, and every guide, ours included, planned around that. Now the window is nine days instead of seven.
The likely effect is a smoother download: more days spreads the load across Sony's and Microsoft's servers. That part is our reading, not something Rockstar said.
How much space do you need?
Rockstar says the pre-load needs up to 212 GB depending on your device. That's the first official size after weeks of reports from store data that put it at about 210 GB.
A day-one patch is likely on top, so aim for about 250 GB free. Our SSD space guide shows how much room each console really has.
What about the boxed edition?
The boxed version has a download code, not a disc. Rockstar says code-in-box copies should be at retailers from November 12, so boxed buyers can only start downloading after they redeem that code. Here's why there's no disc.
The free Leonida map
On November 19, Rockstar will add a printable GTA 6 cover art poster and map of Leonida to the official site as a free download. A double-sided printed version will follow on the Rockstar Store shortly after launch, for $0.99 on its own or free with any Rockstar Store purchase. It isn't in the box.
Does this change the refund deadline?
It moves it up. On most digital stores, starting the main download can make a refund harder, so if you're thinking of cancelling, do it before November 10. The refund guide covers each store.
What to do before November 10
- Update your console. GTA 6 reportedly needs PS5 firmware 14.22.
- Free up about 250 GB.
- Turn on automatic downloads and leave the console in rest mode on PS5, or set the Xbox to keep updates installing while it's off.
- Check the unlock time for your time zone. The US unlocks at midnight Eastern on November 19.
For the full week, see the launch week schedule.
