# GTA 6 Now Reportedly Needs PS5 Firmware 14.22: What It Means and How to Update

> Status: Likely · GTA6 Daily

PlayStation Store data now lists system software 14.22 as the minimum for GTA 6, up from 14.10. Sony released that exact version this week. Here's who it affects and how to check your console before preload.

## Key takeaways
- GTA 6 reportedly needs PS5 system software 14.22.00.00 or newer, up from the 14.10 figure reported in October.
- The number comes from PlayStation Game Size, an account that reads PlayStation Store data. Sony and Rockstar haven't confirmed it.
- Sony's own update page lists 26.07-14.22.00 as the latest PS5 version, with security fixes.
- If your PS5 updates normally, you just need to install it. Jailbroken consoles kept on old firmware won't run the game.

GTA 6 now reportedly needs PS5 system software 14.22.00.00 or newer to play. That's up from version 14.10, the figure reported at the start of October. If your PS5 installs updates normally, all you have to do is install the latest one before launch.

The new number appeared on November 2, and it lines up with an update Sony released the same week.

## Where does the 14.22 number come from?

It comes from PlayStation Game Size, an X account that tracks PlayStation Store data for upcoming games. In early October it posted that GTA 6 "requires at least PS5 Update 14.10.00.00." On November 2 it quoted that post with a new number: 14.22.00.00.

The October figure was widely reported at the time and never contradicted, and Sony has now shipped the exact version the new listing names. Even so, this is backend data, not an announcement. Sony and Rockstar haven't commented, so we label this Likely rather than Confirmed.

## What is PS5 update 14.22?

It's real, and it's the newest PS5 version on Sony's own update page, listed as 26.07-14.22.00. Here are the last three releases as Sony describes them:

| Version | What Sony's notes say |
|---|---|
| 26.07-14.22.00 | Security fixes to the system software |
| 26.07-14.20.00 | Improved messages and usability on some screens |
| 26.06-14.10.00 | Security fixes, plus better performance and stability |

Sony doesn't say what it fixed. It almost never does, because detailed notes would help the people trying to break the console.

## Why would GTA 6 need the newest firmware?

Rockstar hasn't explained it, but the timing points at piracy. Jailbroken PS5s are kept on old firmware so their exploits keep working. A game that refuses to start on anything older than the newest version shuts those consoles out on day one.

PS5 hacking has been busy this autumn. The Relapse exploit chain jailbroke consoles on firmware 7.00 to 13.60 in late September before Sony closed it, and a researcher ran their own code on 14.20 within hours of its release. Moving GTA 6's minimum to 14.22 looks like Rockstar closing the gap again, but that part is our reading, not something either company has said.

## Does this change anything for normal players?

Not much. If your PS5 installs updates automatically, it may already be on 14.22. Nothing similar has been reported for Xbox Series X|S.

The practical step is to update before November 12, when [preload opens](https://www.gta6daily.net/news/gta-6-preload-date-november-12-confirmed). Nobody has said whether the preload itself checks your version, so it's easier to update now than to find out on launch night. Free up space at the same time: the download is about [210 GB](https://www.gta6daily.net/news/gta-6-install-size-how-much-ssd-space-you-need).

## How to check and update your PS5

1. Go to **Settings**, then **System**, then **System Software**.
2. Open **System Software Update and Settings**. It shows "Update Available" if you're behind.
3. Select **Update System Software** and let it install. Don't turn the console off during the install.

If the download keeps failing, Sony's USB method works too. On a FAT32 or exFAT drive, make a folder called PS5 with a folder called UPDATE inside it, save Sony's file there as PS5UPDATE.PUP (about 1.1 GB free is enough), then start the PS5 in Safe Mode by holding the power button until the second beep. Choose **Update System Software**, then **Update from USB Storage Device**.

## Could the requirement change again?

It could. If another exploit turns up, the minimum could rise again with a later update, so the number might still move before November 19. We'll update this page if it does.

If you were hoping a jailbroken PS5 or a PC emulator would get you in early, the answer was already [no](https://www.gta6daily.net/news/can-pc-players-play-gta-6-at-launch-ps5-emulator-sharpemu), and this makes it even less likely. For the full countdown, see the [launch week schedule](https://www.gta6daily.net/news/gta-6-launch-week-schedule) and [when GTA 6 unlocks in your time zone](https://www.gta6daily.net/release-time).

## FAQ
### What PS5 firmware do you need for GTA 6?

GTA 6 reportedly needs PS5 system software 14.22.00.00 or newer. That figure comes from PlayStation Store data shared by the PlayStation Game Size account on November 2, 2026. Sony and Rockstar haven't confirmed it.

### How do I update my PS5 for GTA 6?

Go to Settings, then System, then System Software, then System Software Update and Settings, and select Update System Software. If the download keeps failing, Sony also lets you install the update from a USB drive in Safe Mode.

### Why does GTA 6 need the latest PS5 firmware?

Neither company has said. The most likely reason is piracy: jailbroken consoles stay on older firmware so exploits keep working, and a game that needs the newest version won't run on them. Sony's notes for 14.22 only say it includes security fixes.

### Does the firmware requirement affect Xbox players?

No. The report is about the PS5 version only. Nothing similar has been reported for Xbox Series X|S.

## Sources
- [PlayStation - PS5 system software update notes](https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/support/hardware/ps5/system-software-info/)
- [PlayStation - How to update PS5 system software](https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps5/system-software/)
- [PlayStation Game Size on X - GTA VI firmware requirement](https://x.com/PlaystationSize/status/2117174273852792952)
- [GamingBible - GTA 6 sets out new conditions for PS5 players](https://www.gamingbible.com/news/platform/playstation/gta-6-sets-out-new-conditions-ps5-players-firmware-654285-20261102)
- [AltChar - GTA 6 now requires PS5 firmware 14.22](https://www.altchar.com/game-news/gta-6-now-requires-ps5-firmware-14.22-as-the-fight-against-jailbreaks-heats-up-atxRN9o6xpU1)
- [Notebookcheck - GTA 6 requires 14.10.00 firmware on release](https://www.notebookcheck.net/GTA-6-blocks-PS5-jailbreak-and-piracy-on-release-date-requiring-14-10-00-firmware.1414828.0.html)
- [VGTimes - Sony releases PS5 update 14.22 with security fixes](https://vgtimes.com/gaming-news/173147-sony-releases-ps5-update-26.07-14.22.00-with-security-fixes.html)

Canonical: https://www.gta6daily.net/news/gta-6-ps5-firmware-14-22-requirement