GTA 6 Pre-Load Starts at Midnight: UK Time, File Size and How to Download Early

9th November 2026

Updated 9 Nov 2026, 20:41 · First published 9 Nov 2026

You can start downloading Grand Theft Auto VI from midnight tonight. Pre-loading opens at 12am on Tuesday 10 November for digital pre-orders on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S – but make sure you have more than 200GB of free space.

Rockstar brought the pre-load forward from 12 November. Pre-loading lets you download the game in advance so it is ready to play the moment it unlocks on launch day, Thursday 19 November. You cannot start playing early.

GTA 6 pre-load: key facts

Pre-load starts (UK)Midnight, Tuesday 10 November

Who can pre-loadDigital pre-orders of the Standard and Ultimate editions

Space neededUp to 212GB, depending on console (Rockstar)

Launch dayThursday 19 November 2026

PlatformsPS5 and Xbox Series X|S – no PC version at launch

When does the pre-load start?

Console	Pre-load start (UK time)
Xbox Series X\|S	12am GMT, Tuesday 10 November – at the same moment worldwide
PS5	Midnight local time, Tuesday 10 November – rolling out by time zone

Digital pre-orders only

How big is GTA 6?

Rockstar says the pre-load needs up to 212GB, and the exact size varies by console. Early reports from players who have started downloading in other time zones suggest a download of around 210GB on PS5 and around 225GB on Xbox Series X|S. Clear out old games before midnight if your console is nearly full.

What if I bought a physical copy?

There is no disc this time. Physical copies are “code in a box” – the box contains a download code to redeem on the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store. Rockstar says these should be in shops from 12 November, so you can redeem the code and start downloading then.

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Quick checklist: 1) Make sure your pre-order is linked to the right console account. 2) Free up at least 220–230GB of space. 3) Leave the console in rest mode overnight so the download can finish. 4) Check your broadband – a 200GB-plus download can take many hours on a slower connection.

When can I play GTA 6?

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on Thursday 19 November 2026. Store listings point to the game unlocking at midnight local time, but Rockstar has not officially confirmed the exact time.