Get ready
Preload
The preload window opens around November 12, 2026 - one week before launch Official. That's also when boxed code-in-a-box copies become available to redeem. Per-store preload hours and the install size aren't published yet TBA - this page carries them the moment they are.
What Rockstar did last time
| Launch | Preload window | Install size |
|---|---|---|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) | Preload opened ~7 days before launch | ~90-105 GB |
| GTA V (PS4/Xbox One, 2014) | Preload ~2-7 days before launch (varied by store) | ~50 GB |
| GTA VI (2026) | From ~November 12, 2026 (per-store hours pending) | TBA - expect well beyond 100 GB |
Past-launch figures are approximate platform-store values at launch; GTA VI row updates on announcement.
Do these three things now
- Free the space. Clear at least 150 GB on the console SSD - deleting a 100+ GB game at 11pm on November 18 is the classic launch-night fail.
- Remember: there is no disc. Boxed copies contain a download code (expected to ship about a week early) - if you buy boxed, redeem the code the day it arrives so you can preload like everyone else.
- Run the launch checklist. Everything above plus the boring stuff (controller charged, day off booked) in one tracker.