The short version
- GTA 6 is reportedly a 210GB download on PS5, according to the tracking account PlayStation Game Size. Insider Gaming backed it up. Rockstar hasn't confirmed it.
- Preloading reportedly opens on November 12, a week before the game launches on November 19 at ₹5,999 ($79.99).
- That's about a quarter of a PS5 Slim's usable space and more than half of an Xbox Series S. A day-one patch could add more.
- On a 100 Mbps connection, the download alone takes about 4 hours 40 minutes at full speed.
What's been reported
On October 27, the X account PlayStation Game Size posted that GTA 6 needs 210GB on PS5 and that preloads start on November 12. The account regularly posts PlayStation game sizes before release and has a good track record, which is why Engadget, Notebookcheck and others ran with it. Insider Gaming said its own information matched.
Two caveats from those reports:
- It isn't clear whether 210GB is the download or the space needed to install. Installs often need extra room while files unpack.
- Day-one patches usually land on launch day. Insider Gaming warned one could add to the total.
Rockstar has said nothing about file size. It has, however, been open that GTA 6 is its biggest game yet. Earlier, the hacker and leaker CyberLeek claimed a playable build was over 200GB, which lines up.
There's no Xbox figure yet. Notebookcheck expects it to be similar.
How big 210GB really is
Image: Zerocade
A console's advertised storage isn't what you get. The system software and reserved space take a chunk first. Here's what's left over, and what 210GB does to it:
| Console | Advertised | Usable | GTA 6 takes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series S | 512GB | about 362GB | 58% |
| PS5 (2020 model) | 825GB | about 667GB | 31% |
| Xbox Series X | 1TB | about 802GB | 26% |
| PS5 Slim | 1TB | about 848GB | 25% |
| PS5 Pro | 2TB | about 1.89TB | 11% |
Usable figures are from Digital Trends, TechRadar and Engadget.
For comparison, Red Dead Redemption 2 needed 149GB on PS4 in 2018. GTA 6 is about 61GB bigger again. Owners of the 512GB Series S are hit hardest: GTA 6 plus one big shooter could fill the console.
Image: Rockstar Games
How long it takes to download
This is where it matters most in India, where a lot of home plans are still 50 to 100 Mbps. Here's the maths for 210GB at a plan's full advertised speed:
Image: Zerocade
- 50 Mbps: about 9 hours 20 minutes
- 100 Mbps: about 4 hours 40 minutes
- 200 Mbps: about 2 hours 20 minutes
- 300 Mbps: about 1 hour 33 minutes
- 1 Gbps: about 28 minutes
Real speeds are usually slower, especially on launch week when PlayStation's servers are busy. That's why the preload window matters. Starting on November 12 gives you a full week, and the game unlocks at launch without any wait.
Check your plan's data cap too. Some Indian broadband plans have a monthly limit after which speeds drop sharply. 210GB, plus a patch, can eat a big part of it.
Making room
You have three options, in rough order of cost:
- Delete what you're not playing. Your saves stay on the console or in the cloud with PS Plus, so you can re-download a game later.
- Move PS4 games to a USB drive. PS5 can run PS4 games from external USB storage, and store PS5 games there too, though PS5 games must be moved back to internal storage to play.
- Add an M.2 SSD. Every PS5 model has a slot for one. Sony requires a PCIe Gen4 NVMe drive with a heatsink. A 2TB WD Black SN850X with heatsink sells for about ₹19,500 at Indian retailer PC Kumar right now. Cheaper Gen4 drives also work as long as they meet Sony's speed and size rules.
Xbox Series X|S owners need Microsoft's official Expansion Card format instead, from Seagate or WD, rather than a standard M.2 drive.
What to watch next
Watch for Rockstar or the PlayStation Store to show the official size when preloads open on November 12, and for an Xbox figure. Reviews are reportedly due on November 18, the day before launch. For everything else Rockstar has confirmed so far, see our GTA 6 release date and price guide.
