The short version
- Rockstar's Newswire says GTA 6 pre-loading begins on November 10, nine days before the November 19 launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- According to Notebookcheck, Xbox preloads open on November 9 at 7 PM EST, which is 5:30 AM IST on November 10 in India. PS5 preloads open at midnight local time on November 10.
- Data pulled from Microsoft's store backend lists the Xbox build at 209.86GiB, or 225.34GB. That's bigger than the roughly 210GB reported for PS5 last month. Microsoft and Rockstar haven't confirmed the backend figure.
- In India, GTA 6 costs ₹5,999 on the PlayStation Store.
When you can start downloading
Rockstar has a Newswire post titled "Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10". Pre-loading means you can download the whole game ahead of time, but it stays locked until launch. On day one you only need to grab a smaller update instead of 200GB-plus.
Notebookcheck's report gives the exact times:
| Platform | Preload opens | In India (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S | November 9, 7 PM EST | November 10, 5:30 AM |
| PS5 | November 10, midnight local time | November 10, 12:00 AM |
| Launch | November 19 | November 19 |
That's a change from what we reported last month, when early data pointed to preloads opening on November 12. Rockstar's own date is now November 10.
You'll only be able to preload if you've pre-ordered. On a typical Indian broadband plan of 100Mbps, a 210GB download takes around five hours with no slowdowns, so starting on the first day is a good idea.
The leaked Xbox size, explained
The new numbers come from two X accounts, as reported by Notebookcheck. One, @Cokymoky69, shared data from Microsoft's DisplayCatalog, the system behind the Xbox Store, before the store page itself was updated. Another, @xXAboodeXx5, posted the size that later appeared on the store listing.
Here's what the data shows:
- Global build: 209.86GiB, which equals 225.34GB.
- Australia and New Zealand build: roughly the same.
- Japan build: 208.74GiB, or 224.07GB. It's slightly smaller, which Notebookcheck suggests could mean censored content. GTA 6 has a CERO Z (18+) rating in Japan, like GTA 4 and GTA 5 before it.
Image: Zerocade
GB versus GiB: why the numbers don't match
This is where it gets confusing. The Xbox Store shows "209.86GB", but the backend data labels the same number in gibibytes (GiB).
Storage makers count in powers of 10: one gigabyte is 1,000,000,000 bytes. Many operating systems count in powers of 2: one gibibyte is 1,073,741,824 bytes, about 7% more. So 209.86GiB works out to 225.34GB. Same files, different units.
That matters because your console's 1TB drive is sold in gigabytes. A standard PS5 or Xbox Series X has roughly 825GB to 1TB before the system takes its share, so a 225GB game can fill a quarter of it. The Xbox Series S, with its 512GB drive, will feel the squeeze most. Our guide on why games are so big now explains what takes up all that space.
According to Notebookcheck, Rockstar has told players to have up to 212GB free, "depending on your device".
Why the Xbox build might be bigger
The PS5 download was data-mined at about 210GB on October 27. If the Xbox build is really 225GB, Notebookcheck offers two possible reasons, neither confirmed:
- Extra files in the backend. The DisplayCatalog figure may include data that isn't part of the final download, such as packages for other regions or languages.
- A day-one patch. The backend could already include a launch-day update. If so, PS5 players may face a similar update when the game unlocks.
A day-one patch wouldn't be a surprise. Most big games now get one between going gold and launch, to fix bugs found after the disc version was finished.
What to do before November 19
On paper, the safe move is to clear at least 230GB on Xbox and a little over 212GB on PS5, then let the preload run on November 10. Reviews are expected on November 18, a day before launch, according to earlier reports on the review embargo. If you're on Xbox Series S, check your free space now. You may need to move other games to an external drive first.
