When is GTA 6 coming out? Release date, preload, price and download size
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. When preloading starts, what it costs and how big the download may be.
The essentials: Grand Theft Auto VI comes out on Thursday, November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar Games says players who pre-order can start downloading the game a week earlier, on November 12. With three weeks to go, the remaining questions are about unlock times and the size of the download.
What is the official release date?
Rockstar set November 19, 2026 when it opened pre-orders in June. It is the third launch date for the game. The first target was autumn 2025, which became May 2026 and then November 2026. When it announced the second delay in November 2025, the studio said it was “sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait”, according to WISN 12.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| June 25, 2026 | Pre-orders open |
| November 12, 2026 | Preloading starts; boxed copies available |
| November 19, 2026 | Launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S |
| November 20, 2026 | Pre-order bonus cut-off |
Rockstar has not announced a PC version.
What time will it unlock?
Rockstar has not confirmed a time. According to Forbes, PlayStation Store listings point to midnight local time. In the United States, that would be midnight Eastern on November 19, or 9 p.m. Pacific on November 18. New Zealand would come first, at 11:00 UTC on November 18. Forbes notes these times come from store listings and could still change.
How much does it cost?
Rockstar’s announcement lists two editions:
| Edition | Price (US) | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $79.99 | The single-player game |
| Ultimate | $99.99 | Adds premium vehicles, weapons and clothing |
Anyone who buys before November 20 gets the “Vintage Vice City Pack”. Digital pre-orders also come with one free month of GTA+, Rockstar’s subscription. The story is set in Vice City and the fictional state of Leonida and follows two lead characters, Jason and Lucia.
How big is the download?
Rockstar has not published an official file size. On October 27, Complex reported a figure of 210 GB for the standard edition. The number comes from PlayStation Game Size, an account on X that reads install sizes from the PlayStation Store’s database, and Rockstar has not confirmed it.
If the figure is accurate, it would be far larger than Rockstar’s earlier games. Forbes notes that GTA V Enhanced takes about 86.8 GB on PS5 and that Red Dead Redemption 2 lists 105 GB. An original PS5 has about 667 GB of usable storage and a 512 GB Xbox Series S about 364 GB, so many players may need to free up space before November 12.
Is there a disc version?
No. Rockstar says the boxed edition contains a download code, not a disc. BGR reports that the code is tied to the player’s PlayStation or Xbox account once redeemed. It also reports that some independent retailers have said on X that they will not stock the box because buyers do not truly own a copy.
Demand looks strong. BGR cites Sensor Tower estimates of 6.45 million digital pre-orders, worth about $630 million. Rockstar has not published pre-order figures.
This article was prepared with the help of AI tools from the sources listed above, then reviewed by our editors before publication. Read our editorial policy
