Grand Theft Auto 6 Preloading Guide and How to Play the Game Early
PublishedQuick Facts
- Rockstar Games has officially announced a preload date for GTA 6 and confirmed the file size
- The game will launch globally at midnight local time, so there's a way to play the game early
- Check below for full details on preloading GTA 6 and how to play the game 18 hours ahead of the US East Coast
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It’s finally happening, after over a decade of waiting for the follow-up to GTA 5, Rockstar is releasing Grand Theft Auto 6 on November 19, 2026. Forget any rumors you may have heard of a possible delay, as the marketing is in full swing, including an upcoming Travis Scott GTA 6 Nike Air Force 1, takeovers of real-life businesses and sports teams in Miami, and plenty of interviews from media outlets covering the gameplay details. With only 16 days left until Grand Theft Auto 6 will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, Rockstar has officially announced the game’s file size and the preload date.
When Can I Preload GTA 6?
Grand Theft Auto 6 will be available to preload starting on November 10, 2026. PlayStation 5 users can begin preloading at midnight local time in their respective time zones, while Xbox users can preload starting at 12 AM GMT (7:00 PM EST). Those who ordered the physical box version of the game, which will come with a download code and no disc, expect it to arrive on November 12.
Will my Physical Copy Come with a Map?
Rumors have been swirling that the physical box copy of GTA 6 will come with a physical map of Leonida, the fictitious version of Florida. Rockstar has shut these down with their announcement that on November 19, a cover art poster and a map of Leonida will be offered as a free digital download on the official GTA 6 website. A double-sided physical version of the poster will be made available shortly after launch for just $0.99 and will be included as a free gift with any purchase from the Rockstar store.
How Much Storage Does GTA 6 Use?
Rockstar has officially confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 will require up to 212 GB of data depending on your device, but if there are any differences, they will be small. The game is going to be massive, so prepare to delete some games to make room for what is arguably the most anticipated video game in history.
File sizes for games have obviously grown as they get more advanced, but 212 GB is massive, even for a AAA video game. Destiny 2 clocks in at just under 200 GB on Xbox, but that’s with all updates and expansions, while NBA 2K27 sits at 108 GB on the PS5. Fortnite hovers around 75 GB.
Global Launch Times for GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released at midnight local time across the globe. We’ve provided a chart above that will convert these global launch times into Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
How to Play Grand Theft Auto 6 Early
When Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19, 2026, the game will become available at midnight local time, so some parts of the world will be able to play before others. New Zealand will technically be the first region that will have access to the game, a whole 18 hours ahead of the US East Coast. However, there is a way to play the game when it’s available in New Zealand.
Xbox
For Xbox, it’s quite easy. Just go to your console settings, go to System, and select Language & Location. Change your location to New Zealand and restart the console. The game should be available to play at 6 AM EST on November 18, as this has worked with other game launches in the past. It’s not a guarantee but it should work.
PS5
PlayStation 5 is a tad more complicated. Sony has fixed country/region settings on PSN accounts, so if you already have an account, you’ll need to create a new one and set your location to New Zealand. From there, you’ll have to purchase the game from New Zealand’s PlayStation Store using a compatible payment method or New Zealand PSN wallet vouchers. Then head to your settings, go to Users and Accounts, and enable console sharing and offline play. Use console sharing to play it on your regular profile, and you should be able to play 18 hours ahead of the rest of the US East Coast.
Important note: this isn’t 100% confirmed, but in the past, this method has worked. We can’t guarantee this will work for GTA 6.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
