GTA 6 Pre-Load Starts November 10: Install Size, Launch Timing, and a Free Map of Leonida

Rockstar Games has put the finishing touches on Grand Theft Auto VI's launch plans. A new Rockstar Newswire post confirms when pre-loading begins, how much space the game needs, when it unlocks around the world, and that a physical map of Leonida is on the way. A fresh Vice City screenshot came along with the announcement.

Pre-load dates

Pre-loading starts on Tuesday, November 10, and the timing differs by console.

• PlayStation 5: Pre-loading opens at midnight local time in your time zone.

• Xbox Series X|S: Pre-loading opens globally at 12 a.m. GMT.

• Physical editions: Code-in-box versions will be available at retailers from November 12 on both consoles.

That means PS5 players in different regions will see the download unlock at different moments, while Xbox players worldwide start at the same time.

Install size: 212 GB

Rockstar has officially confirmed that GTA VI needs 212 GB of console storage. The figure had circulated about a week earlier via PlaystationSize, but it had gone unconfirmed until now. It's nearly double the size of Red Dead Redemption 2, a fitting scale for a map Rockstar has described as its largest yet. If your drive is already crowded, clear space before the 10th so you aren't deleting games at the last minute.

Release timing: midnight local

Rockstar also detailed when the game unlocks on November 19. Some fans hoped for a single simultaneous global launch, but the studio is sticking with its usual approach of releasing at midnight local time. Players in New Zealand will therefore get the game hours before most of the world.

A free map of Leonida

Rockstar will also add an official, printable GTA VI cover art poster and map of Leonida to its website as a free digital download on November 19. A double-sided physical version will be available from the Rockstar Store shortly after launch. It costs $0.99 on its own, or it comes free with any Rockstar Store purchase.

Key dates at a glance

• November 10: Pre-load begins (PS5 at midnight local; Xbox Series X|S at 12 a.m. GMT)

• November 12: Code-in-box physical editions at retailers

• November 19: Launch at midnight local time, and the free printable map and poster go live

With two weeks to go, the remaining questions are practical ones: free up the space and pick your launch-night setup.