GTA 6 Launch Checklist: Everything You Need Before November 19

GTA 6 arrives on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and pre-load starts a week earlier. If you want to start playing the moment it unlocks, a few things are worth sorting out now: storage space, your controller, and your pre-order. Here's a simple checklist so launch day goes smoothly.

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Key dates

• November 12: pre-load starts, so digital pre-orders can download the game a week early.
• November 19: GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Not on PC, PS4 or Xbox One at launch. More in everything we know about the release.

1. Make room: GTA 6 is about 210GB on PS5

The PS5 version is reportedly about 210GB, roughly a third of an original PS5's usable storage. The Xbox size hasn't been reported yet. Check your free space before November 12 so the pre-load doesn't stall.

Your options:

• Delete or move old games. Free, and often enough.
• Add an internal M.2 SSD (PS5). The best upgrade: it can store and run PS5 games. Pick one with a heatsink, PCIe Gen4, and at least 2TB if you can.
• Use an external USB drive. Cheaper, and great for parking games you're not playing, but it can only store PS5 games, not run them.

Full details in our GTA 6 storage guide.

2. Lock in your copy

• Digital pre-order: needed for the November 12 pre-load.
• Physical copy: some reports say codes from boxed editions can be used to pre-load once redeemed. Check with your store.
• Watch out: there's no such thing as a free or early "GTA 6 download." Fake files have been reported as malware. Only use the official PlayStation or Xbox store.

3. Controllers: the limited GTA 6 DualSense

There's no official GTA 6 PS5 console bundle, but Sony made two limited-edition GTA 6 DualSense controllers ($84.99, out November 19). The black one is a PlayStation Direct exclusive; the white one is also at regular retailers.

Planning long sessions? A second controller or a charging station means you never have to stop because of a dead battery.

More on the controllers in our GTA 6 bundle article.

4. Don't have a console yet?

GTA 6 is current-generation only, so you'll need a PS5 or an Xbox Series X|S. If you're buying one for GTA 6, remember the storage point above: the bigger the built-in drive, the better.

Quick checklist

1. Free up or add at least 210GB of space (PS5)
2. Pre-order digitally if you want to pre-load on November 12
3. Charge your controller (or grab a second one)
4. Only download through the official PlayStation or Xbox store
5. Clear your schedule for November 19

My take

The biggest launch-day problem won't be the game, it'll be storage. Sort out your space before November 12 and you'll be playing while everyone else is still deleting Call of Duty. See you in Leonida.