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How to pre-load GTA VI

Pre-loading opens on , one week before GTA VI launches on for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-order, keep your console online, and the game downloads ahead of launch.

Pre-load opens
Official
Release date
Official
UK release time
00:00 GMT Strong evidence

Key dates

Pre-load opens
Official
Sources and status

Official. Rockstar has confirmed this in its own published material.

Last checked:

Release date
Official
Sources and status

Official. Rockstar has confirmed this in its own published material.

Last checked:

PS5 release time, UK and Ireland
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: PlayStation 5

Last checked:

Xbox Series X|S release time, UK and Ireland
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: Xbox Series X|S

Last checked:

PS5 release time, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands
(23:00 UTC on 18 November 2026)
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: PlayStation 5

Last checked:

Xbox Series X|S release time, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands
(23:00 UTC on 18 November 2026)
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: Xbox Series X|S

Last checked:

Unlock time confirmed by Rockstar
Not announced
Unknown
Sources and status

Unknown. There is not enough evidence to say yet.

Last checked:

On PlayStation 5

These steps follow PlayStation’s own support guide. Your pre-order must be on the same account you use on the console.

  1. Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet in your PS5 settings.
  2. From your games home, open Game Library and select Grand Theft Auto VI.
  3. Select the countdown timer to the game’s release.
  4. Check that the boxes next to the game’s contents are ticked. A ticked box means auto-download is on.
Auto-download steps
4 steps, as listed above
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: PlayStation 5

Last checked:

  • PlayStation (Sony Interactive Entertainment) · Official support documentation · Supports this“From your games home, select Game Library and then select your pre-ordered game.” “A timer counting down to the game's release appears.” “Select the timer.” “If the checkbox next to the content is selected, auto-download is enabled.”
Keep the console online
Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet so the game is ready at release
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: PlayStation 5

Last checked:

When you are charged
PlayStation Store charges you when you place the pre-order
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: PlayStation 5

Last checked:

Canceling and refunds
You can cancel a PlayStation Store pre-order for a refund before release. After release, you have 14 days from the pre-order if the download has not started.
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: PlayStation 5

Last checked:

  • PlayStation (Sony Interactive Entertainment) · Official support documentation · Supports this“If you change your mind before the content is released you'll be able to cancel the pre-order and receive a refund. If the game is released and the content hasn't started to download to your PlayStation console, you'll be able to cancel and request a refund within 14 days of making the pre-order.”

On Xbox Series X|S

Microsoft says you can pre-install games you have pre-ordered. According to Microsoft’s own support guide, a game from the Microsoft Store installs automatically to your console when all of these are true:

Pre-install a pre-order
Pre-ordered games can be pre-installed on Xbox
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: Xbox Series X|S

Last checked:

  • Microsoft (Xbox) · Platform store · Supports this“Pre-install your pre-ordered games, remote install games while away from your console, and turn on auto-update so your games are waiting for you.”
When it installs automatically
4 conditions, as listed above
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: Xbox Series X|S

Last checked:

  • Microsoft (Xbox) · Official support documentation · Supports this“it installs automatically to your console if:” “Your console is set as your home console.” “Your console is powered on or the power mode is set to Sleep.” “Your console is connected to the XBOX network.” “There’s enough storage space for the installation.”
Where to install it
Games optimized for Xbox Series X|S must be installed on internal storage or a Storage Expansion Card
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: Xbox Series X|S

Last checked:

  • Microsoft (Xbox) · Official support documentation · Supports this“To play games that are optimized for XBOX Series X|S, they must be installed on your console’s internal storage (the default location) or Storage Expansion Card (sold separately).”
When you’re charged
Card payments are taken around 10 days before release; account balance is taken when you pre-order
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: Xbox Series X|S

Last checked:

  • Microsoft (Xbox) · Official support documentation · Supports this“If you used account credit to pre-order your game, your balance will be taken immediately.” “you'll be charged around 10 days before the early access period or the release date”
Canceling and refunds
You can cancel up to 10 days before launch from your Microsoft account order history; after that you need to request a refund
Strong evidence
Sources and status

Strong evidence. Credible evidence supports this, but Rockstar has not confirmed it.

Applies to: Xbox Series X|S

Last checked:

  • Microsoft (Xbox) · Official support documentation · Supports this“you can do this up to 10 days before the game launches by signing in to your Microsoft account and going to your order history page. After this time, you may be billed, and to cancel you'll need to request a refund.”

For anything else, see Xbox Support’s pre-order guide.

Physical copies (code in the box)

Physical copies don’t contain a disc, so you pre-load them by redeeming the code. To check that a code will work with your account, see GTA VI codes and regions.

What’s in the box
Download code in the box. No disc is included.
Official
Sources and status

Official. Rockstar has confirmed this in its own published material.

Last checked:

  • Rockstar Games · Official Rockstar source · Supports this“Physical versions will only contain a download code inside the box to support pre-load on November 12. A disc will not be included in the box.”
What you need
An internet connection and a platform account are needed to download the game from the code
Official
Sources and status

Official. Rockstar has confirmed this in its own published material.

Last checked:

  • Rockstar Games · Official Rockstar source · Supports thisFAQ “What is a code-in-box?”: “An internet connection and platform account are required to download the game.”
Rockstar Store shipping starts
Official
Sources and status

Official. Rockstar has confirmed this in its own published material.

Last checked:

PlayStation code region locks
  • UK: codes shipped to the United Kingdom only work with a UK PlayStation account.
  • EU and rest of Europe: codes shipped elsewhere in Europe only work with a PlayStation account registered in Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland.
  • North America: codes shipped to the United States and Canada only work with a PlayStation account registered in those countries.
Official
Sources and status

Official. Rockstar has confirmed this in its own published material.

Last checked:

  • Rockstar Games · Official Rockstar source · Supports thisFAQ “What is a code-in-box?”: “PlayStation codes are region-locked as follows”

What we don’t know yet

If something goes wrong on the day, see GTA VI launch-day problems and fixes. For prices, editions and pre-order bonuses, see GTA VI release date, pre-load and editions.

Sources for this page