You can play Grand Theft Auto VI on 19 November on a PS5, an Xbox Series X or Series S, and even on an older Xbox One through the cloud. A PS4 isn't on the list.
GTA 6 arrives 13 years after GTA 5, and demand is huge. Sony says it's the most pre-ordered game in the history of PlayStation Store. Microsoft says the same about its own store. Both companies opened downloads early so players can be ready to play on launch day.
PS5 and PS5 Pro unlock at midnight in your country
Sony and Rockstar went with a rolling midnight launch. GTA 6 unlocks first in New Zealand at 12:00 AM local time on 19 November, then in each country as it reaches midnight. In the UK that means 12:00 AM GMT, and in the US it means midnight in your own time zone.
Rockstar's page says the game plays best on PS5. It uses the DualSense controller's speakers, haptics and adaptive triggers, plus Tempest 3D Audio. On a PS5 Pro, Sony lists PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and ray-traced shadows.
Pre-loading opened on 10 November for anyone who pre-ordered digitally. Code-in-box buyers can start the download as soon as they redeem their code. Sony asks for at least 212GB of free space on the console.
Xbox Series X and Series S play it natively
Both current Xbox consoles run the game from their own drives, and both can pre-install it now. Microsoft calls the Series X the best Xbox experience and the Series S the most affordable way to play natively. Microsoft's launch post doesn't give a separate unlock time for native play, so check the game's page in the Microsoft Store on your console the night before.
Xbox One owners can stream it through Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox One isn't on Rockstar's list of platforms, but Microsoft says GTA 6 will stream to it through Xbox Cloud Gaming from 1:00 AM ET on 19 November. The streamed version uses Xbox Series S graphics settings, and it lets you play on a console you already own.
You still have to buy the game. Microsoft also says that from 11 November, players in supported markets can buy cloud playtime to stream supported games without a Game Pass subscription. Microsoft adds that cloud availability, purchasing options, supported devices and features may vary by market, so check what your region offers before launch night.
Streaming depends on your connection. If it stutters or won't start, our guide to fixing Xbox Cloud Gaming problems covers the usual fixes, and our Xbox Cloud Gaming status page shows whether the service itself is having trouble.
What to sort out before 19 November
On the US Microsoft Store, the standard edition lists at $79.99 and the Ultimate Edition at $99.99. The store listing says purchases made before 23:59:59 on 19 November come with the Vintage Vice City Pack and one month of GTA+, which has to be redeemed within 180 days of the pre-order.
Then make room. Sony asks for at least 212GB of free space, so check how much your console has before the download starts. If deleting games isn't enough, our guide on how to expand your PS5 storage walks through adding a compatible M.2 SSD.
Finally, start the download early. PS5 pre-loading opened on 10 November, and Microsoft said the same day that Xbox pre-install is available now.
PS4 and PC owners
Rockstar lists only PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, so there is no PS4 or PC version on its list, and Sony's launch posts don't mention a cloud option for PS4. One route remains for a home that has both consoles. Sony's PS5 FAQ says you can reach a PS5 from a PS4 through Remote Play, so the PS4 can act as a screen for a PS5 in another room, as long as the game supports it.
If launch night goes badly, the problem may not be on your end. Our GTA 6 status page tracks reported problems as they come in, and our earlier report covers when the PS5 pre-download opened.
