Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto VI faces dual controversies ahead of its November 2026 launch, with a viral storage hoax sparking panic and millions of PC gamers excluded from the initial release.
A doctored Xbox Store screenshot claiming GTA VI requires 676.7GB of storage went viral on Christmas Eve, according to multiple gaming publications. The image, shared by X user @TheCanadianGTR, suggested the title would occupy nearly the entire internal memory of standard PS5 or Xbox Series X consoles.
Industry experts immediately debunked the claim as impossible. No existing game has reached 600GB, with today's largest titles like Call of Duty maxing out around 200GB. The legitimate Xbox marketplace listing contains no download requirement information, and Rockstar's previous titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 top out at approximately 150GB.
Mashable's tech expert Alex Perry noted the image was clearly a "6-7" joke, noting GTA VI won't triple the requirements of current AAA games. Realistic estimates place the game's size between 150-300GB, still substantial but far from the viral claim.
The hoax creator later admitted the deception, stating "No f*cking way... you all fell for it!" in a follow-up post that promoted his YouTube channel. Fact-checkers added verification to the original thread, highlighting the image incorrectly suggested Xbox One compatibility despite GTA VI being a modern console exclusive.
Separately, Rockstar confirmed GTA VI will not launch on PC alongside PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions, leaving millions of PC gamers unable to play at release. This continues Rockstar's pattern of delaying PC ports, with Red Dead Redemption 2 arriving on PC over a year after console release.
Some fans anticipate waiting until 2028 for a PC version, speculating Rockstar may prioritize an enhanced PS6 port first. "The wait is gonna be painful," wrote one Reddit user, while another noted they "almost bought a console just to play Red Dead Redemption 2 when it was released."
The dual controversies highlight growing concerns about AAA game storage demands and platform exclusivity. With console storage limitations and rising component prices, gamers face increasing barriers to accessing premium titles at launch.
GTA VI remains scheduled for November 19, 2026, though the date has already changed once and could face further delays. Whether delayed or not, the game's launch will exclude millions of PC gamers while console players navigate substantial but manageable storage requirements.
