GTA VI pre-load starts 10 November; it unlocks at midnight on 19 November in the UAE
Rockstar opens the Grand Theft Auto VI pre-load on 10 November. The 212GB game unlocks for UAE players at 12am on 19 November, and boxed copies carry download codes from 12 November.
If you have pre-ordered Grand Theft Auto VI, you can start downloading it next week. Rockstar Games has announced that the pre-load opens on Tuesday 10 November, nine days before the game is released on 19 November for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The timing differs by console. On PlayStation 5, the pre-load opens at midnight local time on 10 November, so from 12am in the UAE. On Xbox Series X|S it opens at the same moment worldwide, 12am GMT on 10 November, which is 4am in the UAE. Pre-loading does not let anyone play early: the game unlocks at midnight local time on 19 November, which for players in the UAE is 12am on Thursday 19 November, according to the release schedule reported by Kotaku. Players in Saudi Arabia get it an hour later, and the UK at midnight its own time, three hours after the UAE.
Make room first. Rockstar puts the download at 212GB, about a quarter of a 1TB PS5 and close to half of an Xbox Series S. Updates and the online mode may add more over time.
If you bought a boxed copy, there is no disc to play from: the box holds a download code, and boxed copies reach shops from 12 November. Redeem the code on the console's store and the pre-load starts straight away. Digital pre-orders can begin the download as soon as the pre-load opens; on PS5 a digital pre-order should start downloading by itself if automatic downloads are switched on.
There are two digital editions, Standard and Ultimate. Both include the game, a month of GTA+ and the Vintage Vice City Pack; the Ultimate Edition adds more in-game content. The game is set in the state of Leonida, a fictional take on Florida, around Vice City, and it is the first new main Grand Theft Auto game since 2013.
To be ready on the night, clear at least 212GB on your console before 10 November, check that your pre-order is linked to the account you play on, and leave the console in rest mode with downloads switched on. Prices are shown on the UAE PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store and at local shops; check the edition before you pay, as the two digital editions are sold separately.