Grand Theft Auto VI arrives next week: What to know about its release date, preloading, file size and more
The arrival of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI is getting closer.
Publisher Rockstar Games has been teasing fans with details about the sixth numbered entry in the massively popular video game franchise for months.
On Tuesday, people who've preordered the game could preload it onto their console so it's ready to play at midnight local time on the game's release date: Thursday, Nov. 19. You'll need at least 210 GB of free space on your console, so you might have to delete some other games.
When is Grand Theft Auto VI coming out?
Grand Theft Auto VI, which is available to pre-order now, will release Thursday, Nov. 19, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
What is the game about?
Each Grand Theft Auto game takes place in different heavily hyperbolic versions of American cities, and focuses on characters working their way through the city's world of crime.
Grand Theft Auto VI will take place in Vice City and Leonida -- inspired by Miami and Florida -- and follow Bonnie and Clyde-style criminal duo Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Lucia is the series' first female protagonist.
"Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them," a brief synopsis of the game reads. "But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida -- forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."
What can I do in the game?
Grand Theft Auto VI is a third-person action-adventure game that allows players to explore a massive, detailed open world on foot and in a wide array of vehicles.
You can undertake specific missions (which typically involve some kind of criminal activity), explore the city and its surroundings, engage in a wider array of activities (including skydiving and wrestling) and take on law enforcement (who will call reinforcements as the situation escalates).
This freedom is central to the series' appeal. Players can do what they like rather than stick to a linear path. Each gameplay session can be tailored to your mood; you might follow the story one evening and just cause chaos the next, or a little of both.
You can play as Jason and Lucia, each of whom has a customizable appearance.
Why is Grand Theft Auto such a big deal?
The new release follows more than a decade of anticipation since the 2013 release of Grand Theft Auto V, which has sold 235 million copies, franchise owner Take-Two Interactive said in its fall 2026 investor presentation.
The series started on the original PlayStation and PC in 1997, when it generated controversy due to its violence. In 2001, Grand Theft Auto 3 came to PlayStation 2. It brought the series into 3D and once again caused controversy with violence and sexual content.
In total, the franchise has sold 480 million copies, Take-Two noted.
Grand Theft Auto VI will almost certainly be the top selling game of the year and could become one of the highest selling games on all time.
What about the music?
Listening to the radio while driving is a huge part of the Grand Theft Auto experience, since most of the games include a huge library of licensed music. That includes pop, country, hip-hop, Latin, rock, metal and more, with real-life musicians like Bad Bunny and Lana Del Rey playing the DJs.
For the first time in the series, you'll also be able to listen to podcasts via the characters' phones.
A 30-track score album from French electronic music duo Justice is scheduled for Dec. 11. It will include the game's theme song "Flower in a Hurricane," which features. Tame Impala, SZA and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
Will Grand Theft Auto VI be appropriate for children?
No, the game will be completely inappropriate for children due to its violence and depiction of the criminal underworld.
If you're looking for an alternative, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight might be a good option. It's set open-world Lego version of Gotham City, allows you to use vehicles for traversal and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC.
Is Grand Theft Auto VI coming out on Switch 2?
There's no indication that Rockstar is planning a Switch 2 version, nor has it announced a PC release.
How much will the game cost?
The new game costs $80, bucking the general new game standard by around $10.
Along with the standard version of game, preorders for the Grand Theft Auto VI: Ultimate Edition were also made available earlier this summer, which include additional in-game items. This version costs $100.
The ultimate edition "amplifies the deepest and most immersive GTA experience yet with an exclusive collection of premium vehicles, weapons, apparel, and action threaded across all aspects of Jason and Lucia's story," Rockstar said.
Unlike previous entries in the series, Grand Theft Auto VI won't be released on a disc, according to Rockstar. Physical versions of the game will include a code in the box, and be available from Nov. 12 to support pre-loading.
