GTA 6 pre-load is live — Rockstar says it needs up to 212GB of space

The wait for GTA 6 just got real: pre-load is live. But before you hit download, check your console's free space. Rockstar Games confirmed the game takes up to 212GB, depending on the device. You can free up room without wiping your older game saves.

Start by seeing what you have. On PS5, go to Settings and then Storage. On Xbox, press the Xbox button, pick See All from My Games and Apps, choose Manage, then Free Up Space. Xbox also shows Leftover Add-Ons — DLC and maps from uninstalled games — and Shrinkable Games, which let you strip texture packs without affecting gameplay.

Deleting games is straightforward. On PS5, hit the options button and select Delete, then OK. For multiple titles, go to Settings > Storage > Games and Apps, check the boxes, and delete. Your save data lives separately, so deleting the game won't erase your progress. On Xbox, game saves are backed up to the cloud; go to Settings > System > Storage and select Clear Local Saved Games to free up space safely.

Moving games to an external SSD is another option. You'll need to format the drive first, which erases anything already on it. On PS5, connect it via USB-C or USB-A, then go to Settings > Storage > USB Extended Storage > Format as USB Extended Storage. Don't cut the power during formatting — that can corrupt data and damage your console. Just remember: you can't play games directly from external storage, so you'll have to move them back to the console to play.

On Xbox, plug in the drive, select Format Storage Device, then press the guide button and go to My Games and Apps. Pick a game, hit the menu button, and choose Manage Game and Move All. The transfer will show progress, and the game disappears from your internal drive when it's done.

A few more tricks to speed things up: avoid streaming or downloading other media while GTA 6 installs, plug your console into your router with an Ethernet cable for a hardwired connection, and let the download run overnight when servers are less busy. You can also start it remotely — enable remote features on Xbox and use the Xbox mobile app, or pair the PlayStation app on PS5. Advanced users can install an M.2 SSD in the PS5's expansion slot, but that's pricier and more complicated.