Last updated: 3 November 2026. Sizes, specs and prices checked that day on Sony, Xbox, Rockstar and maker pages. File size and preload dates updated from Rockstar’s newswire post of the same day.
Rockstar says GTA 6 needs up to 212 GB of available storage, depending on the console, per its 3 November newswire post. As of 3 November 2026, that size should fit on every current console.
For a PS5 drive, the Samsung 990 PRO with heatsink is the lowest-risk pick on paper at 8.2 mm thick against Sony’s 11.25 mm limit. On Xbox, the Seagate expansion card is the only add-on that runs the game at full speed.
The Xbox Series S with 512 GB is the tight one: 212 GB would take 58% of a reported 364 GB of usable space and leave 152 GB for everything else.
PS5 owners with an 825 GB original or a 1 TB Slim: clear space first, buy a drive second. Preload opens 10 November, so room you can make today beats a drive in the mail.
If you do buy, the Samsung 990 PRO with heatsink is the thinnest drive we checked at 8.2 mm, and samsung.com gave the only dated price we pulled.
Xbox Series S owners should plan around the 152 GB left over.
How big is GTA 6, and is 212 GB confirmed?
Yes, as a ceiling. Rockstar’s 3 November newswire post says GTA 6 needs “up to 212 GB of available storage, depending on the console.” Insider Gaming and Dexerto both reported the figure the same day.
The earlier figure was 210 GB, which the data-mining account @PlaystationSize posted on X on 27 October and Insider Gaming said it could corroborate. Rockstar’s number is 2 GB higher and comes with no per-console breakdown, so we cannot say which console downloads how much.
Rockstar has published no per-console size and has not said whether a day-one patch is included. Every 212 GB figure in this article is Rockstar’s ceiling, and the Xbox rows use it as the worst case.
Rockstar words 212 GB as available storage, so treat it as the space you need free. Leave headroom beyond that for patches and saves; that is our advice, not a Rockstar figure.
Will GTA 6 fit on PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X and Series S?
Yes on all four, with one real squeeze on the Series S. Neither Sony nor Microsoft prints usable space on the pages we opened, so the figures below come from reports.
Digital Trends gives 667 GB for the 2020 PS5 and 848 GB for the Slim, read from its storage menu in 2023. GamesIndustry.biz, relaying IGN’s launch hands-on, gives 802 GB of 1 TB on Series X. Kotaku gives 364 GB of 512 GB on Series S.
The math is in each cell. Your free space will be lower once you count installed games and system data. Rockstar gave no per-console sizes, so every row uses the 212 GB ceiling.
| Console | Usable space | 212 GB share | Left after GTA 6 | Source and status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 original, 825 GB | 667 GB | 212 / 667 = 32% | 455 GB | Reported Digital Trends |
| PS5 Slim, 1 TB | 848 GB | 212 / 848 = 25% | 636 GB | Reported Digital Trends |
| PS5 Pro, 2 TB | Not published. Sony says a portion is reserved | 212 / 2,000 = 10.6% at most | At most 1,788 GB | 2 TB confirmed PlayStation |
| Xbox Series X, 1 TB | 802 GB | 212 / 802 = 26% | 590 GB | Reported IGN via GamesIndustry.biz |
| Xbox Series S, 512 GB | 364 GB | 212 / 364 = 58% | 152 GB | Reported Kotaku |
| Xbox Series S, 1 TB | Not published | 212 / 1,000 = 21% at most | At most 788 GB | 1 TB confirmed Xbox |
1 TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD with heatsink, for PS5
- Enough for GTA 6 plus a few other installs. Check the thickness against Sony’s 11.25 mm limit.
2 TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD with heatsink, for PS5
- For a library that keeps growing. All of one game must live on one drive, so size matters.
Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S, 1 TB
- The only add-on storage that runs Series X|S games at internal-SSD speed.
External USB SSD for cold storage
- Parks finished games so you do not re-download them. It cannot run GTA 6.
What should you delete first, and can a USB drive hold GTA 6?
A USB drive can store GTA 6 on a PS5 but cannot run it. Sony’s USB extended storage page says PS5 games “can’t be played directly from USB extended storage” and must be copied back to console storage or an M.2 SSD.
Xbox follows a similar rule. Xbox Support says Optimized for Series X|S games must sit on the internal SSD or the Storage Expansion Card. GTA 6 is a Series X|S-only release, so our read is that a USB drive cannot run it there either.
Sony adds a second limit. All data for one game has to live in one place, so you cannot spread GTA 6 across the console drive and an M.2 drive. You need one location with 212 GB free, plus headroom.
On PS5, open Game Library, press Options on a finished game, then choose Move Games and Apps to send it to USB storage.
On Xbox, deleting costs less than it sounds. Xbox Support says game data syncs online, so a reinstalled game gets its saves back. If you rotate a subscription library, our Game Pass Ultimate guide covers whether that habit pays off.
PS5 M.2 limits: which heatsink SSDs actually fit
Sony lists a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive, Key M, 250 GB to 8 TB, in 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280 or 22110 sizes. Width can be up to 25 mm and thickness up to 11.25 mm, split as 8.0 mm above the board and 2.45 mm below.
Sony recommends a sequential read of 5,500 MB/s or faster. It requires a heatsink or heat transfer sheet, and it does not support SATA M.2 drives.
The PS5 does not support Host Memory Buffer, so drives that lean on it may run slower than advertised. If a drive ships with its own heatsink, Sony recommends against adding a second one.
The table compares each maker’s printed size, listed as length x width x thickness, with Sony’s limits. The fit verdicts are our math.
| Drive | Read speed (maker) | Size with heatsink (mm) | Fits Sony’s limits (our math) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung 990 PRO w/ Heatsink | Up to 7,450 MB/s | 80 x 24.3 x 8.2 | Yes. 8.2 mm thick, 24.3 mm wide |
| WD_BLACK SN850X, heatsink model | Up to 7,300 MB/s | 1 and 2 TB: 80 x 23.4 x 8.9. 4 and 8 TB: 80 x 24.4 x 10.4 | Yes. 10.4 mm for the 4 and 8 TB models |
| Lexar NM790 with Heatsink | Up to 7,400 MB/s | 80 x 24 x 9.7 | Yes. 9.7 mm |
| Kingston FURY Renegade with heatsink | Up to 7,300 MB/s | 80 x 23.67 x 10.5 | Yes, with 0.75 mm to spare |
| Crucial T500 with heatsink | 7,300 MB/s | Not listed on the page we opened | Unknown. Check Sony’s limits before buying |
| Seagate FireCuda 540 with heatsink | Up to 10,000 MB/s | 80.15 x 24.35 x 20.29 | No. 20.29 mm against an 11.25 mm limit |
The first five drives carry a PS5 label on their maker pages, such as Kingston’s “PS5 ready.” Sandisk lists the PS5 for the heatsink model only.
The FireCuda 540 fails the height test. Seagate’s own datasheet says it “exceeds dimensions of a standard M.2 2280 form factor,” and 20.29 mm is about 1.8 times Sony’s limit.
Total thickness is the only height a maker prints, while Sony counts above and below the board separately. A drive near the limit, like the 10.5 mm Kingston, can still be tight.
Do not buy on speed. Every drive here exceeds Sony’s 5,500 MB/s recommendation, and Sony says a faster read speed does not guarantee internal-drive performance.
The FireCuda is also a Gen5 drive, while Sony specifies Gen4 x4. Pick on thickness first and price second.
What do the drives and the Xbox card cost, and do you need the card?
The only dated drive prices we could pull from a maker’s own store were Samsung’s list prices on 3 November: $339.99 for 1 TB, $669.99 for 2 TB and $1,139.99 for 4 TB, all with heatsink.
Xbox lists the Seagate Storage Expansion Card at $199.99 for 1 TB, $299.99 for 2 TB and $549.99 for 4 TB. Those are estimated retail prices, and the page notes that prices vary by retailer.
Per terabyte the Xbox card is cheaper than Samsung’s list price at every size. That compares one PS5 drive with the one card Xbox supports for full-speed games. We did not check Amazon, Best Buy or other retailers, so street prices may differ.
Xbox is simpler. If you want GTA 6 and other Series X|S games on one console with a full internal SSD, the card is the answer. Xbox Support says it performs identically to the internal SSD and plays Optimized for Series X|S games.
The Xbox support page lists 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB cards. The Xbox store page lists 1, 2 and 4 TB. We could not reconcile the two, so we quote the store page for prices.
A USB drive stores Xbox games and runs older Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles. Seagate’s FAQ says Series X|S Optimized games need to be moved to the internal SSD or the card to run.
For a Series S owner left with 152 GB after GTA 6, that makes the card the only add-on that keeps games playable. A USB drive only parks the ones you are not playing.
How do you install an M.2 SSD in a PS5, and when can you download GTA 6?
- Update the console and check the modelInstall the latest system software first. Sony has separate steps for the CFI-1000 model group, so check your model number.
- Check the drive fitsConfirm width, thickness and the heatsink against the limits above. Do not put a second heatsink on a drive that has one built in.
- Power down and open the consoleUnplug everything, touch a grounded metal object, and remove the cover. Do not power the PS5 on with the cover off.
- Remove the slot cover and set the spacerTake out the expansion slot cover screw, then move the spacer to the groove for your drive length.
- Seat the driveInsert it at an angle all the way into the connector, tilt it down and fasten the screw. If the slot cover will not close, the heatsink is too tall.
- Close up and formatRefit the covers, reconnect power, and follow the on-screen format prompt. Formatting erases the drive.
- Set the install locationGo to Settings, Storage, Installation Location. Move existing games from Game Library, Options, Move Games and Apps.
On Xbox, the card goes into the Storage Expansion port at the back of the console. Seagate says to remove the protective cover, insert it, and wait for the on-screen notice.
Preload starts on 10 November. Rockstar’s newswire post says PS5 digital pre-orders preload from local midnight and Xbox Series X|S from 12:00 am GMT, which is 7:00 pm Eastern on 9 November. Codes from a physical copy can be redeemed as soon as you have them, and boxes are expected from 12 November.
Move or delete games before then so you are not racing the clock. For the bonus deadline and what the box really contains, see our Standard vs Ultimate Edition guide.
If you are weighing a PS5 Pro mainly for its storage, read our PS5 Pro vs PS5 breakdown first. The 2 TB is built in, but Sony says part of it is reserved and we found no usable figure.
GTA 6 storage FAQ
How big is GTA 6 on PS5?
Rockstar’s 3 November newswire post says up to 212 GB of available storage, depending on the console. It has published no per-console breakdown. An earlier store-tracker figure for PS5 was 210 GB.
Is 212 GB the download size or install size?
Rockstar words it as “up to 212 GB of available storage, depending on the console,” which reads to us as space needed rather than a download count. It has not said whether a day-one patch is included. Leave headroom beyond 212 GB.
Will GTA 6 fit on an Xbox Series S?
Probably, but barely. Kotaku reported 364 GB of usable space on the 512 GB model, so Rockstar’s up to 212 GB would leave 152 GB. Rockstar has published no per-console size, and a Storage Expansion Card is the only add-on storage that runs Series X|S games.
Can I play GTA 6 from an external hard drive?
Not on PS5. Sony says PS5 games cannot be played from USB extended storage and must be copied back first. On Xbox, Optimized for Series X|S games need the internal SSD or the expansion card, so our read is that GTA 6 cannot run from USB there either.
Do I need a heatsink on a PS5 SSD?
Yes. Sony says an M.2 SSD needs effective heat dissipation, such as a heatsink and heat transfer sheet, and the whole assembly must stay within 25 mm wide and 11.25 mm thick. A drive with a built-in heatsink should not get a second one.
When can I start downloading GTA 6?
Preload opens on 10 November: PS5 at local midnight and Xbox Series X|S at 12:00 am GMT, per Rockstar’s 3 November newswire post. Physical copies contain a download code and no disc, and boxes are expected from retailers from 12 November. The game itself launches on 19 November 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Sources checked
Every size, spec and price above was read on these pages on 3 November 2026. Anything not listed is labelled as reported or as our read. If Rockstar publishes a per-console breakdown, this page gets a dated update.
- PlayStation Support, How to add an M.2 SSD to a PS5 console
- PlayStation Support, USB extended storage on PS5 consoles
- PlayStation, PS5 Pro
- Xbox Support, Manage storage on your Xbox console
- Xbox Support, Use the Storage Expansion Card
- Xbox, Seagate Storage Expansion Card
- Seagate, Storage Expansion Card FAQ
- Seagate, FireCuda 540 SSD with heatsink datasheet
- Samsung, 990 PRO with Heatsink 2 TB
- Sandisk, WD_BLACK SN850X
- Lexar, NM790 with Heatsink
- Kingston, FURY Renegade
- Crucial, T500 with heatsink spec page
- Rockstar Newswire, Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10
- Insider Gaming, GTA 6 download size (earlier 210 GB figure)
- Rockstar Support, Platforms, Editions, and Versions
- Take-Two, Rockstar Games Announces Pre-Orders for Grand Theft Auto VI
- Kotaku, Xbox Series S usable storage
- Digital Trends, PS5 usable storage
- GamesIndustry.biz, Xbox Series X usable storage
