GTA 6: Preload Underway – How Long the Download Takes at 10 Mbit/s and DSL 1,000

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The preload for GTA 6 began in Germany on the night of November 10th, at midnight German time. If you enabled auto-download and left your console in rest mode, the game might already be on your hard drive. Everyone else should start calculating now, because at nearly 210 GB, GTA 6 is a real behemoth. It will only be playable from November 19th.

How long does the GTA 6 download take at 10 Mbit/s and DSL 1,000?

GamePro categorized the times based on an overview from GTA_Unlimited and several download calculators. The key takeaways: At 10 Mbit/s, they saw a maximum time of a whopping 50 hours. For DSL 1,000, the waiting time, according to GamePro, is between 18 and 21 days.

This seems absurd at first glance but is understandable. We recalculated, using nearly 210 GB as the basis and without losses due to protocol overhead or fluctuating connections:

1 Mbit/s (DSL 1,000): around 19.4 days – consistent with GamePro's 18 to 21 days.
10 Mbit/s: around 47 hours, so just under two days. With real-world fluctuations, you'll reach the mentioned up to 50 hours.
50 Mbit/s: around 9 hours.
100 Mbit/s: around 4.7 hours.

The values for 50 and 100 Mbit/s are our own estimates, not figures from GamePro. The formula is simple: file size in gigabits divided by connection speed. In practice, it's better to add a buffer.

Who really needs to start immediately?

Here's the part the report doesn't calculate: There are nine days, or 216 hours, between the preload start on November 10th and the release on November 19th. Anyone with 10 Mbit/s can easily complete the download within this time, provided they don't start on release day. However, if you only have 1 Mbit/s, you won't reach the goal in time even if you start when the preload unlocks, because a good 19 days is longer than nine. For these connections, the only solution is a different internet plan or downloading at friends' or relatives' homes.

Boxed copy buyers also need to pay attention. GamePro points out that the physical version will only be available in stores on November 12th and is just an empty case with a download code. So, the preload starts later for them, specifically on November 12th at the earliest. This leaves seven days, or 168 hours, until release. That's enough for 10 Mbit/s, but not for very slow connections.

Practical tips based on the confirmed facts:

Make space: The game is nearly 210 GB. Factor in some reserve; details on storage requirements for PS5 can be found in our report on the preload and cancellation on PS5.
Start early: The slower your connection, the sooner you should begin. The preload is already running.
Maintain a stable connection: According to GamePro, using LAN instead of Wi-Fi, a stable connection, and streaming simultaneously can affect speed, often negatively.
Note auto-download: It also downloads in rest mode. You should consciously decide whether you want to preload, as it has consequences for refunds on PS5.

Regarding the PC version, the release date is still only listed as 2027. On console, the fun begins on November 19th, and two days later, Rockstar invites players to The Festival music festival in Miami.