Grand Theft Auto 6 will need 210GB of free space on PS5, which puts the GTA 6 file size among the largest console installs of this generation. The figure comes from PlayStation Game Size, an account on X that tracks upcoming install sizes across Sony’s consoles.
The timing matters for anyone with a full console. Pre-loading opens on November 12, a week before the November 19 launch, so players have about two weeks to clear room. A PS5 Slim ships with 1TB of storage. Less than 850GB of that is usable once the system software takes its share. On the original 825GB model, GTA 6 alone would take up nearly a third of the usable space.
What the GTA 6 file size means for PS5 storage
At 210GB, the GTA 6 file size puts the Rockstar Games release alongside the heaviest PS5 games so far. Players with several large current-generation games installed will likely have to delete something before the pre-load starts.
Tabitha Baker, managing editor of hardware at GamesRadar+, runs an extra 1TB SSD next to the console’s internal drive and still deletes installs regularly to make room for new games. Even so, Baker advises against spending heavily on a storage upgrade right now.
Why SSD upgrades cost more in 2026
Component shortages have pushed SSD prices up sharply this year. According to GamesRadar+, the cheapest 1TB drive that matches the PS5’s internal speed now costs around $150, with a Silicon Power stick at Newegg cited as an example. Going from 1TB to 2TB generally costs between $250 and $300.
External hard drives have had an easier year. The Seagate Portable HDD has also gone up in price during 2026, but it still sells for a little over $100.
Moving PS4 games off the internal drive
The cheaper fix depends on what is already installed. PS4 games don’t take advantage of the PS5’s SSD speed the way native PS5 games do, so they run from an external hard drive without losing anything. Moving them off the internal SSD frees space for GTA 6, while current-generation games keep their fast loading times.
A USB hard drive can also hold PS5 games in storage. The console can’t play them from that drive, but players can copy a game back to the internal SSD later instead of downloading it again. That turns the drive into a backup shelf for games on hold.
Baker uses the Seagate drive for a PS4 collection and wrote: “Is it the ideal solution? No, but if GTA 6’s install size has you in a jam, it’s the cheapest way to get out of it right now.”
The approach only helps players who still have PS4 games on their console, however. Anyone whose internal drive is full of PS5 games will need to delete titles or pay current prices for an M.2 SSD upgrade before the GTA 6 file size becomes a problem on November 12.