Sony will reportedly require the newest PS5 system software to play Grand Theft Auto 6. According to PS Store backend data, the GTA 6 PS5 firmware requirement is now version 14.22.00.00, the update Sony released on November 2.
The finding comes from PlayStation Game Size, an account on X that tracks PS Store listings for file sizes and technical details. Sony has not confirmed the requirement itself. Still, the timing points to a clear goal: keeping Rockstar Games‘ open-world release away from jailbroken consoles as launch day approaches.
GTA 6 PS5 firmware requirement moved up in a month
This is the second change to the listed requirement in roughly a month. At the start of October, the same backend data reportedly showed GTA 6 needing firmware 14.10.00.00. With the November 2 patch now live, that minimum has moved up to 14.22.00.00.
In practice, the new GTA 6 PS5 firmware rule means anyone who wants to play will need to install the latest update first. Consoles held on older firmware, which is how jailbreakers keep exploits working, would not be able to boot the game.
A wave of PS5 jailbreaks
The change follows a busy stretch for the PS5 hacking scene. Since early October, hackers have reportedly cracked PS5 firmware from version 7.00 through 13.60, with AI tools reportedly playing a part in the process. Sony has answered with several firmware updates in quick succession, each aimed at closing those holes.
Requiring current firmware is a familiar move for Sony. Marvel’s Wolverine, for example, also needed the latest system software to boot. However, attaching that rule to GTA 6 carries more weight, because it is one of the most anticipated games in years and a likely target for piracy.
Meanwhile, some PlayStation owners are frustrated by the steady run of mandatory updates. In the comments under the original Push Square report, several readers said they were tired of updating to keep pace with Sony’s fight against jailbreakers. Others predicted that GTA 6 would still run on hacked hardware within weeks of release.
Sony has delayed games over security before
Sony has tightened console security around a big release in the past. In 2010, Gran Turismo 5 on PS3 slipped by a few days because of a security issue tied to the console’s XMB operating system.
So far, nothing suggests a similar delay for GTA 6. Instead, Sony is pushing players onto the newest firmware and letting the store listing enforce it. Rockstar currently lists GTA 6 for release on November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
For players, the takeaway is simple. Before launch day, update the PS5 to firmware 14.22.00.00 or later, and expect the GTA 6 PS5 firmware minimum to rise again if Sony ships another security patch before November 19.