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If you own a PlayStation 5, you can play Grand Theft Auto VI. Every model works: the original 2020 console, the Slim, and the Pro.
The harder question is whether your PS5 has enough space for it. Rockstar has not confirmed a final download size, but based on the growth of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA 6 is expected to be one of the largest console games ever released. Combined with the 2026 NAND flash shortage that has driven SSD prices higher, storage may be worth thinking about now rather than later.
Will your PS5 run GTA 6?
Every PlayStation 5 model plays GTA 6. Some of that storage is reserved for the PS5 operating system, so the usable space is slightly lower than the advertised capacity:
- Original PS5 (2020): 825GB total
- PS5 Slim (2023): 1TB total
- PS5 Pro (2024): 2TB total
The one PlayStation that does not run GTA 6 is the PS4. Rockstar confirmed console-generation exclusivity when pre-orders opened. If you’re on a PS4 and want GTA 6, you’ll need to upgrade to a PS5.
Physical copies come in a case with a download code rather than a game disc. The installation and update process is the same either way.
Preload begins November 12 for pre-orders. Launch is November 19.
How much storage does GTA 6 need?
Rockstar has not confirmed a download size. But their previous releases give us a reasonable basis for an estimate.
GTA V launched in 2013 at roughly 8GB on console. Over years of updates, that has grown to more than 100GB. Red Dead Redemption 2 launched in 2018 at roughly 100GB and has grown similarly. Both games saw their download grow meaningfully after release.
Based on that pattern, a base download of 150GB is a reasonable expectation. Some industry reports have circulated higher figures, around 200GB, but those remain unverified.
What is clear: GTA 6 is expected to be one of the largest console games ever released, and it will continue to grow over time. If you have a base PS5 with 825GB and already have several large games installed, GTA 6 will not fit without making space or adding storage.
Why PS5 SSDs cost so much right now
A worldwide NAND flash shortage in 2026 has driven SSD prices to their highest levels in years. Prices are 40 to 60 percent higher than they were 18 months ago, depending on the model and capacity.
The cause is enterprise demand, not consumer demand. AI data centers are consuming NAND flash production at unprecedented rates, pulling supply away from the retail market. The rapid build-out of AI infrastructure requires enormous amounts of high-capacity SSD storage. Enterprise buyers pay more per gigabyte than retail buyers, so NAND manufacturers are prioritizing them. The consumer market gets what remains.
Historically, NAND shortages have resolved when new fabrication capacity comes online. The industry has been through cycles like this before, most recently in 2018. But new fab capacity takes 18 to 24 months to build and calibrate, and the current AI infrastructure boom has outpaced the industry’s ability to add capacity in time. Analyst forecasts do not expect meaningful relief until 2027.
The same pattern is affecting laptop and desktop SSDs, so this isn’t just a PS5 problem. Any storage upgrade planned for the next few months is likely to cost more than it would have a year or two ago.
Your three options: keep, delete, or upgrade
Option 1: Keep your current storage. If you have a Slim, a Pro, or plenty of free space on your original PS5, you may not need to do anything. Just watch the space between now and launch.
Option 2: Delete other games. If your PS5 is close to full but you don’t play many active games, deleting a few titles may buy you room for GTA 6. It’s a workable stopgap. Not a fix. You’ll likely hit the limit again if you add anything else.
Option 3: Buy an SSD upgrade. If you have a base PS5 and plan to keep multiple active games, this is the permanent fix. See the picks below.
The best PS5 SSDs for GTA 6
If you’re buying an SSD specifically for GTA 6, the criteria are simple: choose a 2TB Gen4 M.2 NVMe drive with a factory-installed heatsink. Sony requires a heatsink for PS5 installation. Getting the drive with one pre-attached is easier than sourcing and installing one separately.
Best for most: WD_BLACK SN850X (heatsink SKU). The default choice. Fast (~7,300 MB/s), factory heatsink, best balance of price and availability in the current market. If you’re not sure which to pick, pick this.
Premium: Samsung 990 Pro (with heatsink). The fastest of the two and consistently the best-reviewed PS5-compatible drive. If you want the top performer and don’t mind paying for it, this is the drive.
Check current Amazon pricing before buying. Prices continue to fluctuate.
What to do now
Check your current free space in Settings > Storage. If you’re on an original PS5 or already running close to full, either delete games you’re not actively playing or buy a 2TB heatsink SSD, install it, and format it so you’re ready to load GTA 6 when it arrives.
If you’ve already decided to upgrade, buying sooner may make sense. Prices aren’t expected to ease until 2027, and waiting doesn’t necessarily mean paying less.
Your PS5 will play GTA 6. Making space for it is a problem you can solve today instead of at launch.