Put the Smyths PS5 pre-order page beside Rockstar’s release calendar and you’ll see two Thursdays a week apart. The first is for the box. Smyths puts 12 November on its boxed PS5 listing. That gets you the code inside the case and a chance to get a very large download out of the way.
Digital preloads began on 10 November for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. As for playing, Rockstar’s release schedule gives the same time for both consoles. The game unlocks at midnight local time on 19 November.
What Smyths and GAME say about 12 November
The distinction is easy to miss when you’re looking at a picture of a PS5 case. The listings are for the boxed Standard Edition, with the following options for getting it into your hands.
| Retailer | What the PS5 listing says |
|---|---|
| Smyths Toys | Boxed pre-orders listed for collection or delivery on 12 November. |
| GAME | Online pre-orders advertised for delivery from 12 November. |
I’d go by the date on the order confirmation before making a trip to Smyths. Collection is the handy option if you’ll be near a branch anyway. For delivery, put in your postcode at checkout and see what the retailer gives you. That’s the date that matters for your own order.
What’s in the GTA 6 UK boxed edition?
The boxed Standard Edition comes with a PlayStation Store download code. It adds Grand Theft Auto VI to your library, so a PS5 Digital Edition can use it as well. If you’re buying the box for something to keep, The Game Collection’s PS5 listing advertises an A3 poster with its copy. Look for that on the listing you’re buying from.
There’s one line in GAME’s small print I’d check before sending this as a gift. The voucher is for a UK-registered PlayStation account. You can live here, buy your console here and still sign in with an account from another country. Rockstar’s edition guide lists the UK separately, so ask which account the recipient actually uses before ordering.
How to preload GTA 6 once your PS5 code arrives
On your PS5, sign in to the account you want to keep the game on. Open the PlayStation Store menu, choose Redeem Code and enter the code from the box. Confirm it and start downloading. PlayStation’s GTA 6 support page calls for 212 GB of free space. To see how much you have, go to Settings → Storage.
I’d check the space now if the drive is full of games you’re partway through. It gives you time to decide what to move or delete. Once the code arrives, the console can spend Thursday evening doing the big download while you get on with something else.
If you want a look at the game while it installs, here’s CriticalHit’s hands-on GTA VI preview.
Last Updated: November 10, 2026
