Thousands of gamers may be unable to download Grand Theft Auto VI when it releases on November 19, with the game's likely massive file size potentially forcing players to buy new consoles or extra storage.
Release and Anticipation
GTA VI is the latest instalment in Rockstar's iconic series and is arguably the most hotly anticipated video game of all time, with its trailer racking up nearly 50 million views on YouTube alone. The 13-year wait has also spawned a series of online jokes and memes about how long it has been, as well as the number of reported delays in its production.
However, thousands of fans may be forced into splashing out on flashy new consoles if they want to be able to play, as Rockstar is only releasing the game on the latest gaming systems. This means, on top of the £69.99 price tag (which rises to £89.99 for the Ultimate Edition), console players will need to purchase either a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X or S, any of which will set you back hundreds of pounds.
Size Concerns
Even gamers with these more recent models are not out of the woods yet, with many likely to face serious challenges to download the game once it is released. While the size of GTA VI has not been confirmed yet, experts fear the instalment is set to follow suit from its predecessors and be one of the largest video games of all time. If this is the case, GTA VI could be between 150-250 GB in size, with the latest instalment of the also popular Call of Duty series being around the same size.
This mammoth size could potentially mean the game is simply too big for many console owners, especially those who have the smaller capacity models. For example, the cheapest Xbox S on the market comes with 512 GB storage, of which around 364 GB is available for games. The smallest PS5 offers a slightly more generous 825 GB, with 660 GB allotted to downloads.
Storage Solutions
Both of these gaming systems would potentially be pretty much pushed to the limit, with the Xbox S likely unable to download GTA VI at all unless all other games are deleted from the console. Owners of the 825 GB PS5 would also only be able to keep around one other game on the system, with GTA taking up nearly all the room.
However, for gamers who bought the smaller consoles and understandably don't want to delete their favourite games, there is a possible solution. Both PlayStation and Xbox offer extra storage options. If you have an Xbox, you can upgrade your capacity by 1 TB (1000 GB) by purchasing an expansion card, although this will set you back around £130-240. At a similar price, PS5 users can buy a compatible 1 TB internal M.2 SSD, which also allows more games to be downloaded.
Alternatively, gamers can also buy an external USB hard drive and download games onto there, which will set them back between £60 and £100. However, this cheaper option can make it harder to download some games, especially ones that are released specifically for that console.
