GTA 6 gets a mandatory 1 GB patch on PS5 before launch

The patch takes the game to version 1.002.000 on PS5 and it's flagged as mandatory, according to @iGrandTheftAuto. That label suggests you'll most likely need it installed before you can launch GTA 6 for the first time.

The download is roughly 1 GB. Tech site eTeknix and VICE both reported on November 13 that it's the game's first official patch and that it's already live on Sony's console. The required PS5 firmware stays at 14.22.00.00.

The rollout isn't instant, which is why some players see it and others don't.

Because it's being released in waves. According to the update XML that @iGrandTheftAuto cites, half of users get it at 11:00 UTC on November 13 and everyone has it by 23:00 UTC. That's 11am and 11pm in the UK.

PlayStation Game Size (@PlaystationSize), an account that tracks game sizes on the console, describes the same setup: the first 50% of users can download it now, and the rest will get it in 11 hours. VICE says Sony may be staggering the release to avoid server slowdowns. That's the outlet's guess, and Sony hasn't commented. @videotech was another account that flagged a new patch, calling it likely the day one patch.

Once it's installed, the full Australia/New Zealand and Japan packages each grow by 35.75 MiB. The biggest changes land in story000-[GameContent], up 15.75 MiB, and Levels(americas)-0, up 15.625 MiB. Audio, Movies and TextureDatabases keep the same size.

So the 1 GB download is far bigger than what the game grows on disk. eTeknix reads it as a patch that mostly overwrites existing data rather than adding new data.

There are no official notes for version 1.002, so what the patch changes is unknown, VICE says. Neither Rockstar Games nor PlayStation has announced the update. The information comes from community accounts and two outlets citing them.

The file names don't say much. A changed levels file for the Americas doesn't mean the Leonida map is affected, and Rockstar hasn't said either way.

If the patch is already showing up for you, install it now. VICE reads the early release as Rockstar trying to keep millions of players from downloading it at the same time on launch day. The same outlet notes GTA 6 isn't playable until midnight local time on November 19, so you're not missing anything if it hasn't appeared yet.

Keep the console online with free storage so the update can arrive on its own when your turn comes. If it's your first day with the game, our GTA 6 beginner's guide will help you get set up.

eTeknix expects more patches and doesn't rule out a bigger one on launch day, though it presents that as its own speculation.

Three things remain open: official notes, whether Xbox Series X|S gets an equivalent update (the sources only mention PS5) and whether a larger patch lands on November 19. Only Rockstar can confirm any of it.

The next clue arrives on November 19, when the game unlocks at local midnight and we see whether another download is needed. Meanwhile, you can catch up on what we know about GTA 6.

Is the GTA 6 patch mandatory on PS5?

It's flagged as mandatory, so you'll most likely need it before the first launch, according to @iGrandTheftAuto.

How big is the GTA 6 patch?

About 1 GB to download, according to @iGrandTheftAuto and eTeknix.

Are there patch notes for GTA 6 version 1.002?

No. VICE says there are no official notes, and Rockstar hasn't commented on the update.