With Grand Theft Auto 6 just days away from its November 19 release, some lucky gamers have apparently gotten their hands on physical copies ahead of schedule. According to images of an early retail box shared on Reddit, GTA 6 requires a whopping 230GB of free storage space size. That’s 18GB more than the previously listed 212GB for the preload. What’s more, it also explicitly states support for ‘Online Functionality.’
While hardly surprising for games these days, the wording has definitely raised questions about which online features will be available at launch. After all, Rockstar and publisher Take-Two have previously indicated that GTA Online won’t launch alongside GTA 6‘s single-player campaign.
Nevertheless, there’s one big disappointment waiting for longtime Rockstar fans: no more printed map. Rockstar has traditionally included foldout maps with its releases, giving players something to explore before even turning on their consoles. Instead, according to a separate Instagram post, the physical copy seems to include a bonus artwork poster.
Sure, the studio has announced that a printed map is included with any purchase — or the controversial $400 Collector’s Edition — through the Rockstar Store. You can also download and print the map yourself for free once the game’s out. Still, it’s disappointing to see another longstanding physical tradition seemingly going out the window.
Meanwhile, some gamers quickly speculate about what the extra 18GB size could be reserved for and what ‘Online Functionality’ actually means for GTA 6 launch. Some believe it could simply refer to Social Club connectivity or features like leaderboards and stat-tracking between friends. “5 had the social club stuff where you could share songs and customise your story cars from the app too,” wrote one Redditor.
Others expect Rockstar to release a companion app, similar to those for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, around GTA 6‘s launch. “Can online functionality be a mobile companion?” another user asked. Either way, anyone still rocking a nearly full PS5 or Xbox might want to start deciding which games deserve the uninstall treatment before GTA 6 preload starts on November 10.
