GTA 6 update 1.002: the first patch is out before launch, and how to get it before Nov. 19
GTA 6's first update, version 1.002, began reaching PS5s on Nov. 13, six days before launch. It's about 1 GB, Rockstar hasn't posted patch notes, and installing it now saves a wait at midnight.
Grand Theft Auto VI doesn't come out until Nov. 19, and it already has an update. Version 1.002 began reaching PS5s with the game pre-loaded on Friday, Nov. 13. PlayStation Game Size, an X account that tracks PlayStation Store data, posted at 7:11 a.m. Eastern that half of players could download it and the other half would get it about 11 hours later, which puts the second wave at around 6 p.m. Eastern. The download is about 1 GB, Polygon and other outlets report.
Rockstar hasn't said what the update does. It hasn't posted patch notes or commented on it, and since nobody can play the game until it unlocks, there's no way yet to see what changed.
What we know
| Detail | Update 1.002 |
|---|---|
| Version | 01.002.000 |
| Size | About 1 GB |
| Consoles | PS5; Pure Xbox reports a small GTA 6 update on Xbox as well |
| Rollout | Half of players first, the rest about 11 hours later, according to PlayStation Game Size |
| Patch notes | None from Rockstar |
Polygon and VICE call it the game's day-one patch, the late fixes that big games usually get at release. Rockstar hasn't described it that way, and it hasn't said whether more updates will follow before launch.
How to get it before Nov. 19
PlayStation says a game updates itself to the newest version when you start it, so you'll get 1.002 either way. To get it now instead, highlight GTA VI on the home screen, press the Options button and select Check for Update. If nothing turns up, the update may not have reached your console yet; try again later in the day.
To let the console handle it overnight, turn on Stay Connected to the Internet under Settings, System, Power Saving, Features Available in Rest Mode. Then go to Settings, Saved Data and Game/App Settings, Automatic Updates and turn on Auto-Install in Rest Mode, PlayStation's support pages say.
On Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft says both power modes, Sleep and Shutdown (energy saving), install automatic updates for games and apps, so a console left plugged in and online picks them up on its own. The settings are under Settings, General, Power options.
Why it's worth doing now
At midnight, an update you don't have yet comes on top of the unlock, while everyone else is downloading too. The pre-load's first night already set records on broadband networks. A 1 GB update is small next to the game's 212 GB, but having it installed means one less thing between you and Leonida on launch night.
While you're at it, install the latest PS5 system software. PlayStation Game Size reported on Nov. 2 that GTA 6 needs version 14.22 or later; Sony and Rockstar haven't said so themselves. Our launch checklist has the other console steps, and our 10 things to do before GTA 6 comes out cover the game itself.
Questions readers ask
- What is GTA 6 update 1.002?
- GTA 6's first update, about 1 GB, which began reaching PS5s with the game pre-loaded on Nov. 13, six days before launch. Rockstar hasn't posted patch notes or said what it changes.
- Do I need GTA 6 update 1.002?
- Yes, sooner or later: PlayStation says a game updates to its newest version when you start it. Installing it before Nov. 19 means it won't hold you up at launch.
- How do I get the GTA 6 update on PS5?
- Highlight GTA VI, press the Options button and select Check for Update. PlayStation Game Size said the update would reach half of players first and the rest about 11 hours later, so it may take until the evening of Nov. 13 to show up.
- Are there patch notes for GTA 6 update 1.002?
- No. Rockstar hasn't published notes for it or said whether more updates will come before the game unlocks on Nov. 19.
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