What you need to play GTA 6: a buying guide without overspending

The essentials, the nice-to-haves and what you do NOT need to buy. With real prices and budgets by profile, from bare minimum to full setup.

Less than three months remain until November 19 and the same question keeps coming up: what do I actually need to play GTA VI properly? We've separated the essentials from the nice-to-haves, with real prices and without recommending things you don't need.

Transparency: this guide contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are indicative and may vary.

1. The game: PS5 or Xbox Series X|S (essential)

GTA VI launches exclusively on current-gen. There's no PS4, Xbox One or PC version at launch. The official price of the standard edition is €79.99 on both platforms, according to Rockstar's site. Shops like Amazon may list it slightly cheaper and prices change often, so the one that counts is the one you see when you click through:

• Grand Theft Auto VI — PlayStation 5
• Grand Theft Auto VI — Xbox Series X|S

Our take on pre-ordering: pre-ordering doesn't get you a better price (Amazon applies its lowest-price guarantee until launch), but it does secure availability on day one. Note: the boxed version has no disc, just a download code inside. Pre-ordering secures the code, not a disc.

2. Storage space (near-essential)

This is the cost most people underestimate. Red Dead Redemption 2 took 150 GB. GTA V with all its updates exceeded 100 GB. GTA VI, with a map twice the size of GTA V's, points to similar or larger figures.

A standard PS5 has 825 GB, of which around 667 GB are usable. If you already have four or five big games installed, it won't fit. Expanding is cheaper than deleting your library:

• WD_BLACK SN850P 2TB — officially licensed for PlayStation — €329 · The no-hassle option: heatsink included and Sony-certified speeds.
• Lexar EQ790 2TB with heatsink — €269.99 · A cheaper alternative meeting PS5 requirements (PCIe Gen4, built-in heatsink).

Important: a PS5 SSD must be M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 with a heatsink. Without one it overheats and the console rejects it. Xbox Series X|S works differently: it only accepts proprietary expansion cards.

3. A second controller (recommended, not essential)

Only if you'll play with company or if yours already has stick drift — a known DualSense issue after a couple of years. The DualSense wireless controller sits around €70.94.

If your current controller works fine, save the money. GTA VI's campaign is single-player.

4. Headphones (optional, but they make a difference)

Sound design is historically one of Rockstar's strengths, and GTA's radio is half the experience. If you play at night or share a house, decent headphones change a lot:

• EKSA E900WT wireless — €49.99 · A solid entry-level option, compatible with PS5, PC and Switch.

You don't need to spend €300 on high-end gear to enjoy the game. Under €50 already gets you respectable surround sound.

5. What you do NOT need to buy

Let's be honest, because there are plenty of articles out there recommending everything under the sun:

• A PS5 Pro just for GTA VI: the game is designed for standard PS5 and Series X. The Pro will give better resolution, but it isn't necessary and it's €800.
• A new TV: if your TV already does 4K, you're set. GTA VI will foreseeably run at 30 fps in quality mode, so a 120 Hz panel won't add much.
• The Ultimate Edition, if you only care about the campaign: all its extra content is cosmetic and collector-oriented. No mission is locked behind it.
• Merchandise before launch: prices usually drop after the hype peak.

Summary: budget by profile

Bare minimum (€79.99): just the game, if you have free space on your console.

Recommended (~€350): game + 2TB SSD. Covers the real problem almost everyone will hit.

Complete (~€470): game + SSD + headphones + second controller.

How much does GTA 6 cost?

The standard edition has an official price of €79.99 on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Ultimate Edition costs €99.99, digital only, and adds cosmetic content and exclusive vehicles.

Do I need to buy an SSD to play GTA 6?

Only if you're short on space. The game will foreseeably exceed 100 GB, and a standard PS5 has around 667 GB usable. If you have several big games installed, you'll need to expand or uninstall.

Is it worth pre-ordering GTA 6?

Pre-ordering doesn't lower the price, but it secures availability on launch day. On Amazon the lowest-price guarantee applies: if the price drops before launch, you pay the lower one.

Do I need a PS5 Pro for GTA 6?

No. The game is designed for standard PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 Pro will offer better resolution and image quality, but the full experience is available on all supported consoles.