GTA VI launches on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its predecessor, GTA V, came out in 2013. Since then, you’ve changed three phones, two sofas, and probably your mind about what the next GTA should be.

Rockstar opens pre-load on November 10, nine days before launch, and the download is rumored to be over 200 GB. So your home has a deadline. Let’s start with the least exciting—and most important—part.

It’s no exaggeration to take this seriously. You don’t start a game this big “whenever you get a chance.” You start it with a clear schedule, a full fridge, and a tidy home. This guide is a way to reach launch day without surprises—except for the ones you want to discover in the game.

1. The download

If your Wi-Fi struggles to load a video on your phone, you'll be downloading GTA VI until GTA VII comes out. The table shows the minimum time to download 200 GB, assuming your connection reaches its maximum speed.

200 GB is a rumor, not an official figure. In practice, it’ll take longer: the Wi-Fi signal weakens through walls and has to be shared with anyone streaming on the same network.

• Wi-Fi extender: You already have a router. The problem is usually the signal in the room with the console, and a Wi-Fi extender fixes it without changing anything else. If your connection is outdated, the next step is a newer router.
• Ethernet cable: It doesn’t depend on your mood, isn’t affected by walls, and costs very little. For your console, it’s the best-value accessory on the list. Find network cables in the length you need.
• Storage: 200 GB won’t leave room for the games you’ve been saying for years that you’ll finish. An SSD or external drive compatible with your console solves the dilemma without deleting anything.

If you play on PS5, an internal M.2 SSD gives you more space without external cables. The options below are 1 TB and listed as compatible with PS5. The PS5 requires an SSD heatsink: if one isn’t included, you’ll need to install it yourself. Check Sony’s specifications before buying.

Pre-loading makes things easier: the game downloads early and unlocks on launch day. That way, you can test your connection when you’re not in a hurry, rather than when everyone else is hitting Download at the same time.

2. Your gaming setup

You’re not going to play for “just half an hour.” We both know that.

• Screen: a whole city deserves a great screen. After 13 years of waiting, it’s worth seeing it on a 4K TV that does it justice.
• Audio or headset: the city sounds better with the right audio setup, whether that’s a soundbar or a gaming headset. And with a headset, your neighbor won’t have to hear what happened during the police chase.
• Controller: a second gamepad for the friend who comes over “just to watch for a bit” and stays until the end of the night.

If your setup is already a few years old, now is the time to consider an upgrade. The difference is immediately noticeable, and you won’t need to explain it to anyone: they’ll all see it as soon as the game starts.

3. Your home while you play

The game will take hours. Your home won’t wait.

• Robot vacuum: cleans the living room while you do whatever you want in Vice City. It’s the only one that works while you play and doesn’t judge you. Check out the robot vacuums.
• Coffee maker: for those nights when “just one more mission” takes a little longer. From capsule coffee makers to filter coffee makers.
• Snacks and drinks: choose ones that won’t leave your controller sticky. Stains can’t be fixed with autosave.

A home that takes care of itself saves you time. One less cleaning session or one less coffee means a little more time for you, whether you spend it gaming or relaxing on the couch.

4. Your body, after the fourth hour

Your lower back has a better memory than autosave: it remembers every hour that’s gone by.

• Chair with lumbar support: makes the difference between an ordinary Monday and a Monday with a physiotherapy appointment. Check out the gaming chairs.
• Neck and shoulder massager: small massage devices with heat and vibration, so you can stand up straight instead of looking like a question mark.
• Lighting or screen filters: for eyes that will be looking at the same screen for hours.
• Water: real life’s most underrated power-up. It won’t earn you points, but it won’t give you a headache either.

You don’t need to buy everything. Just decide whether the Monday after launch will be an ordinary day or one you’ll spend standing in the kitchen because you won’t want to sit down.

5. The group

You can play GTA on your own, but it’s better with commentary from the sofa.

• Extra controllers: so everyone can play, not just whoever found the controller first. Check out the gamepads for PS5 and Xbox.
• Board games: for those waiting their turn, so they don’t start giving driving advice. Check out the board games.
• Snacks for everyone: make sure you have enough to last longer than you think.

A good evening with friends always has the same ingredients: plenty of controllers, plenty of food, and an unwritten rule about who gets to sit in the middle of the sofa. You can prepare for the first two. The third will be settled as always—with an argument.

6. For display

If GTA VI is more than just a download for you, you can also order it from Skroutz in physical form, with a box and artwork, to keep as a collector’s item. After 13 years of waiting, it deserves a spot where it can be seen.

• Box and cover: the editions below are “code in a box” versions, meaning they come with a box and cover but no disc. The game is downloaded using the code inside. Check each product description before ordering.
• For your console: find them among the PS5 games and Xbox Series X games.
• The box won’t save you from the download: the game will need to be downloaded either way, so section 1 applies here too.

And Now, the Download

An internet connection that can handle gaming, enough disk space, a back that can take it, and a home that cleans itself. All that’s left is to hit Download when pre-loading opens on November 10.

Find everything you need on Skroutz and let the download be the only thing you have to wait for.