Six days until Grand Theft Auto VI, and the countdown is finally tangible: the GTA 6 pre-load is live, consoles are groaning under a 212GB download, and Rockstar has confirmed the frame-rate news nobody wanted to hear. Meanwhile Nintendo reported a strange quarter — fewer consoles sold, much more profit — and a 28-year-old Zelda remake became the best-reviewed game of the year.
Key Takeaways
- GTA 6 pre-loads are live on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S ahead of the November 19 launch — up to 212GB free, and 30 fps even on PS5 Pro.
- Switch 2 hardware sales fell 37.4% in Nintendo’s first half, yet operating profit jumped 49%.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launched November 5 on Switch 2 with a 96 on Metacritic.
- Game Pass Wave 1 brought day-one launches like Escape Academy 2, while GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 leave PS Plus Extra on November 17.
GTA 6 Pre-Load Is Live — Clear 212GB and Settle In
The biggest logistical event of the gaming year is underway. According to Rockstar Games, digital pre-loads for Grand Theft Auto VI opened November 10 — midnight local time on PlayStation 5, midnight GMT on Xbox Series X|S — for players who pre-ordered digitally. The game unlocks at midnight local time on November 19, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only; there is still no PC version announced for launch day. We flagged the pre-load start earlier this week in Tech News November 9, 2026.
The number everyone is talking about is storage: Rockstar’s pre-load FAQ says the download requires up to 212GB of available space depending on the device, so check your console’s own prompt first. Boxed copies contain a download code, not a disc; they reach stores November 12, and code holders can pre-load as soon as they redeem.
Then there’s the frame rate. According to TechSpot, Rockstar confirmed a 30 frames-per-second target on every console — including the PS5 Pro, which gets PSSR upscaling and ray-traced shadows in return. Years of speculation about a 60 fps performance mode are settled, at least for launch. If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, buy digital and start the download now, or budget a long evening for it on launch night.
Nintendo’s Odd Quarter: Fewer Switch 2s, Much More Profit
Nintendo’s first-half results, published November 5, read like a contradiction. According to GamerHeadlines, the company sold 6.49 million Switch 2 consoles in the six months to September 30, down 37.4% from 10.36 million a year earlier, while operating profit jumped 49.1% to ¥216.5 billion. Net sales fell 12.1% to ¥966.0 billion.
Context matters more than the headline. Last year’s figure was the launch rush after the console’s June 2025 debut; this year’s quarter also carried the US price rise to $499.99 in September, plus a memory shortage Nintendo says limited production. Software tells the happier story: Switch 2 game sales rose 18.8% to 24.49 million units, Mario Kart World alone has sold 16.48 million copies, and lifetime Switch 2 sales stand at 26.35 million.
Nintendo kept its full-year forecast at 16.5 million consoles, so it needs roughly 10 million more sales in the second half, holidays included — a big ask at a higher price. That makes the Black Friday sale starting November 22, with $50 off a Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle, matter more than usual. President Shuntaro Furukawa has pointed to the 2027 Pokémon: Winds / Waves pair as the release that will decide the console’s third year, according to GameLuster.
Ocarina of Time Remake Is the Best-Reviewed Game of 2026
Some remakes are cash-ins. This one is a coronation. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launched November 5 as a full Switch 2 remake — rebuilt visuals, an orchestral score, and voiced cutscenes — and critics responded with the highest scores of the year. According to Nintendo Life, the remake sits at 96 on Metacritic and 95 on OpenCritic, with 100% of critics recommending it. Nintendo Life itself awarded 9/10, calling it a stunning remake that falls just short of definitive.
The caveats are small and consistent: no Master Quest or hard mode, a single manual save slot, and bosses veterans will find easier than they remember. At $59.99 digital and $69.99 physical, it’s also a reminder that Nintendo’s premium pricing for its biggest remakes isn’t going anywhere — and, judging by the scores, players aren’t likely to mind. For our earlier coverage of the Switch 2’s big week, see Gaming News November 6, 2026.
Game Pass Stacks Up — and PS Plus Says Goodbye to GTA V
Microsoft’s November Game Pass Wave 1, announced November 3 on Xbox Wire, is one of the strongest first-half drops of the year. According to GamerHeadlines, day-one arrivals include Football Manager 27, Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School (November 5), and Warhammer Survivors (November 10), with John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando landing November 12. The wave runs through November 17 with 15 additions — though the day-one titles are limited to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, not Premium.
November 15 is the swing day: eight first-party classics including Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, and Viva Piñata join the cheaper Essential tier, while 13 games leave the service, among them GoldenEye 007, Wreckfest, and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. Finish anything on that departure list this weekend — we covered the last big Game Pass shake-up in Gaming News October 30, 2026.
Over on PlayStation, the timing is almost theatrical. According to Vaulted Games, eleven games leave PS Plus Extra on November 17 — including Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 — exactly two days before GTA VI launches. If you’re mid-playthrough of either, the clock is officially ticking.
It’s been a busy release week beyond the headlines, too: Stellar Blade: Complete Edition and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition both arrived on Switch 2, and Shrek 2 Remastered gave the 2004 co-op classic a 4K revival at $29.99. For the full month’s calendar, see GameSpot’s roundup of November’s biggest releases. Next week, all of it gets swallowed by one game — we’ll be here when Leonida opens its doors.
FAQ
When does GTA 6 unlock?
November 19, 2026, at midnight local time on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-loads for digital pre-orders opened November 10; the game needs up to 212GB of free space.
Is GTA 6 60 fps on PS5 Pro?
No. Rockstar confirmed a 30 fps target on every console, including PS5 Pro, which instead gets PSSR upscaling and ray-traced shadows. No PC version has been announced for launch.
How is the Switch 2 selling?
Nintendo sold 6.49 million units in the six months to September 30, 2026 — down 37.4% year over year against the launch rush — with lifetime sales at 26.35 million. Software is strong: 24.49 million games in the half, and Mario Kart World past 16.48 million copies.
What’s leaving Game Pass and PS Plus this month?
Thirteen games leave Xbox Game Pass on November 15, including GoldenEye 007 and Wreckfest. Eleven games leave PS Plus Extra on November 17, headlined by GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 — two days before GTA VI launches.
Sources
- Rockstar Games — Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load FAQ
- TechSpot — GTA VI is ready to pre-load, but even the PS5 Pro tops out at 30 FPS
- GamerHeadlines — Nintendo Switch 2 Sells 6.49 Million Units in Six Months as Operating Profit Jumps 49%
- GameLuster — Switch 2 Sales Fall 37%; Pokemon Pinned for Recovery
- Nintendo Life — Round Up: The Reviews Are In For The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time On Switch 2
- GamerHeadlines — Xbox Game Pass November 2026 Wave 1 Revealed
- Vaulted Games — Game Pass November Wave 1, GTA V Leaving PS Plus Extra
- GameSpot — The Biggest New Game Releases Of November 2026
