Installation, storage and automatic downloads
Plan for the official 212 GB requirement and the correct download settings.
Rockstar's installation notice says GTA VI requires up to 212 GB of available space, depending on the device. Sony's PS5 launch page tells owners to clear at least 212 GB. The practical choice is to make that room before 10 November and leave additional headroom for the console's own update process, without treating an unannounced patch size as a known number.
Prepare the console that will run the game
Check the free space on the storage device intended for installation, rather than the capacity printed on its box. Other games, captures, applications and system allocations can consume a substantial part of a drive. Moving an existing title is different from deleting its saved progress: use the console's storage tools and verify what each action removes.
Rest Mode and Sleep are not interchangeable names
Rockstar's pre-load FAQ specifies automatic downloads and Rest Mode for PS5. For Xbox Series X|S, it specifies automatic updates and a powered-on console or Sleep mode. A completely disconnected console cannot download merely because a library setting is enabled.
If the download does not start, check account ownership, free space and the actual platform start time before reinstalling anything. The official FAQ links to PlayStation and Xbox troubleshooting. A fluctuating estimated completion time is not evidence that the game has unlocked, and a pre-load does not remove the need for any later update.
There is no verified PC installation requirement in this console notice. A future PC edition may package different assets and must be assessed from its own specification.