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Grand Theft Auto 6 now requires PS5 system software version 14.22.00.00 or newer, according to tracking account PlayStation Game Size, which monitors PlayStation Store data. In early October, the same account reported a minimum requirement of version 14.10.00.00.
On paper, a minimum firmware requirement is nothing unusual. Plenty of PS5 games need a fresh system updates but with GTA 6, though, the timing is hard to ignore.
PS5 jailbreaks have been making steady progress, with hackers exploiting older firmware versions to run pirated games. It got to a point where hackers have managed to jailbreak console's earlier firmware required to run GTA 6, which would mean Rockstar's mammoth could appear on PC via emulation before the official release.
Requiring newer firmware is one of the simplest ways to shut those consoles out, and that's exactly what Sony have been doing for the past month. A jailbroken PS5 usually has to stay on older firmware, so a game that demands the latest version simply won’t run on it.
That’s widely seen as the reason behind the original 14.10 requirement. Shortly after it emerged, reports suggested 14.10 itself appeared to have been compromised, which may explain why the bar has now been raised again.
Neither Rockstar Games nor Sony Interactive Entertainment have officially confirmed that the requirement is meant to block jailbroken consoles. Still, it’s a fairly safe bet that one of the biggest launches in gaming history isn’t something either company wants to see pirated on day one.
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar haven’t announced a PC version.
