Few modern games attract speculation like Grand Theft Auto VI. Every screenshot, leak, and half-sourced claim spreads rapidly across social media. Recently, one particular rumour sparked widespread concern. According to a viral screenshot, GTA 6 would allegedly demand a staggering 677GB of storage on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.

The number alone was enough to alarm players. For many, it sounded implausible. For others, it felt like the logical endpoint of years of escalating game sizes. However, the claim does not stand up to scrutiny.

Where the 677GB Claim Came From

The rumour originated from an image circulating on social platforms that appeared to show a console storage screen. The screenshot listed GTA 6 with a download size well beyond anything currently seen on modern hardware.

At first glance, it looked convincing. The interface resembled a real console menu. The typography matched. The formatting felt authentic.

That surface-level realism helped the image gain traction. It was reposted without context. Captions framed it as leaked information. Some accounts presented it as a technical requirement rather than speculation.

Why the Screenshot Falls Apart

Closer inspection reveals several inconsistencies. Console operating systems do not display placeholder titles with finalized storage values years before release. Even internal development builds rarely assign fixed sizes so early.

Moreover, the listed number itself raises red flags. No current console title approaches that scale. Even the largest releases, including heavily expanded live-service games, remain far below 300GB.

Storage requirements grow over time. They do not leap forward by hundreds of gigabytes overnight.

How Game File Sizes Are Actually Determined

File size is not a simple measure of ambition. It reflects a combination of assets, compression methods, and engine design.

Rockstar Games has a long history of technical efficiency. Previous titles achieved dense worlds without bloated installs. Red Dead Redemption 2, often cited as a benchmark, launched with a far smaller footprint than early predictions suggested.

Modern engines rely on streaming systems. Assets load dynamically rather than sitting permanently on disk. Compression technology has improved significantly over the past decade.

A massive open world does not automatically translate into an unmanageable download.

Why These Rumours Spread So Easily

Storage anxiety is real. Console drives fill quickly. Expansion options remain expensive.

Against that backdrop, extreme numbers gain attention. A claim like 677GB taps directly into existing frustrations. It feels plausible because players already feel constrained.

Fans may be surprised how often misinformation thrives on that emotional response. The more outrageous the number, the more likely it is to be shared.

The Absence of Official Confirmation

Rockstar has not released any official details about GTA 6’s file size. That silence is important.

Developers typically finalize storage requirements late in production. Optimization continues until close to launch. Any number circulating now should be treated as speculative at best.

Without confirmation, screenshots and figures remain guesswork. In this case, the evidence strongly suggests fabrication.

What a Realistic File Size Might Look Like

While no precise figure exists, reasonable estimates place GTA 6 well below the rumoured number. Even a very large open-world release would likely fall within current hardware expectations.

Incremental growth is the norm. Radical jumps are not.

Rockstar also understands its audience. Locking out players due to extreme storage demands would undermine accessibility.

Why This Matters Beyond One Rumour

The 677GB claim highlights a broader issue. Misinformation around GTA 6 is becoming harder to separate from reality.

Fake leaks erode trust. They distort expectations. They shift focus away from meaningful discussion.

Each debunked claim reinforces the need for skepticism. Not everything that looks official actually is.

A Familiar Pattern in the Hype Cycle

This is not the first exaggerated GTA rumour. It will not be the last.

As release approaches, speculation will intensify. File size, price, performance, and features will all be targets.

The lesson is simple. Until Rockstar speaks, treat viral claims with caution.

The Bottom Line

The idea that GTA 6 will require 677GB of storage is unsupported. The screenshot lacks credibility. The number defies technical norms. The logic does not hold.

Players should expect a large game. They should not expect an impossible one.

Sometimes, the loudest rumours are the least reliable.