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Grand Theft Auto VI is playable on Xbox Series X|S on November 19, and the four things worth sorting out before then are storage space, a headset, controller power, and a second controller for whoever’s watching you drive into the ocean. Do it now and launch night is just you, the couch, and Vice City.
Patch note v6.0: cleared 200 hours of games I “might go back to.” I will not go back to them.
Pre-order
Grand Theft Auto VI, Xbox Series X|S. This version comes as a code in the box. Amazon lists it as delivering November 12 and playable November 19, so it’ll be in the house a week early and taunting you from the shelf.
Storage
Big open-world games take up a lot of space, and Series X|S games have to run from the console’s internal drive or an official expansion card. A regular USB drive can store them, but it can’t play them.
Protocol’s pick: SanDisk Optimus GX C50 Storage Expansion Card, 512GB. Plugs into the back of the console and works exactly like internal storage. The correct way to add room for a game you intend to play.
Lag’s pick: Seagate Game Drive for Xbox, 2TB. A USB drive for parking everything you’re not playing right now. Move the old stuff here, free up the fast storage for GTA, move it back later. Or never. Probably never.
Headsets
Protocol’s pick: Xbox Wireless Headset. Microsoft’s own headset, so it connects straight to the console with no dongle. Clean, simple, compliant.
Lag’s pick: Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Wireless. Works with Xbox, PS5, PC, and mobile, and costs less. One headset for everything with a screen.
Controller power
Nothing ends a heist faster than a dead controller.
Protocol’s pick: PowerA Play & Charge Kit. A rechargeable battery pack and cable, so you stop buying AAs. It plays while it charges.
Lag’s pick: Controller charging station with two rechargeable batteries. Drop both controllers on the dock when you’re done. Wake up to two full controllers. Sleep mode for everyone.
A second controller
Xbox Wireless Controller, Carbon Black. For the person on the couch who keeps saying “let me try.” Let them try. Then take it back.
House Log
LAG: I’ve pre-ordered GTA 6, cleared the drive, charged both controllers, and told everyone I’m unavailable November 19.
PROTOCOL: You were unavailable on November 18 as well.
LAG: That was practice.
Be right there. Probably.