How to record GTA 6 gameplay on PS5 and Xbox
GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S first. You don't need to be a streamer to make clips, but you do need footage. Here are the three ways to get it, and which one suits you.
7 minute read. Updated November 10, 2026.
The three ways to record
Every console player who makes clips ends up using one of these, or a mix:
| Method | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in console capture | Grabbing a moment right after it happens | Short recordings, and you have to remember to save |
| Stream and save the VOD | Long sessions where you don't know when the moment will come | You need to stream, and VODs expire unless saved |
| Capture card and PC | Recording everything at high quality, with a facecam | Costs money and takes setup |
Option 1: Built-in console capture
Both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S keep a rolling recording of your most recent gameplay in the background. When something happens, you press the capture button and save the last stretch of play. You can also start a new recording manually before you try something risky.
On PS5
The Create button on the controller opens the capture menu, where you can save recent gameplay or start a new recording. How much recent gameplay is kept, and at what resolution, is set in the console's captures and broadcasts settings. Check those settings before launch day so you are not caught with a buffer that is too short.
On Xbox Series X|S
The Share button on the controller captures a screenshot or records what just happened, and holding or double-pressing it gives more options depending on your settings. Recording length and quality are set in the console's capture settings, and longer recordings may need external storage.
Getting the files off the console
Both consoles can sync captures to their companion mobile apps, and both let you copy captures to a USB drive. Once the file is on your phone or computer, upload it to aiclipmaker like any other video.
Console menus change with system updates, so if an option has moved, search your console's settings for “captures”.
Option 2: Stream it and save the VOD
Built-in capture only works if you remember to save. In GTA, the best moments are unpredictable, and by the time you reach for the button you may have already respawned. Streaming the whole session solves that: everything is recorded, and you find the moments afterwards.
Both consoles can stream directly to Twitch and YouTube from their share or broadcast menus. You don't need viewers for this to be useful. A stream with zero viewers is still a full recording of your session, ready to be clipped.
- On Twitch, turn on saving past broadcasts in your channel settings, then save or download the VOD before it expires. See how to find and save your Twitch VOD.
- On YouTube, past livestreams are usually saved to your channel as videos automatically.
Then paste the VOD link into aiclipmaker and let it scan the session for you. On Twitch, the chat replay helps find moments even when nobody was watching live, because your own reactions and the game events still count.
Option 3: A capture card and a PC
A capture card sits between your console and your TV and passes the video to a PC, where software such as OBS records it. This is how most serious console creators work, because it gives you:
- Recordings as long as your storage allows, at the quality you choose.
- A facecam and microphone recorded alongside the game, which makes clips far more watchable.
- The option to stream and record at the same time.
Things to check
- The console's HDCP setting. Some consoles block capture of certain content when HDCP is on. Games are generally fine to capture, but if you see a black screen, check this setting.
- Passthrough, so you can play on your TV without the delay of the recording.
- Disk space. Long sessions at high bitrates fill drives quickly.
Recording settings that make better clips
- Record your voice. Your reaction is half of a good GTA clip. A recording without commentary is much harder to make interesting.
- 1080p is enough. Clips are shown on phones at 1080 by 1920. Recording in 4K costs storage without making your TikToks noticeably better.
- Keep game and voice balanced. If explosions drown out your voice, turn the game down a little.
- Expect some blocked scenes. Games can stop the console from capturing certain story scenes. If a recording cuts out during a cutscene, that is normal and not a fault in your setup.
Which should you use?
If you only want to share the occasional moment, built-in capture is enough. If you want to post clips regularly, stream your sessions and save the VODs, even with no audience, so nothing is missed. If you are building a channel, a capture card with a facecam is worth it.
Whichever you pick, aiclipmaker accepts the result: upload a file, or paste a Twitch, Kick or YouTube link.