Key takeaways
- GTA 6 launches on Thursday, Nov 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- PlayStation Store listings show a midnight local time unlock in each region, so it’s a rolling launch.
- New Zealand goes first (11:00 UTC on Nov 18). Mexico is last on our list (06:00 UTC on Nov 19).
- In the US, the store lists one time for the whole country: midnight Eastern, which is 9 PM Pacific on Wednesday, Nov 18.
What this is based on: Rockstar has confirmed the Nov 19 date but hasn’t announced an official global unlock time. The times below come from the release timestamps on regional PlayStation Store listings, which we checked ourselves on Oct 30, 2026. Store data can change, and we’ll update this page if Rockstar announces anything different.
GTA 6 unlock times by region
Each regional PlayStation Store lists GTA VI with a release timestamp equal to midnight on Nov 19 in that region. Here’s what that means around the world, from earliest to latest:
| Region | Local unlock time | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (NZDT) | Wed Nov 18, 11:00 |
| Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (AEDT) | Wed Nov 18, 13:00 |
| Japan, South Korea | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 15:00 |
| Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 16:00 |
| Indonesia (Jakarta) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (WIB) | Wed Nov 18, 17:00 |
| India | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (IST) | Wed Nov 18, 18:30 |
| United Arab Emirates | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 20:00 |
| Saudi Arabia, Türkiye | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 21:00 |
| Finland, Greece, South Africa | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 22:00 |
| Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (CET) | Wed Nov 18, 23:00 |
| United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (GMT/WET) | Thu Nov 19, 00:00 |
| Brazil, Argentina, Chile | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Thu Nov 19, 03:00 |
| United States | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM ET (see below) | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 |
| Canada | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM ET (see below) | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 |
| Colombia | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (COT) | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 |
| Mexico | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM (CST) | Thu Nov 19, 06:00 |
US unlock time in every time zone
The US PlayStation Store listing has a single timestamp, 05:00 UTC on Nov 19. That’s midnight on the East Coast, so everyone else in the country gets it on Wednesday evening:
- Eastern (ET): 12:00 AM, Thursday Nov 19
- Central (CT): 11:00 PM, Wednesday Nov 18
- Mountain (MT): 10:00 PM, Wednesday Nov 18
- Pacific (PT): 9:00 PM, Wednesday Nov 18
- Alaska (AKT): 8:00 PM, Wednesday Nov 18
- Hawaii (HST): 7:00 PM, Wednesday Nov 18
The Canadian listing uses the same 05:00 UTC timestamp. That’s midnight in Toronto, 9 PM Wednesday in Vancouver, and 1 AM Thursday in Halifax.
Australia: not every state gets it at midnight
The Australian listing is set to midnight in Sydney (13:00 UTC on Nov 18). Because Australia has several time zones and not all states use daylight saving, that same moment is 11:30 PM Wednesday in Adelaide, 11 PM Wednesday in Brisbane and 9 PM Wednesday in Perth.
What about Xbox?
We’ve only checked PlayStation Store timestamps. Microsoft’s store pages don’t show an unlock time, and Rockstar hasn’t said whether Xbox Series X|S will follow the same midnight-local schedule. We’ll add Xbox times once there’s an official answer. Either way, the release date is the same on both consoles.
Pre-load: be ready before the clock hits midnight
According to Take-Two, digital pre-orders can start pre-loading on Nov 12, 2026, a week before launch. Boxed copies also go on sale on Nov 12, but they contain a download code rather than the game on a disc, so every player has to download it. Pre-loading early means the game is ready to start the moment it unlocks.
Can you play early by switching regions?
Polygon has pointed out that a rolling launch makes changing region tempting, especially for New Zealand’s head start. On PlayStation, purchases are tied to your account’s region, so it would mean a separate account and a separate purchase. We don’t recommend it: it can complicate your saves, add-ons and payment methods, and the gain is a few hours at most.
Get ready for launch night
GTA 6 is a huge download, so start with our guide to freeing up PS5 and Xbox storage. For price, editions and platforms, see our GTA 6 explainer. If your TV supports it, set up 120Hz and VRR on PS5 beforehand, and check our release calendar for everything else coming out this season.
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