GTA 6 release time: when it unlocks in every region
Updated · Every fact labelled and sourced
GTA 6 unlocks at midnight local time on Thursday 19 November 2026, store region by store region, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It isn't one global moment. New Zealand goes first at 11:00 UTC on 18 November, the UK at 00:00 GMT, and the US at 12:00am ET (9pm PT on 18 Nov).
Countdown to unlock: United States store
In your time zone: 05:00, Thu 19 Nov UTC
Is GTA 6 out yet?
Not yet. GTA 6 launches on Thursday 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. New Zealand unlocks first at 11:00 UTC on 18 November, and Mexico and Central America unlock last at 06:00 UTC on 19 November.
GTA 6 unlock time by country
| Store region | Local unlock | UTC | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov NZDT | 11:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Australia | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov AEDT | 13:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Japan | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov JST | 15:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| South Korea | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov KST | 15:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Hong Kong | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov HKT | 16:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Singapore and Malaysia | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov +08 | 16:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Indonesia | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov WIB | 17:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| India | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov IST | 18:30, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| United Arab Emirates | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov +04 | 20:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Saudi Arabia | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov +03 | 21:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Turkey | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov +03 | 21:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Nordics, Poland, Switzerland | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov CET | 23:00, Wed 18 Nov | – |
| UK, Ireland and Portugal | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov GMT | 00:00, Thu 19 Nov | – |
| Brazil, Argentina and Chile | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov -03 | 03:00, Thu 19 Nov | – |
| United States, Canada, Colombia and Peru | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov EST | 05:00, Thu 19 Nov | – |
| Mexico and Central America | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov CST | 06:00, Thu 19 Nov | – |
Reported Times come from PlayStation Store release timestamps [1] [2] [3]. Gaming Route found the Xbox times match. Rockstar has not announced an unlock hour. Your unlock follows your account region, not where you are.
US time zones
| Zone | Unlock |
|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov |
| Central (CT) | 11:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
| Mountain (MT) | 10:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
| Pacific (PT) | 9:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
More US zones, including Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii
Why "expected" times?
Rockstar has confirmed the date (19 November) but not an hour. The times above are the release timestamps currently set on the store listings. These have matched past Rockstar launches, but they can change. Where a store hasn't published a time (for example the Philippines), we show an expected time based on the midnight-local pattern and label it.
Pre-load and size
Pre-load from 12 November Confirmed. PS5 download 210 GB Leaked. See pre-load time and file size.
Fact check
| Fact | What we know | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | Thursday 19 November 2026, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S | Confirmed | Rockstar Newswire Take-Two press release (24 June 2026) |
| PC version | Not announced for launch | Confirmed | Take-Two press release (24 June 2026) |
| Pre-load date | From 12 November 2026 for digital pre-orders | Confirmed | Rockstar Newswire Take-Two press release (24 June 2026) |
| Physical copies | Box contains a download code (no disc), on sale from 12 November to support pre-loading | Confirmed | Take-Two press release (24 June 2026) Gaming Route |
| Price (US) | US$79.99 standard, US$99.99 Ultimate Edition | Confirmed | Take-Two press release (24 June 2026) |
| Unlock type | Staggered: midnight local time in each store region, not one global moment | Reported | joyride.games Eurogamer.es Gaming Route |
| Official unlock hour | Rockstar has not announced one. The times on this site come from PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store release timestamps | Unknown | Gaming Route |
| First and last unlock | New Zealand at 11:00 UTC on 18 Nov; Mexico and Central America at 06:00 UTC on 19 Nov | Reported | joyride.games Eurogamer.es |
| Xbox unlock times | Match the PlayStation Store in the 13 regions Gaming Route checked | Reported | Gaming Route |
| Pre-load start hour | Midnight local on 12 Nov according to VICE, citing Rockstar Support. Gaming Route could not find this in any official source | Reported | VICE Gaming Route |
| PS5 download size | 210 GB for the standard edition, from the PlayStation Game Size account. Not on the store listing as of 1 Nov | Leaked | GamesRadar+ GameSpot Gaming Route |
| Xbox Series X|S download size | Not published | Unknown | Gaming Route |
| Day-one patch size | Not published | Unknown | Gaming Route |
| "676.7 GB" screenshot | Fake. It came from a parody account | Reported | Gaming Route |
Labels: Confirmed Rockstar or Take-Two said it. Reported From store data or a reputable outlet. Leaked Unofficial figure. Fan-spotted Spotted by fans in official media. Unknown Not published. Checked 3 November 2026.
Release time by country
FAQ
What time does GTA 6 unlock?
At midnight local time on Thursday 19 November 2026 in each store region, according to PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store listings. Rockstar has not announced an official hour.
Is GTA 6 a global simultaneous launch?
No. It's staggered by store region, over about 19 hours, from New Zealand (11:00 UTC on 18 Nov) to Mexico and Central America (06:00 UTC on 19 Nov).
What time does GTA 6 come out in EST and PST?
12:00am EST on Thursday 19 November, which is 9:00pm PST on Wednesday 18 November, on the single US store timestamp. A later West Coast unlock hasn't been ruled out officially.
Does my unlock time depend on where I live?
It depends on your console account's store region, not your physical location.
When does GTA 6 pre-load start?
On 12 November 2026 for digital pre-orders (confirmed by Rockstar). VICE reports the start is midnight local, citing Rockstar Support.