GTA 6 release time in the US (ET, CT, MT, PT)
Updated · Every fact labelled and sourced
GTA 6 unlocks in the US at 12:00am Eastern (EST) on Thursday 19 November 2026. The store uses one nationwide timestamp (05:00 UTC), so that's 11pm Central, 10pm Mountain and 9pm Pacific on Wednesday 18 November.
Countdown to unlock: US store, 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov EST
In your time zone: 05:00, Thu 19 Nov UTC
US unlock times by city
| City / time zone | Unlock (local) |
|---|---|
| Eastern: New York, Miami, Atlanta (EST) | 12:00am, Thu 19 Nov |
| Central: Chicago, Dallas, Houston (CST) | 11:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
| Mountain: Denver, Salt Lake City (MST) | 10:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
| Arizona: Phoenix (MST, no DST) | 10:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
| Pacific: Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas (PST) | 9:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
| Alaska: Anchorage (AKST) | 8:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
| Hawaii: Honolulu (HST) | 7:00pm, Wed 18 Nov |
Reported From the store listing [1] [2]. Rockstar hasn't confirmed an hour.
What to know
Daylight saving ended on 1 November, so launch night is on standard time everywhere. On the West Coast that means 9pm PST on Wednesday, not midnight. One caveat: a single national timestamp suggests everyone unlocks together, but nothing official rules out Rockstar or Sony holding the West Coast until local midnight. Check the countdown on your own console's game page in launch week.
Canada shares the same 05:00 UTC moment. Mexico and Central America unlock an hour later, and they're last in the world.
Pre-loading opens on Thursday 12 November. US digital pre-orders cost $79.99 (Standard) or $99.99 (Ultimate). Pre-orders and purchases before 20 November include the Vintage Vice City Pack.
Key facts
- Release date: 19 November 2026 Confirmed [1]
- Pre-load: from 12 November 2026 Confirmed
- PS5 download: 210 GB Leaked · Xbox: Unknown (file size details)
Other regions: full GTA 6 unlock table.
FAQ
What time does GTA 6 come out in EST?
12:00am EST on Thursday 19 November 2026, according to the US PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store listings. Rockstar has not announced an official hour.
What time does GTA 6 come out in California (PST)?
9:00pm PST on Wednesday 18 November 2026, if the single US store timestamp holds. That hasn't been officially confirmed.
What time does GTA 6 come out in Central time?
11:00pm CST on Wednesday 18 November 2026.