GTA 6 Release Time
GTA 6 unlocks at 12:00 AM local time on Thursday, November 19, 2026 in most regions. The US unlocks all at once at midnight Eastern, which is 9:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday, November 18. Preload opens a week earlier, on November 12.
Last updated October 29, 2026 · By Shantanu Patel
Countdown to the US unlock
Your clock
If your store unlocks at local midnight, you can play at 12:00 AM on Thursday, November 19.
The US unlock (midnight Eastern) lands at Thursday, November 19 at 12:00 AM EST for you.
Unlock Time by Region
Rockstar has only confirmed the date. The hours below follow the current PlayStation and Xbox store listings, where most regions open at local midnight and the US opens nationwide at midnight Eastern. We will update this table the moment Rockstar posts official times.
| Region | Time zone | Local unlock | UTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| New ZealandNZDT (UTC+13) | NZDT (UTC+13) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 11:00 |
| Australia (Sydney, Melbourne)AEDT (UTC+11) | AEDT (UTC+11) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 13:00 |
| Japan & South KoreaJST/KST (UTC+9) | JST/KST (UTC+9) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 15:00 |
| Singapore, Philippines, Hong KongUTC+8 | UTC+8 | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 16:00 |
| IndiaIST (UTC+5:30) | IST (UTC+5:30) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 18:30 |
| UAEGST (UTC+4) | GST (UTC+4) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 20:00 |
| Saudi Arabia & TurkeyUTC+3 | UTC+3 | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 21:00 |
| Central Europe (DE, FR, ES, IT)CET (UTC+1) | CET (UTC+1) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Wed Nov 18, 23:00 |
| United Kingdom & IrelandGMT (UTC+0) | GMT (UTC+0) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Thu Nov 19, 00:00 |
| Brazil (São Paulo)BRT (UTC-3) | BRT (UTC-3) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Thu Nov 19, 03:00 |
| US East CoastEST (UTC-5) | EST (UTC-5) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 |
| US CentralCST (UTC-6) | CST (UTC-6) | Wed Nov 18, 11:00 PM | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 |
| US MountainMST (UTC-7) | MST (UTC-7) | Wed Nov 18, 10:00 PM | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 |
| US West CoastPST (UTC-8) | PST (UTC-8) | Wed Nov 18, 9:00 PM | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 |
| Mexico CityCST (UTC-6) | CST (UTC-6) | Thu Nov 19, 12:00 AM | Thu Nov 19, 06:00 |
Thinking of switching your console to New Zealand? Read what the New Zealand trick actually does before you try it.
Preload and File Size
Preload opens
Nov 12
Digital pre-orders on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Turn on automatic downloads and leave the console in rest mode.
Reported size
~210 GB
Roughly double Red Dead Redemption 2. A launch-model PS5 has about 667 GB usable, so most players will need to delete something.
Free up
250 GB+
Installs need temporary headroom and a day-one patch is likely. Physical copies are a code in a box, so they download too.
More detail: the full preload guide and how much SSD space you need.
Launch Week: What's Confirmed
Release date: November 19, 2026
Rockstar Newswire, reaffirmed by Take-Two. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only.
Preload opens November 12
Digital pre-orders can download a week early. Rockstar has not given a start hour.
Unlock at local midnight (US: midnight ET)
Read from PlayStation and Xbox store listings, not announced by Rockstar.
About 210 GB download
Reported from PlayStation store data and corroborated by Insider Gaming. A day-one patch may add more.
Reviews go live November 18
Reported by insider NateTheHate after review codes reached press in late October.
Every other claim is in the Confirmed vs Rumor Tracker.
Release Time FAQ
What time does GTA 6 unlock?
GTA 6 is expected to unlock at 12:00 AM local time on Thursday, November 19, 2026 in most regions. In the United States it unlocks nationwide at midnight Eastern, which is 9:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday, November 18. Rockstar has not announced an exact hour, so these times come from PlayStation and Xbox store listings.
Where can you play GTA 6 first?
New Zealand is the first major region to reach midnight on November 19, at 11:00 UTC on November 18. Changing your console region to play early can break purchases and is not recommended.
When can I preload GTA 6?
Preload starts on Thursday, November 12, 2026 for digital pre-orders on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. You can download the game but cannot play until the November 19 unlock.
How big is the GTA 6 download?
GTA 6 is reported to need about 210 GB, based on PlayStation store data. Rockstar has not confirmed the final size, and a day-one patch may add more, so free up at least 250 GB before November 12.
Does GTA 6 have early access?
No. Neither the Standard nor the Ultimate Edition plays before November 19. Sites selling early access are scams.
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
Insider NateTheHate reports a review embargo of November 18, one day before launch. Rockstar has not confirmed it.
What time does GTA 6 come out in Central, Mountain and Pacific time?
The US unlocks everywhere at once at midnight Eastern on November 19. That means 11:00 PM Central, 10:00 PM Mountain and 9:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday, November 18. If you live on the West Coast, you get to play on Wednesday night.
What time does GTA 6 unlock in the UK, India and Australia?
Store listings point to midnight local time on November 19 in each of them: 12:00 AM GMT in the UK, 12:00 AM IST in India and 12:00 AM AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane is an hour behind Sydney because Queensland doesn't use daylight saving.
When does New Zealand get GTA 6 in US, UK and India time?
New Zealand reaches midnight on November 19 at 11:00 UTC on November 18. That's 6:00 AM Eastern and 3:00 AM Pacific on Wednesday, 11:00 AM in the UK and 4:30 PM in India, so the first launch-night streams will appear on Wednesday.
Should I switch my console to New Zealand to play GTA 6 early?
It has worked for some past Xbox releases, but Rockstar hasn't said how GTA 6 will unlock, and store timers can change. Changing region can also mess with your store, payment methods and subscriptions. If you try it, preload first on your normal region and don't buy anything while switched.
Keep Exploring
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Sources: Rockstar Games Newswire, PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store listings, Insider Gaming, GameSpot.