Unlock time
GTA 6 release time
Rockstar set one rule for every region: Grand Theft Auto VI unlocks at midnight local time on , on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S alike.[1] So the launch rolls around the world over 23 hours, one time zone at a time.
Launch countdown
To midnight in your time zone: Rockstar unlocks the game at midnight local time, in every region.
Last changed: Each country in the release-time table now links its own page, with every clock it keeps, its prices and pre-load All changes
Add to calendar saves a file for midnight on November 19, 2026 in your time zone, the moment the countdown runs to, with a reminder an hour before. It is made in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
Straight from Rockstar
The unlock rule
- PlayStation 5
- Unlocks at midnight local time on November 19, 2026, in every region
- Source: Grand Theft Auto VI regional pre-load and release times (Rockstar Support, updated November 3, 2026) · Last checked
- Xbox Series X|S
- Unlocks at midnight local time on November 19, 2026, in every region
- Source: Grand Theft Auto VI regional pre-load and release times (Rockstar Support, updated November 3, 2026) · Last checked
- Rollout
- A rolling midnight launch, country by country, starting at 12:00 AM NZDT in New Zealand
- Source: Pre-load Grand Theft Auto VI on PS5 starting today (PlayStation Blog, November 10, 2026) · Last checked
The rule covers the two consoles the game is made for. Xbox One can only stream it, through Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PS4 and PC are not supported: see where GTA 6 runs and GTA 6 on PC.
Around the globe
Who plays first, who plays last
First
New Zealand
The rolling launch begins at 12:00 AM NZDT in New Zealand, which is 11:00 UTC, Wed Nov 18.[2]
Last
Honolulu
Of the cities below, Honolulu reaches midnight last, at 10:00 UTC, Thu Nov 19: 23 hours after Auckland. Islands on UTC−11, such as American Samoa, follow an hour later.
Can a change of region get you the first unlock? No official page says so: what PlayStation and Xbox say about changing region, and what the New Zealand trick costs, is on playing GTA 6 early.
City by city
GTA 6 unlock time by city
Everywhere, the game unlocks at 12:00 AM on Thu, Nov 19, local time. The UTC column shows when that moment comes, from the first city to the last; the last column shows it on your own clock. The UTC times are worked out from Rockstar's rule and each city's clock in November. Each country's name leads to its own page, with every clock it keeps, its prices and its pre-load times; every country is on GTA 6 by country.
| City | Local time | UTC | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland New Zealand | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+13 | -- | |
| Sydney Australia | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+11 | -- | |
| Brisbane Australia | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+10 | -- | |
| Tokyo Japan | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+9 | -- | |
| Seoul South Korea | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+9 | -- | |
| Singapore Singapore | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+8 | -- | |
| Hong Kong China | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+8 | -- | |
| Mumbai India | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+5:30 | -- | |
| Dubai United Arab Emirates | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+4 | -- | |
| Istanbul Türkiye | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+3 | -- | |
| Johannesburg South Africa | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+2 | -- | |
| Warsaw Poland | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+1 | -- | |
| Berlin Germany | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+1 | -- | |
| Paris France | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+1 | -- | |
| Madrid Spain | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC+1 | -- | |
| London United Kingdom | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC | -- | |
| São Paulo Brazil | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−3 | -- | |
| Buenos Aires Argentina | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−3 | -- | |
| Toronto Canada | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−5 | -- | |
| New York United States (Eastern) | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−5 | -- | |
| Chicago United States (Central) | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−6 | -- | |
| Mexico City Mexico | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−6 | -- | |
| Denver United States (Mountain) | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−7 | -- | |
| Phoenix United States (Arizona) | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−7 | -- | |
| Vancouver Canada | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−7 | -- | |
| Los Angeles United States (Pacific) | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−8 | -- | |
| Anchorage United States (Alaska) | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−9 | -- | |
| Honolulu United States (Hawaii) | 12:00 AM, Thu, Nov 19 UTC−10 | -- |
Questions
GTA 6 unlock time FAQ
What time does GTA 6 come out?
At midnight local time on November 19, 2026. Rockstar gives the same rule for every region, on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, so the game unlocks when the clock strikes 12:00 AM where you are.
What time does GTA 6 unlock in the US?
At midnight in each US time zone, one after another: 12:00 AM Eastern is 05:00 UTC on November 19, 2026, Central 06:00 UTC, Mountain 07:00 UTC, Pacific 08:00 UTC, Alaska 09:00 UTC and Hawaii 10:00 UTC. Rockstar names no single moment for the whole country.
Where does GTA 6 unlock first?
In New Zealand, at 12:00 AM NZDT on November 19, 2026, which is 11:00 UTC on November 18. The PlayStation Blog describes a rolling midnight launch that starts there and moves around the globe.
Where does GTA 6 unlock last?
Of the places in our table, Hawaii is last, at 10:00 UTC on November 19, 23 hours after New Zealand. Islands on UTC−11, such as American Samoa, reach midnight an hour after that.
Is the GTA 6 unlock time the same on PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. Rockstar gives midnight local time on November 19, 2026 for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Only pre-load differed: PS5 opened at local midnight, Xbox at one moment worldwide.
Can I play GTA 6 early if I pre-loaded it?
No. Pre-load only puts the game on your console ahead of time; it stays locked until midnight local time on release day.
Launch day
Before midnight
Launch checklist
What to have ready before the unlock, ticked off as you go, with the official source for each item.
Pre-load and file size
When pre-load opened on PS5 and Xbox, the download of up to 212 GB, how long it takes, and boxed codes.
Release date and editions
The release date, the editions, pre-order bonuses and the FAQ.
Play early by region?
The New Zealand trick checked: the unlock rule, and what PlayStation and Xbox say about changing region.
GTA 6 online
Whether Rockstar has announced multiplayer, what the free month of GTA+ is for, and earlier online launches.
Sources
The facts on this page come from Rockstar Games and PlayStation, retold in our words. Last checked .