Release time tracker
When does GTA VI unlock for you?
Rockstar's date is 19 November 2026. The clock time is not official yet. Store listings on PlayStation and Xbox point to a midnight-local rolling unlock, which means some players start on Wednesday evening. This tool converts every listed region to your time zone and counts down.
- Pre-load
- 12 November 2026
- Confirmed
- Release date
- 19 November 2026
- Confirmed
- Unlock time
- Midnight local
- Reported (store listings)
When does GTA VI unlock for you?
Your region
Detecting time zone…
Store listings point to midnight local time on 19 November.
Rockstar has not announced an unlock time. These times come from PlayStation and Xbox store listings and can change before launch. Reviewed 2026-10-17.
Every region
Unlock order, earliest to latest
Store listings point to a rolling unlock at midnight local time in each region, not one global moment. Times are from PlayStation Store listings per country, matched by Xbox Store listings where independent trackers have checked. Your local column is calculated in your browser.
Reviewed 2026-10-17
| Region | Store listing (local) | UTC | Your time | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov | Wed 18 Nov, 11:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| Australia 21:00 Wed in Perth, 23:30 Wed in Adelaide | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov (Sydney) | Wed 18 Nov, 13:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| Japan | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov | Wed 18 Nov, 15:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| South Korea | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov | Wed 18 Nov, 15:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| Germany, France, Spain, Italy 23:00 Wed in the Canary Islands | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov (CET) | Wed 18 Nov, 23:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| United Kingdom and Ireland | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov (GMT) | Thu 19 Nov, 00:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| Portugal 23:00 Wed in the Azores | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov | Thu 19 Nov, 00:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| Brazil, Argentina, Chile 23:00 Wed in Manaus | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov (Brasilia) | Thu 19 Nov, 03:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| United States and Canada (Eastern) 23:00 Wed Central, 22:00 Wed Mountain, 21:00 Wed Pacific | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov ET | Thu 19 Nov, 05:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
| Colombia and Peru | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov | Thu 19 Nov, 05:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox (Peru PS5 only) |
| Mexico 22:00 Wed in Tijuana | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov (Mexico City) | Thu 19 Nov, 06:00 UTC | — | PS5, Xbox |
Rockstar has not announced an unlock time. These times come from PlayStation and Xbox store listings and can change before launch.
Confirmed by Rockstar and Take-Two
- Release date: Thursday 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Digital pre-load opens 12 November 2026. Boxed copies are download codes and can pre-load from the same date.
- Pre-orders and purchases before November 20, 2026 include the Vintage Vice City Pack.
Reported, not confirmed
- Midnight-local unlock in each region. Source: PlayStation and Xbox store countdowns.
- Pre-load starting at local midnight on 12 November. Source: store pages, not a Rockstar clock time.
- Any install size. Rockstar has not published one; viral numbers are estimates.
Launch night plan
- 1. Pre-load on 12 November and confirm the download finished, not just started.
- 2. Check your platform store page on 18 November for the live countdown in your account region.
- 3. Restart the console shortly before your unlock so the licence refresh happens cleanly.
- 4. Expect a day-one update. Leave spare storage and start the download the moment it appears.
Launch calendar
Full timeline- 27 Aug · Thu Extended Look gameplay presentation Done
- 17 Sept · Thu GTA VI: The Album announced Done
- 8 Oct · Thu First six radio stations revealed Done
- 15 Oct · Thu Launch trailer released Done
- 9 Nov · Mon Take-Two Q2 FY27 earnings Expected to restate the launch date and pre-order commentary.
- 12 Nov · Thu Digital pre-load opens
- 18 Nov · Wed First regional unlocks (New Zealand, Australia, Japan)
- 19 Nov · Thu GTA VI launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
- 19 Nov · Thu GTA VI: The Album releases
- 20 Nov · Fri Vintage Vice City Pack bonus window closes
Share this intel
GTA VI unlock times by region
Store listings point to a midnight-local rolling unlock on 19 November, from New Zealand to Mexico. Check your time zone.
Shares use this Leonida Intel page so claims stay tied to the source trail.
Release time FAQ
The questions people search for
What time does GTA VI come out?
Rockstar has not announced an unlock time. PlayStation and Xbox store listings point to a rolling unlock at midnight local time in each region on Thursday 19 November 2026. New Zealand goes first at 11:00 UTC on Wednesday 18 November and Mexico City goes last at 06:00 UTC on 19 November.
What time does GTA VI unlock in the US?
Store listings show midnight Eastern on 19 November, which is 11 pm Central, 10 pm Mountain and 9 pm Pacific on Wednesday 18 November. That is 05:00 UTC.
What time does GTA VI unlock in the UK?
Store listings show midnight GMT on Thursday 19 November, which is 00:00 UTC. Ireland matches the UK.
What time does GTA VI unlock in Europe?
Store listings for Germany, France, Spain and Italy show midnight CET on 19 November, which is 23:00 UTC on Wednesday 18 November. The Canary Islands unlock an hour later in local terms.
What time does GTA VI unlock in Australia?
Store listings show midnight AEDT on 19 November in Sydney and Melbourne, which is 13:00 UTC on 18 November. Perth sees the unlock at 9 pm on Wednesday and Adelaide at 11:30 pm because the listing uses the eastern time zone.
Can I play GTA VI early by changing my console region?
It depends on the console. On Xbox, reports say changing the console location to New Zealand lets a game you own unlock at New Zealand's time, but Microsoft limits how often you can change back. On PS5 you cannot change an existing account's region, so you would need a new New Zealand account and a second copy. Neither is endorsed by Microsoft, Sony or Rockstar. See our New Zealand trick guide for the full trade-offs.
Is the unlock time official?
No. The dates are official: pre-load on 12 November and launch on 19 November. The clock times come from store listings and can change. This page will switch to Rockstar's time if one is published.
Shop
GTA VI launch gear
The limited GTA VI DualSense controllers, storage for the pre-load, the album on vinyl and the hardware people are buying before 19 November. Affiliate links; check seller, price and returns before buying.
Finding your local store…
Amazon UK
GTA VI limited edition DualSense
The white and black GTA VI DualSense editions. Limited stock, ships 19 November.
Amazon UK
PS5 M.2 SSD with heatsink
A 2 TB PCIe Gen4 drive with a heatsink: the easiest PS5 upgrade before pre-load.
Amazon UK
Xbox Series storage expansion card
Series S owners have the tightest internal storage. Expansion cards run current-gen games directly.
Amazon UK
PS5 Pro console
GTA VI is PS5 Pro Enhanced. The best-looking way to play on PlayStation.
Amazon UK
PlayStation Store credit
Top up your PlayStation wallet for the digital edition.
Amazon UK
GTA VI: The Album
34 original tracks, out 19 November on CD and vinyl.
Amazon UK
Wireless gaming headset
Radio now plays on foot in GTA VI, so audio matters more than in any previous GTA.
Amazon UK
4K 120Hz gaming TV
HDR and 120 Hz HDMI 2.1 to make Vice City glow.
We may earn a commission from some store links, at no extra cost to you. How this works
Most searched
Launch questions, answered
- Early access How to play GTA 6 early
- Early access The New Zealand trick on Xbox and PS5
- Storage How big is the GTA 6 download?
- Pre-load How to pre-load GTA 6
- Price How much is GTA 6?
- Editions Standard vs Ultimate: is it worth it?
- Bonus What are the pre-order bonuses?
- Refunds How to cancel a pre-order and get a refund
- Cheats Are there GTA 6 cheats?
- Gameplay How does the six-star wanted system work?
- Money How do you make money fast in GTA 6?
- Vehicles What are the best cars in GTA 6?
- Story What is the GTA 6 story about?
- Hunting Can you hunt legendary animals in GTA 6?
- Trophies When is the GTA 6 trophy list out?
- Music Is there a GTA 6 Spotify playlist?
- Playtime How long is GTA 6?
- Online Does GTA 6 have online at launch?
- PS5 Pro What does PS5 Pro Enhanced mean?
- Series S Will GTA 6 run on Xbox Series S?
Everything for November 19
Launch toolkit
The pages that answer the launch-week questions: when it unlocks for you, how to pre-load, what the trailers actually show, and what is still unconfirmed.
Live
Launch live blog
Pre-load, every regional unlock and day-one updates, posted as they happen. Auto-refreshes.
Open →Guide
Pre-load guide
November 12 pre-load steps for PS5 and Xbox, storage prep, code-in-box notes and a saved checklist.
Open →Trailer
Launch trailer breakdown
The October 15 trailer scene by scene, the Justice track, and what it does and does not confirm.
Open →Gameplay
Extended Look breakdown
Every confirmed mechanic from the 26-minute gameplay presentation: wanted stars, switching, activities.
Open →Music
Radio stations and The Album
Six confirmed stations with hosts, on-foot listening, the 34-track album and nine named singles.
Open →Music
GTA 6 Spotify playlist
Play the official playlist on the page, spin the station dial and shuffle a road-trip mix.
Open →Hub
Everything we know
One page, every confirmed fact, with reported and rumoured claims kept visibly separate.
Open →PC
PC release date tracker
Not announced. The Q1 2027 report, the precedent, and what to watch for on November 9.
Open →Buy
Editions and pre-orders
Standard vs Ultimate contents, the Vintage Vice City Pack deadline and official store links.
Open →Weekly briefing
Launch alerts
One email if Rockstar publishes an official unlock time, install size or day-one update notes. Nothing else.