Grand Theft Auto VI launches on Thursday, November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar Games has confirmed the date, and PlayStation Store listings in every region show a midnight local time unlock — so in the US the game goes live at midnight Eastern on November 19, which is 9:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday, November 18. Rockstar has not published a launch hour itself, so the times below come from the store listings, which agree across regions.
GTA 6 release time at a glance
| Release date | Thursday, November 19, 2026 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X\ |
| Unlock | Midnight local time, per PlayStation Store listings |
| Pre-load | From November 10 (PS5 and Xbox); boxed codes from November 12 |
| Download size | Up to 212 GB |
| PC | No PC version at launch |
When GTA 6 unlocks in your time zone
Because the unlock is midnight local time in each store region, the first players in the world get in hours before the US. The PlayStation Store listings convert as follows:
| Region | Local unlock | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12:00 AM, Thu Nov 19 (NZDT) | Wed Nov 18, 11:00 UTC |
| Australia (Sydney) | 12:00 AM, Thu Nov 19 (AEDT) | Wed Nov 18, 13:00 UTC |
| Japan / South Korea | 12:00 AM, Thu Nov 19 (JST/KST) | Wed Nov 18, 15:00 UTC |
| Central Europe | 12:00 AM, Thu Nov 19 (CET) | Wed Nov 18, 23:00 UTC |
| UK and Ireland | 12:00 AM, Thu Nov 19 (GMT) | Thu Nov 19, 00:00 UTC |
| US East Coast | 12:00 AM, Thu Nov 19 (ET) | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 UTC |
| US Central | 11:00 PM, Wed Nov 18 (CT) | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 UTC |
| US Mountain | 10:00 PM, Wed Nov 18 (MT) | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 UTC |
| US West Coast | 9:00 PM, Wed Nov 18 (PT) | Thu Nov 19, 05:00 UTC |
New Zealand unlocks first, at 11:00 UTC on November 18. The US is one of the last regions to unlock: the US PlayStation Store listing shows 05:00 UTC on November 19, which is midnight Eastern. The Xbox store lists the date, November 19, without a country-by-country time, so Xbox players should expect the same midnight local unlock but should check their own store listing before launch night.
One Xbox exception: Microsoft's Xbox Wire announcement says GTA 6 will be playable on day one through Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S from 1:00 AM ET on November 19.
Pre-load: start downloading now
Pre-loading is already open, so launch night should be a small patch and a menu screen rather than a full download:
- PlayStation 5: pre-load started November 10 at midnight local time. The PlayStation Store listing carries a 9-day pre-load badge on both the Standard and Ultimate editions, and PlayStation Blog confirmed the 212 GB storage requirement on November 3.
- Xbox Series X|S: pre-load started November 10 at 12:00 AM GMT, which is 7:00 PM Eastern on Monday, November 9.
- Boxed copies: the game is digital-only — boxed versions contain a download code, not a disc. Those codes became available from November 12 so they can be pre-loaded too.
You need up to 212 GB of free space. Clear room before November 19 if your drive is close to full.
What to know before launch
- Platforms: GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only. There is no PC or Switch 2 version announced, so there is no PC pre-load.
- Setting: the game returns to Leonida and Vice City, starring Lucia and Jason.
- Pre-order bonus: every pre-order or purchase made before November 20 gets Rockstar's Vintage Vice City Pack.
- Delays: GTA 6 has been delayed before, but with pre-load dates confirmed and boxed codes shipping, November 19 is locked in.
FAQ
What time does GTA 6 come out in the US? Midnight Eastern on Thursday, November 19, 2026, according to the US PlayStation Store listing. That is 11:00 PM Central, 10:00 PM Mountain, and 9:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday, November 18.
What time does GTA 6 come out in the UK? Midnight GMT on Thursday, November 19, 2026 — 00:00 UTC. Most of Europe unlocks at midnight CET, which is 23:00 UTC on November 18.
Can I play GTA 6 on PC at launch? No. GTA 6 launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only, and Rockstar has not announced a PC date.
When can I pre-load GTA 6? Pre-loading started November 10 on PS5 (midnight local time) and Xbox (12:00 AM GMT). Boxed-copy download codes became available from November 12. The download is up to 212 GB.
Is there a midnight launch event? Rockstar has not announced a launch hour itself — the midnight times come from the PlayStation Store listings. If Rockstar or the platform stores change the schedule, this page will be updated.
James Brown
James focuses on Android gaming on PC, emulator setup, controls, performance tuning, and practical troubleshooting for longer play sessions.
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