GuidesPre-launch
GTA 6 release dateand unlock times
GTA 6 launches Nov 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-load opens Nov 12. Stores are reported to unlock at midnight local time.
By Sunset Edition desk2 min read
The date
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on Thursday, November 19, 2026 Confirmed on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar's own newswire headline reads "Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026", and Take-Two's pre-order announcement repeats the date.
Pre-load date
Digital pre-orders can start downloading on November 12, 2026 Confirmed, which is one week before launch. GTAbase reports that pre-loading opens at local midnight on that date, which we could not confirm on a Rockstar page. Unconfirmed Take-Two says the physical version, with a download code inside the box, is available from November 12 to support pre-loading. See our pre-load guide for the how-to.
Unlock times: what is and is not official
Rockstar has not published a worldwide unlock schedule on any page we opened. What exists is press reporting that PlayStation Store listings show the game going live at midnight local time, with no single global moment. NME reported this on September 8 and attributed it to the store listing. Unconfirmed GTA BOOM counted 63 PlayStation Store regions in 15 unlock windows, starting with New Zealand at 11:00 UTC on November 18.
So treat the table below as plain arithmetic: midnight on November 19 in each place, converted to UTC. It is our conversion, not an official timetable. Estimate
| Place | Local midnight, Nov 19 | UTC equivalent | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland (NZDT, UTC+13) | 12:00 AM | Nov 18, 11:00 | Estimate |
| Sydney (AEDT, UTC+11) | 12:00 AM | Nov 18, 13:00 | Estimate |
| Tokyo (JST, UTC+9) | 12:00 AM | Nov 18, 15:00 | Estimate |
| Mumbai (IST, UTC+5:30) | 12:00 AM | Nov 18, 18:30 | Estimate |
| Berlin (CET, UTC+1) | 12:00 AM | Nov 18, 23:00 | Estimate |
| London (GMT, UTC+0) | 12:00 AM | Nov 19, 00:00 | Estimate |
| Sao Paulo (BRT, UTC-3) | 12:00 AM | Nov 19, 03:00 | Estimate |
| New York (EST, UTC-5) | 12:00 AM | Nov 19, 05:00 | Estimate |
| Mexico City (CST, UTC-6) | 12:00 AM | Nov 19, 06:00 | Estimate |
What we do not know
- Whether Xbox uses the same schedule as PlayStation. GTA BOOM says the Xbox Store confirms the date without a country-by-country schedule. Unconfirmed
- Any official statement from Rockstar listing times by country.
- Whether the time follows your account region or your console clock. Check your store page closer to launch.
We will update this page when Rockstar or the platform holders publish a schedule.
When does GTA 6 come out?
November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Can I play before November 19?
You can pre-load from November 12 if you pre-ordered digitally or bought a physical code. Playing before your region unlocks has not been offered by Rockstar.
Is there a worldwide midnight launch?
No single moment, according to press reports. They say each region unlocks at its own local midnight. Unconfirmed
Launch alerts
Get an email when pre-load opens.
One email when pre-load opens and one at launch. We also write if the date, price or file size changes. No spam.
Sources
5 links- Rockstar Games announces pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VITake-Two Interactive
- Grand Theft Auto VI official siteRockstar Games
- Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026Rockstar Games
- Grand Theft Auto 6 launch times confirmedNME, 2026-09-08
- GTA 6 unlock times by regionGTA BOOM
We summarise facts in our own words and link to where they come from. Read the source for the full story.
Last verified Oct 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Suggest an edit.
