How to read this page: Rockstar = shown or said by Rockstar Games or Take-Two. Reported = reported by two or more outlets from Rockstar's own reveals. No leaks, no "insiders".
Short version: it's midnight local time on 19 November, according to store listings (not an official Rockstar schedule). New Zealand and Australia play first. The US unlocks at midnight Eastern, which is still 18 November on the West Coast. Reported
Unlock times around the world
The US PlayStation Store lists the release as 19 November 2026, 05:00 UTC. Rockstar Reporting on the store listings points to a rolling midnight local unlock, starting in New Zealand and ending in the US about 19 hours later. Reported Rockstar hasn't published its own unlock schedule yet, so treat this as the best information available, not a promise.
| Where | Local unlock | In UTC | In Sydney time (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (Auckland) | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 11:00, 18 Nov | 10pm, 18 Nov |
| Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 13:00, 18 Nov | 12am, 19 Nov |
| Australia (Brisbane) | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 14:00, 18 Nov | 1am, 19 Nov |
| Japan | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 15:00, 18 Nov | 2am, 19 Nov |
| Australia (Perth) | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 16:00, 18 Nov | 3am, 19 Nov |
| UAE | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 20:00, 18 Nov | 7am, 19 Nov |
| Central Europe (Paris, Berlin) | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 23:00, 18 Nov | 10am, 19 Nov |
| UK | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 00:00, 19 Nov | 11am, 19 Nov |
| Brazil (São Paulo) | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 03:00, 19 Nov | 2pm, 19 Nov |
| US East (New York) | 12:00am, 19 Nov | 05:00, 19 Nov | 4pm, 19 Nov |
| US West (Los Angeles) | 9:00pm, 18 Nov | 05:00, 19 Nov | 4pm, 19 Nov |
The US row comes straight from the PlayStation Store listing. Rockstar The other rows assume midnight local, as reported. Reported If Rockstar announces a different schedule (for example one global unlock time), we'll update this table the same day.
Your local midnight on 19 November is loading… from now.
Pre-load: 12 November
- Digital pre-load opens on 12 November 2026. Rockstar The PlayStation Store calls it a "7-Day Pre-load".
- The exact start time hasn't been announced.
- The download size isn't listed yet on PlayStation or Xbox. Any GB figure going around is a guess. Clear plenty of space anyway.
Buying a physical copy? There's no disc
Rockstar says physical versions only contain a download code in the box, to support pre-load on 12 November, and a disc will not be included. Rockstar Physical copies go on sale on 12 November. Reported So you'll still need the full download and the drive space.
Launch-night checklist
- Pre-order digitally (or buy the boxed code) and start the pre-load on 12 November.
- Free up storage and leave the console in rest mode so updates finish.
- Check for a day-one patch before midnight.
- Bookmark this guide: we'll have the first money and map tips up on launch night.
Frequently asked questions
What time does GTA 6 unlock?
Store listings point to midnight local time on 19 November 2026, rolling around the world. Rockstar hasn't published official unlock times.
Which country gets GTA 6 first?
Based on store listings, New Zealand unlocks first, then Australia. The US is close to last, about 19 hours after New Zealand.
What time does GTA 6 come out in the US?
The US PlayStation Store lists 05:00 UTC on 19 November: midnight Eastern, which is 9pm Pacific on 18 November.
When does GTA 6 pre-load start?
On 12 November 2026, a week before launch. The PlayStation Store calls it a 7-day pre-load. The exact start time hasn't been announced.
How big is the GTA 6 download?
Not announced. Neither the PlayStation nor the Xbox store listing shows a size yet, so any GB figure you see is a guess.
Does the GTA 6 physical copy have a disc?
No. Rockstar says physical versions only contain a download code, with no disc in the box.