GTA 6 Release Date and Unlock Time: What's Confirmed

GTA VI releases on Thursday, November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. That date is on Rockstar's official site and the Rockstar Store, and pre-loading is already open, so you can download the game now and play the moment it unlocks.

Confirmed

Release date: November 19, 2026. Platforms: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Source: Rockstar's official GTA VI site, checked November 15, 2026.

What time does GTA 6 unlock?

This is the one launch detail that isn't settled on an official page we can read directly.

Reported, not confirmed by Rockstar

Several outlets report that Rockstar Support says the game unlocks at midnight local time on November 19, 2026, in all regions. We couldn't load that support article ourselves, so we're treating the exact time as reported until we can.

Reports also suggest the US PlayStation Store may use Eastern time for the whole country, which would mean:

The right-hand column is a calculation from reports, not a Rockstar statement. Outside the US, midnight local time is the consistent message across every report we've read.

How to find your exact unlock time

1. Open the GTA VI page in the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store on your console, phone app or web browser.
2. Look for the release countdown or "available" time on the product page. It's shown in your account region's time.
3. Make sure the game is fully pre-loaded (see our pre-load guide), so it only has to unlock rather than download.

We'll update this page as soon as Rockstar publishes region-by-region times on a page we can verify.

How we got here: the release timeline

• November 2025: Rockstar moved the release to November 19, 2026. The previous target was May 26, 2026.
• November 10, 2026: Pre-loading opened (Rockstar Newswire: "Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10").
• November 12, 2026: Rockstar Store physical orders begin shipping, according to the store.
• November 19, 2026: Launch.

Is GTA 6 coming out on PC at launch?

No PC version has been announced. Rockstar lists only PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. See Is GTA 6 on PC? for what that means and what to ignore.

Getting ready for launch night

• Pre-load now. Reported size is up to about 212 GB, so clear space first. Our pre-load guide has the steps.
• Physical copy? The box has a download code, not a disc. You'll still download the whole game. See what's in the physical box.
• Install system updates for your console before launch night, so an update doesn't sit between you and the game.
• Pre-order bonus: digital pre-orders and purchases before November 20 get the Vintage Vice City Pack. Details in our pre-order bonus guide.