Release date
GTA 6 Countdown: Launches November 19, 2026
November 19, 2026
Counting to the start of November 19 in your time zone. Rockstar has confirmed the date, not the unlock hour.
Image: Rockstar Games
GTA 6 launches Thursday, November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Preload opens Thursday, November 12 at local midnight.
GTA 6 launch calendar
Confirmed means Rockstar, Take-Two, a platform holder or the event organiser said it. Expected means two reputable outlets or a yearly pattern point to it. Unconfirmed means speculation or a single source. Preload details are in our preload guide.
| Date | What happens | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-Two's last earnings report before launch. Analysts list Nov 5 as tentative; Take-Two has not set a date | Expected | Barchart: Take-Two ahead of GTA 6's November launch | |
| Preload opens at local midnight for digital pre-orders | Confirmed | Rockstar Games Support: Grand Theft Auto VI Platforms, Editions, and Versions | |
| Boxed copies on sale: a download code, no disc. Codes redeemed early preload right away | Confirmed | Rockstar Games Support: Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Order Purchase Support FAQ | |
| A Night in Vice City: Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks, with a Vice City court and uniforms | Confirmed | ESPN: Miami Heat announce A Night in Vice City | |
| GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S | Confirmed | Rockstar Newswire: Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25 | |
| Unlock hour: store listings point to local midnight, but Rockstar has not said | Unconfirmed | PlayStation Store (US): Grand Theft Auto VI listing | |
| Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album (34 tracks) on streaming, vinyl and CD | Confirmed | Rockstar Newswire: Announcing Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album, Coming November 19 | |
| Limited-edition GTA VI DualSense controllers on sale from $84.99 | Confirmed | PlayStation Blog: First look at the GTA VI limited-edition DualSense controllers | |
| The Goodtime State collector's box arrives (the game is sold separately) | Confirmed | Rockstar Newswire: Pre-Order The Goodtime State, Vice City Collection | |
| Last day for the pre-order bonus (stores close it at 11:59 PM). Digital orders also get a GTA+ month | Confirmed | Rockstar Newswire: Pre-Order Grand Theft Auto VI on June 25 | |
| The Game Awards 2026. Whether GTA 6 is eligible this year is not confirmed | Confirmed | The Game Awards: TGA returns December 10, 2026 |
Preload and launch times by time zone
Rockstar has confirmed preload opens at 12:00 AM local time on Thursday, November 12 in every time zone, so it rolls around the world one zone at a time. The UTC times let you compare.
| Time zone | Preload opens (Nov 12) | Launch unlock (Nov 19) |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (PT) | 12:00 AM local (Thu, Nov 12, 08:00 UTC) | To be confirmed |
| New York (ET) | 12:00 AM local (Thu, Nov 12, 05:00 UTC) | To be confirmed |
| São Paulo | 12:00 AM local (Thu, Nov 12, 03:00 UTC) | To be confirmed |
| London | 12:00 AM local (Thu, Nov 12, 00:00 UTC) | To be confirmed |
| Berlin / Paris | 12:00 AM local (Wed, Nov 11, 23:00 UTC) | To be confirmed |
| India (IST) | 12:00 AM local (Wed, Nov 11, 18:30 UTC) | To be confirmed |
| Tokyo | 12:00 AM local (Wed, Nov 11, 15:00 UTC) | To be confirmed |
| Sydney | 12:00 AM local (Wed, Nov 11, 13:00 UTC) | To be confirmed |
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Questions people ask
When does GTA 6 come out?
GTA 6 launches Thursday, November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Is GTA 6 out yet?
Not yet. It launches Thursday, November 19, 2026. Preload opens Thursday, November 12 at local midnight.
What time does GTA 6 unlock?
Rockstar has not announced the unlock hour. It has confirmed preload starts at local midnight on November 12. We will add the unlock time here as soon as Rockstar publishes it.
Does GTA 6 unlock at midnight?
Preload opens at local midnight on November 12, which Rockstar has confirmed. Whether launch also unlocks at local midnight on November 19 is not confirmed yet.
Can I preload GTA 6?
Yes, if you pre-order digitally or redeem a boxed code. Preload opens Thursday, November 12 at local midnight, a full week before launch.
Sources
- Rockstar Games Support: Grand Theft Auto VI Platforms, Editions, and Versions (Aug 18, 2026)
- Rockstar Games: Grand Theft Auto VI site (Oct 5, 2026)
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