// GTA VI launch times · From Rockstar's Nov 3 post and support pages · Checked Nov 9, 2026
GTA 6 release time and pre-load time.
GTA 6 comes out at midnight local time on November 19, 2026, in every region, on PS5 and Xbox Series X and S. Pre-load opens November 10: at local midnight on PS5, and at one global moment on Xbox, 12 a.m. GMT. That puts the Xbox start on the evening of November 9 in the Americas (7 pm Eastern, 4 pm Pacific). The file is up to 212 GB.
Times are from Rockstar's pre-load announcement and its regional times article.
GTA 6 unlock and pre-load times by time zone
Earliest unlock first. The Xbox column and the Eastern column are our conversions of Rockstar's times.
| Where | Xbox pre-load | PS5 pre-load | Game unlocks | Unlock in ET |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (Auckland) | 1:00 pm, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 6:00 am, Wed Nov 18 |
| Australia (Sydney) | 11:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 8:00 am, Wed Nov 18 |
| Japan (Tokyo) | 9:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 10:00 am, Wed Nov 18 |
| India (Delhi) | 5:30 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 1:30 pm, Wed Nov 18 |
| Germany, France, Spain (CET) | 1:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 6:00 pm, Wed Nov 18 |
| UK and Ireland (GMT) | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 7:00 pm, Wed Nov 18 |
| Brazil (Sao Paulo) | 9:00 pm, Mon Nov 9 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 10:00 pm, Wed Nov 18 |
| US Eastern (New York) | 7:00 pm, Mon Nov 9 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 |
| US Central (Chicago) | 6:00 pm, Mon Nov 9 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 1:00 am, Thu Nov 19 |
| US Mountain (Denver) | 5:00 pm, Mon Nov 9 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 2:00 am, Thu Nov 19 |
| US Pacific (Los Angeles) | 4:00 pm, Mon Nov 9 | 12:00 am, Tue Nov 10 | 12:00 am, Thu Nov 19 | 3:00 am, Thu Nov 19 |
Why the times differ by console
The launch itself is simple: Rockstar lists midnight local time on November 19 in all regions, on both consoles. Because it follows each local clock, the release moves around the world over the course of a day. Auckland reaches midnight 21 hours before Los Angeles does, so New Zealand players are first and the US West Coast is near the end of the list.
Pre-load works differently on each console. PS5 follows the same local midnight rule, on November 10. Xbox opens once for everybody at 12 a.m. GMT on November 10, so players in the Americas get it on the evening of November 9, while players east of the UK see it later on the 10th by their own clocks.
Pre-loading puts the game on your console ahead of time, so the download is out of the way when the unlock arrives. Rockstar says the file needs up to 212 GB depending on your device, and that boxed copies hold a download code and should reach retailers from November 12.
Will GTA 6 fit, and how long will it take?
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| Speed | 212 GB takes |
|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | 9 h 25 min |
| 100 Mbps | 4 h 43 min |
| 200 Mbps | 2 h 21 min |
| 300 Mbps | 1 h 34 min |
| 500 Mbps | 57 min |
| 1000 Mbps | 28 min |
Our math for the full 212 GB at your full connection speed, so read it as the fastest case. Your device may need less, and real speeds depend on your connection and the store's servers.
How to make sure it pre-loads
PS5
Turn on auto-downloads and leave the console on or in Rest Mode. Clear at least 212 GB first, the figure on the PlayStation Store listing.
Xbox Series X and S
Turn on automatic updates and leave the console on or in Sleep mode. Allow for up to 212 GB, depending on your device.
Also on November 19: Rockstar says it will add a free printable cover art poster and map of Leonida to the official site.
GTA 6 release time FAQ
What time does GTA 6 come out?
GTA 6 comes out at midnight local time on November 19, 2026. Rockstar says that applies in all regions, on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
What time does GTA 6 come out in EST and PST?
12:00 am Eastern on November 19 on the East Coast and 12:00 am Pacific on November 19 on the West Coast. The release follows each player's local midnight, so the two are three hours apart.
When can I pre-load GTA 6?
November 10, 2026. On PS5 it opens at midnight local time in your time zone. On Xbox it opens worldwide at 12 a.m. GMT on November 10, which is the evening of November 9 in the Americas.
What time does GTA 6 pre-load start on Xbox in the US?
7:00 pm Eastern, 6:00 pm Central, 5:00 pm Mountain and 4:00 pm Pacific on Monday, November 9, 2026. Those are the US conversions of Rockstar's 12 a.m. GMT start on November 10.
How big is the GTA 6 download?
Up to 212 GB, depending on your device. Rockstar gives that figure for the pre-load file, and the PlayStation Store listing tells PS5 owners to clear a minimum of 212 GB.
Do I need to pre-order GTA 6 to pre-load it?
Yes. Pre-loading is for players who have pre-ordered. The boxed version holds a download code, and Rockstar says it should reach retailers from November 12 to support pre-loading.
Will my console download GTA 6 automatically?
Only with the right settings. PS5 needs auto-downloads enabled and the console on or in Rest Mode. Xbox needs automatic updates enabled and the console on or in Sleep mode.
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