GTA 6 Release Time: When It Unlocks in Every US Time Zone
Updated 7:00 AM ET, Nov. 3, 2026: Rockstar has not announced an official unlock hour. We’ll update this page when it does.
Quick answer: GTA 6 launches on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar hasn’t confirmed the exact unlock time. PlayStation Store listings point to a midnight local time release, which would mean 12:00 a.m. on Nov. 19 in your own time zone. One report says the US may instead unlock everywhere at midnight Eastern, which would be 9 p.m. Pacific on Nov. 18.
GTA 6 release time in US time zones
| Time zone | If midnight local (most likely) | If midnight ET nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 12:00 AM Nov. 19 | 12:00 AM Nov. 19 |
| Central (CT) | 12:00 AM Nov. 19 | 11:00 PM Nov. 18 |
| Mountain (MT) | 12:00 AM Nov. 19 | 10:00 PM Nov. 18 |
| Pacific (PT) | 12:00 AM Nov. 19 | 9:00 PM Nov. 18 |
| Alaska (AKT) | 12:00 AM Nov. 19 | 8:00 PM Nov. 18 |
| Hawaii (HT) | 12:00 AM Nov. 19 | 7:00 PM Nov. 18 |
Why the time isn’t confirmed yet
Rockstar confirmed that preloading starts at local midnight on Nov. 12, but it has not said whether the game itself unlocks the same way. The midnight-local expectation comes from PlayStation Store timestamps that outlets like GamingBolt collected. Games usually show an exact countdown on the console store a few days before launch.
Which region gets GTA 6 first?
If the game unlocks at local midnight, New Zealand will be first, about 18 hours before the US East Coast. Players in the US can’t get it early by changing their console region, because the unlock is tied to your account’s store region.
Get ready before launch
- Preload from Nov. 12 so you’re not stuck downloading 200+ GB on launch night. See our preload guide.
- Check your storage: how much space GTA 6 needs.
- Expect busy servers for online features on launch night. Check PSN status or Xbox status if you can’t connect.
FAQ
Is GTA 6 still coming out on Nov. 19?
Yes. As of today, Rockstar’s date is still Nov. 19, 2026. The game has been delayed before, so we’ll update this page if anything changes.
How much does GTA 6 cost?
The Standard Edition is listed at $79.99 in the US on the PlayStation Store.
Sources: Rockstar Games: GTA VI, Push Square, HotHardware.