GTA 6 unlock times: when you can play in your region
Short answer
Midnight local time on Thursday 19 November 2026. In countries with several time zones the store unlocks everyone at once, so players west of the main time zone can start on Wednesday evening.
Times by region
Rockstar’s statement is midnight local time in every region. The UTC column is that midnight converted for the region’s main time zone.
| Region | Local time | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 11:00 Wed 18 Nov |
| Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 13:00 Wed 18 Nov |
| Japan and South Korea | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 15:00 Wed 18 Nov |
| Singapore and Hong Kong | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 16:00 Wed 18 Nov |
| India | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 18:30 Wed 18 Nov |
| United Arab Emirates | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 20:00 Wed 18 Nov |
| Central Europe | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 23:00 Wed 18 Nov |
| UK and Ireland | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 00:00 Thu 19 Nov |
| Brazil (Brasília) | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 03:00 Thu 19 Nov |
| US and Canada (Eastern) | 12:00 a.m. Thu 19 Nov | 05:00 Thu 19 Nov |
Countries with more than one time zone
This part is reported, not confirmed by Rockstar. Console stores have treated the US and Canada as one region set to Eastern time, and Australia as one region set to Sydney time.
| Where | Reported local unlock |
|---|---|
| US Central | 11 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
| US Mountain | 10 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
| US Pacific | 9 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
| Alaska | 8 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
| Hawaii | 7 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
| Brisbane | 11 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
| Adelaide | 11:30 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
| Perth | 9 p.m. Wed 18 Nov |
How to be sure
Open the game’s page on your console. PS5 and Xbox both show a countdown for a pre-ordered game, and it reflects your store region. If it disagrees with a table on any website, including this one, believe the console.
Cloud streaming on Xbox starts at one fixed time everywhere: 1 a.m. Eastern on 19 November.
Sources
Checked on 14 Nov 2026. If something here is wrong, tell us and we will fix it.
Related questions
What time does GTA 6 unlock?
Rockstar says the game unlocks at midnight local time on 19 November in every region. Console stores unlock a whole store region at once, so in countries with several time zones some players get it a few hours before their own midnight.
What time does GTA 6 unlock in the United States?
Console stores have treated the US as one region set to Eastern time. That gives 12 a.m. Eastern on Thursday 19 November, and on Wednesday 18 November: 11 p.m. Central, 10 p.m. Mountain, 9 p.m. Pacific, 8 p.m. Alaska and 7 p.m. Hawaii. Rockstar has not published a US breakdown, so check the countdown on your console.
What time does GTA 6 unlock in the UK?
Midnight GMT at the start of Thursday 19 November 2026.
What time does GTA 6 unlock in Australia?
Midnight on Thursday 19 November in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart. The Australian store is reported to run on Sydney time, which means 11 p.m. in Brisbane, 11:30 p.m. in Adelaide and 9 p.m. in Perth on Wednesday 18 November.
Which country gets GTA 6 first?
New Zealand. Its midnight falls at 11:00 UTC on Wednesday 18 November, ahead of every other store region.
More guides
- GTA 6 launch checklist: be ready to play the minute it unlocks
Pre-load now, keep 212 GB free, update your console, and check the countdown on your own console for your unlock time.
- GTA 6 Standard vs Ultimate Edition: what you get
Both editions contain the full game. Ultimate costs $20 more in the US and adds vehicles, weapons, clothing and shops. You can start with Standard and upgrade later.
- GTA 6 storage guide: making room for 212 GB
Clear at least 212 GB on the drive the game will run from. External USB drives can hold the game but cannot run it.
- Which console to play GTA 6 on: PS5, PS5 Pro, Series X, Series S or Xbox One
Every console targets 30 fps. PS5 Pro adds a sharper image and ray-traced shadows. Xbox One can only stream the game.