GTA 6 Release Time: Midnight Unlock by Region, Preload and 212 GB Install Size

Grand Theft Auto VI unlocks on November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. On PS5 it is a rolling midnight launch by country, starting at 12:00 a.m. NZDT in New Zealand. Pre-loading is already open. PlayStation asks you to clear at least 212 GB on PS5 before you download.

PS5 unlock times on November 19

On PlayStation 5, the game releases at midnight local time on November 19, rolling around the world as each country hits midnight. New Zealand opens first at 12:00 a.m. NZDT.

Those local midnights in UTC:

Region	Local time	UTC
New Zealand (NZDT)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Wed, Nov 18, 11:00 a.m.
Australia Eastern (AEDT)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Wed, Nov 18, 1:00 p.m.
Japan, South Korea	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Wed, Nov 18, 3:00 p.m.
China, Singapore, Hong Kong (UTC+8)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Wed, Nov 18, 4:00 p.m.
United Kingdom (GMT)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.
Central Europe (CET)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Wed, Nov 18, 11:00 p.m.
US / Canada Eastern (EST)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Thu, Nov 19, 5:00 a.m.
US Central (CST)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Thu, Nov 19, 6:00 a.m.
US Pacific (PST)	Thu, Nov 19, 12:00 a.m.	Thu, Nov 19, 8:00 a.m.

If your PSN account country does not match the store you bought from, follow PlayStation and Rockstar's region rules for code redemption. Xbox codes are not region-locked.

Xbox Series X|S and Cloud Gaming

Xbox Series X and Series S can play the game natively, and pre-install is already available. Xbox Wire also confirms day-one Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox One, Series X, and Series S, starting at 1:00 a.m. ET on November 19. Cloud streams use Series S graphics settings, and the game must be purchased separately.

The midnight-by-country timetable above is for PS5 only.

Pre-load is already open

Pre-loading began on November 10:

PlayStation 5: midnight local time on November 10, in your time zone
Xbox Series X|S: 12:00 a.m. GMT on November 10 (that's 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on November 9)

If you bought a code-in-box copy, redeem the code as soon as you have it and start the download. Physical boxes contain a download code only, not a disc. Code-in-box copies reach retailers from November 12.

Digital pre-orders and purchases of Standard or Ultimate Edition before November 20, 2026, include the Vintage Vice City Pack and one month of GTA+. The official Rockstar editions page and store listings have current pricing.

How much storage you need

Clear at least 212 GB on PS5 before pre-downloading. Microsoft hasn't listed a Series X|S file size, so leave the same amount free on Xbox.

If the pre-load will not start (PS5)

Try these steps:

Confirm you are signed in to the account that bought the game or redeemed the code
Check Settings > Storage for enough free space
Turn on Auto-Install in Rest Mode under Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Automatic Updates
Under Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode, turn on Stay Connected to the Internet, then put the console in Rest Mode
Update system software (Settings > System > System Software)
If you share the console, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play so other profiles can play
Open Downloads/Uploads and confirm the Grand Theft Auto VI job is running. If it is stuck, try Pause then Resume. If that fails, Cancel and Delete, return to Game Library, and download again

If a physical code is missing or unreadable, contact the retailer. For account, download, code, and install problems, use PlayStation's Grand Theft Auto VI support page. Gameplay issues go to Rockstar Support.

PC release

GTA 6 is only on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar hasn't announced a PC version.