GTA 6 comes out on November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the GTA 6 release time on both console stores is midnight local time in each country. New Zealand gets it first, at 11:00 UTC on November 18, and the US East Coast at midnight ET on November 19, which is 9 pm PT on November 18. Rockstar has now confirmed the pre-load: digital pre-loading starts on Tuesday, November 10, two days earlier than first announced, and you’ll need up to 212 GB of free space. Here is what’s official, platform by platform.
Updated November 9, 2026: digital pre-load opens on Tuesday, November 10. The PlayStation Blog (November 3) says pre-download timing is available to those who pre-order “starting at November 10 local midnight”, so on PS5 it opens region by region as midnight reaches each time zone: New Zealand first (11:00 UTC on November 9), the US East Coast at 05:00 UTC and US Pacific at 08:00 UTC on November 10. Rockstar’s GTA VI page now shows “Pre-Load Begins November 10”, the Rockstar Store lists “Pre-load begins November 10, 2026” and the PlayStation Store US lists a “9-Day Pre-load” (all checked November 9, 23:09-23:10 UTC). The Rockstar Store text also now says the code in a physical box supports pre-load on November 10 (see the code-in-box row below). Our table of PS5 pre-load times in your region is in the pre-load section.
Updated November 3, 2026: Rockstar’s Newswire post “Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10” (dated November 3) moves digital pre-loading to November 10 and gives the start times for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the official download size (up to 212 GB) and a free printable cover-art poster and map of Leonida. We’ve updated the pre-load times, file size, storage table, launch calendar and FAQ below. Regional unlock times were rechecked on the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store on November 3 and haven’t changed.
Updated November 1, 2026: we removed unofficial download-size figures that didn’t come from Rockstar, Sony or Microsoft.
Quick answer (release times checked November 3, 2026; pre-load status rechecked November 9, 2026, 23:10 UTC):
- Release date: November 19, 2026, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. No PC version has been announced.
- GTA 6 release time: midnight local, per the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store listings. US and Canada: 12:00 am ET Nov 19 (9:00 pm PT Nov 18). UK: 12:00 am GMT Nov 19.
- Pre-load on PS5: Tuesday, November 10 at midnight local time in your time zone for anyone who pre-ordered, per Rockstar’s Newswire and the PlayStation Blog. It rolls out region by region, from New Zealand (11:00 UTC Nov 9) to the US West Coast (08:00 UTC Nov 10).
- Pre-load on Xbox Series X|S: Tuesday, November 10 at 12:00 am GMT worldwide, which is 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT on Monday, November 9, per Rockstar’s Newswire.
- Code-in-box physical copies: the Rockstar Store listing now says the code supports pre-load on November 10, with estimated shipping from November 12. Rockstar’s Newswire post, as reported by VGC and Insider Gaming, had said November 12.
- File size: up to 212 GB, Rockstar says, and it can vary depending on your console. Rockstar gave one figure, not a separate size for each console.
- Poster and map: a printable cover-art poster and map of Leonida comes as a free digital download on November 19, and a double-sided printed version goes on sale at the Rockstar Store for $0.99 shortly after launch.
Store listings unlock Jason and Lucia's story at midnight local time on November 19. Image: Rockstar Games
Table of Contents
What time does GTA 6 come out?
Rockstar’s announcements give the release date and the pre-load times, but not an unlock hour. That comes from the release timestamp each store has set for its region. We pulled the timestamps from the PlayStation Store and from Microsoft’s catalog for the Xbox Store listing in 13 regions. The two stores match in every region we checked, and every time works out to midnight in that country’s main time zone:
| Region (store) | Listed release (UTC) | Local time |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Nov 18, 11:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (NZDT) |
| Australia | Nov 18, 13:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (AEDT, Sydney/Melbourne) |
| Japan, South Korea | Nov 18, 15:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 |
| India | Nov 18, 18:30 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (IST) |
| United Arab Emirates | Nov 18, 20:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (GST) |
| Germany, France | Nov 18, 23:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (CET) |
| United Kingdom | Nov 19, 00:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (GMT) |
| Brazil | Nov 19, 03:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (Brasília) |
| United States, Canada | Nov 19, 05:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (ET) |
| Mexico | Nov 19, 06:00 | 12:00 am Nov 19 (Mexico City) |
Treat these as store data, not a promise. Vice also points out that the store times could still change. Check your own store page in the final week.
GTA 6 release time in EST, CST, MST and PST
The US and Canadian stores each carry one timestamp, 05:00 UTC, which is midnight Eastern. Daylight saving time ended on November 1, so on launch night that converts to:
- Eastern (EST): 12:00 am, Thursday November 19
- Central (CST): 11:00 pm, Wednesday November 18
- Mountain (MST): 10:00 pm, Wednesday November 18
- Pacific (PST): 9:00 pm, Wednesday November 18
One caveat: a single country-wide timestamp doesn’t tell us whether Rockstar will unlock the West Coast at 9 pm PT or hold it until local midnight. The listing points to the earlier time, but nothing official confirms it either way. If Rockstar or PlayStation posts a time-zone map, we’ll add it here.
When does GTA 6 pre-load start?
Digital pre-loading starts on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, and the exact time depends on your console. Rockstar’s November 3 Newswire post, as quoted by GamingBible, says: “Digital pre-loading on PlayStation 5 will begin on Tuesday, November 10 at midnight local time in your respective time zone. On XBOX Series X/S, pre-loading begins globally on Tuesday, November 10 at 12 am GMT.” Code-in-box physical copies still pre-load from November 12 (VGC, Insider Gaming).
That’s two days earlier than Rockstar’s June pre-order announcement, which said digital pre-order players “will be able to begin pre-loading on November 12, 2026”. Two store pages showed the older wording on November 3 at 15:20 UTC (“Pre-load begins November 12, 2026” on the Rockstar Store and a “7-Day Pre-load” on the PlayStation Store). Both have since caught up: on November 9 (23:10 UTC) the Rockstar Store says “Pre-load begins November 10, 2026” and the PlayStation Store lists a “9-Day Pre-load” for both editions.
The PlayStation Blog’s November 3 post puts it this way for PS5: pre-download is available to those who pre-order “starting at November 10 local midnight”, and you need a minimum of 212GB free. Because it follows local midnight, there is no single global start. This is our conversion of 12:00 am on November 10 into UTC, using the same regions as the release-time table above:
| Region | PS5 pre-load opens (UTC) | Local time |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Nov 9, 11:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (NZDT) |
| Australia (Sydney/Melbourne) | Nov 9, 13:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (AEDT) |
| Japan, South Korea | Nov 9, 15:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 |
| India | Nov 9, 18:30 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (IST) |
| United Arab Emirates | Nov 9, 20:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (GST) |
| Germany, France | Nov 9, 23:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (CET) |
| United Kingdom | Nov 10, 00:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (GMT) |
| Brazil | Nov 10, 03:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (Brasília) |
| US East Coast | Nov 10, 05:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (EST) |
| Mexico City | Nov 10, 06:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 |
| US West Coast | Nov 10, 08:00 | 12:00 am Nov 10 (PST) |
These are the local-midnight times implied by Sony’s wording, not a Sony-published list, so your console’s countdown is the final word. Pre-loading only puts the files on your console: the game stays locked until your region’s release time on November 19 (see our New Zealand launch time guide for the order of unlocks).
| Version | Pre-load starts | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 digital | Nov 10, 12:00 am local time (New Zealand first, at 11:00 UTC on Nov 9; US Eastern at 05:00 UTC and US Pacific at 08:00 UTC on Nov 10) | PlayStation Blog and Rockstar Newswire, Nov 3 |
| Xbox Series X|S digital | Nov 10, 00:00 GMT worldwide | Rockstar Newswire, Nov 3 |
| Code-in-box (PS5 and Xbox) | Rockstar Store text (Nov 9) says the code supports pre-load on Nov 10; estimated shipping Nov 12. Rockstar’s Newswire post, per VGC and Insider Gaming, said Nov 12 | Rockstar Store (checked Nov 9, 23:10 UTC); Rockstar Newswire, Nov 3 |
Because Xbox starts at one moment worldwide, here is what 00:00 GMT on November 10 means locally (times as listed by Pure Xbox from Rockstar’s post):
- North America: 4:00 pm PST, 5:00 pm MST, 6:00 pm CST, 7:00 pm EST on Monday, November 9
- UK and Ireland: 12:00 am GMT, Tuesday, November 10
- Europe: 1:00 am CET, 2:00 am EET
- Asia and Oceania: 9:00 am JST, 8:00 am AWST, 11:00 am AEDT
So in the Americas, Xbox players can start the download several hours before PS5 players, whose pre-load opens at their own local midnight. Pre-loading only puts the files on your console. The game stays locked until your region’s release time on November 19.
How to pre-load GTA 6 on PS5
These steps follow PlayStation’s pre-order and auto-download guide:
- Pre-order GTA 6 on the PlayStation Store. It then appears in your Game Library with a countdown timer.
- In Settings, turn on automatic downloads and set rest mode to Stay Connected to the Internet, so the download can run while the console is in rest mode.
- Open Game Library, select GTA 6 and select the timer. Make sure the box next to the game content is ticked. That’s what turns on auto-download for this pre-order.
- Leave the PS5 in rest mode on the night of November 9 and check the download queue on November 10.
Know this before the download starts: PlayStation’s refund rules say you can’t get a refund for a pre-order once the main download has started, and auto-downloads count. If you’re still undecided between editions, settle it before November 10.
How to pre-load GTA 6 on Xbox Series X|S
Buy the digital pre-order on the Microsoft Store from your console or the Xbox website. Once pre-install opens (00:00 GMT on November 10, which is 7 pm ET on November 9), look for GTA 6 under My games & apps and start the install there if it hasn’t begun by itself. Xbox Support has a page on pre-ordering and pre-installing if the option doesn’t show up.
Code-in-box buyers on either console redeem the code first, then download. Code-in-box pre-loading opens on November 12, so a copy picked up that day can still pre-load. Rockstar Store PlayStation codes are region-locked, as we noted in our GTA 6 pre-order and editions guide, and our GTA 6 physical copy guide covers what’s in the box.
Rockstar says GTA 6 needs up to 212 GB of free space. Image: Rockstar Games
GTA 6 file size: up to 212 GB (official)
Rockstar’s November 3 post gives the official GTA 6 download size: the game needs up to 212 GB of space (VGC, Push Square). Pure Xbox quotes Rockstar as saying the figure may change “depending on your device”. Rockstar gave one maximum for both consoles. It hasn’t published a separate figure for PS5, Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.
Neither console store showed the size when we checked on November 3 at 15:20 UTC. The PlayStation Store listing doesn’t give a download size, and the Microsoft Store catalog still has no install size for the game. Your console will show the exact download when pre-loading starts.
One figure going around social media, 676.7 GB, is fake. Insider Gaming traced it to a post from a self-declared parody account, and the screenshot even says “Install on your home Xbox One”, a console GTA 6 isn’t coming to. GTA 6 is a big game either way: our GTA 6 map guide covers the six Leonida regions Rockstar has named, and the GTA 6 characters list covers the cast of a long story campaign.
| GTA 6 storage question | Status (Nov 3, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Download size (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S) | Up to 212 GB, can vary by console (Rockstar Newswire, Nov 3) |
| Separate size for each console | Not announced: Rockstar gave one figure |
| Size on the store listings | Not shown yet on the PlayStation Store or the Microsoft Store |
| Day-one patch size | Not announced |
| 676.7 GB screenshot | Fake (parody account) |
| Disc install option | None: Rockstar says physical boxes contain a download code, not a disc |
How much space should you clear for GTA 6?
Clear at least 212 GB before pre-loading starts on November 10, plus some margin for a day-one patch, whose size hasn’t been announced. On PS5 you can add an M.2 SSD. Sony’s requirements are a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive from 250 GB to 8 TB, with read speeds of 5,500 MB/s or faster recommended. You can also park older games on USB extended storage to make room on the internal drive. On Xbox Series X|S, the equivalent is the internal SSD or an official storage expansion card. Series S owners, with a 512 GB SSD, have the least room to spare, so clear space early.
GTA 6 cover-art poster and map of Leonida
Rockstar is bringing back the paper map, just not inside the box. “On November 19 we will be adding an official printable Grand Theft Auto VI cover art poster and map of Leonida as a free digital download to the official site,” Rockstar’s post says, as quoted by Push Square. “A double-sided physical version of this poster will also be made available shortly after launch from the Rockstar Store — for $0.99 on its own or as a free gift with any purchase from the Rockstar Store.” Push Square notes that it won’t come with the code-in-box editions. For the six regions you’ll see on it, read our GTA 6 map guide.
Can you play GTA 6 early?
Not officially. There’s no early access edition. Pre-loading gives you the files more than a week early, but they stay locked until launch. Because the stores unlock by region, New Zealand players get in about 18 hours before US Eastern (see our New Zealand launch time guide). Some players plan to switch their console region to get in sooner, but your purchases are tied to your account’s store region, and Rockstar’s PlayStation codes are region-locked, so it isn’t a trick we’d recommend. For most people the only real choice is staying up for midnight.
GTA 6 launch calendar
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Now | Pre-orders open: Standard $79.99, Ultimate $99.99 (US) | PlayStation Store, Xbox Store |
| November 9, 11:00 UTC | First PS5 pre-loads (midnight Nov 10 in New Zealand) | Rockstar Newswire |
| November 10, 00:00 GMT | Xbox Series X|S pre-load opens worldwide (7 pm ET / 4 pm PT Nov 9) | Rockstar Newswire |
| November 10, 12:00 am local | PS5 pre-load opens in each time zone | Rockstar Newswire |
| November 12, 2026 | Rockstar Store physical orders start shipping (estimated); code-in-box pre-load per Rockstar’s Newswire post as reported by VGC (the Rockstar Store text now says November 10) | Rockstar Store, Rockstar Newswire |
| November 18, 11:00 UTC | First regional unlock (New Zealand), per store listings | PS Store, Microsoft Store |
| November 19, 05:00 UTC | US and Canada unlock (midnight ET) | PS Store, Microsoft Store |
| November 19 | Free printable cover-art poster and map of Leonida on Rockstar’s site | Rockstar Newswire |
| November 19, 23:59:59 | Last chance for pre-order bonuses (Vintage Vice City Pack, free GTA+ month) | PS Store, Xbox Store listings |
| Shortly after launch | Double-sided printed poster and map at the Rockstar Store ($0.99, or free with any purchase) | Rockstar Newswire |
Xbox Wire’s October 23 launch-trailer post repeats the November 19 date. If you haven’t watched it yet, our GTA 6 launch trailer breakdown covers what it shows and where the PC version stands. Demand is huge: Sensor Tower estimated GTA 6 pre-orders at about 6.08 million a month before launch, so expect busy servers on November 10 and launch night. Planning to replay the old game first? GTA 5 leaves PS Plus in November.
Rockstar’s launch-week events are in our GTA 6 Festival guide (Miami, November 21). We’ll update this page if Rockstar, PlayStation or Xbox publishes a separate size for each console, a day-one patch size or a regional unlock map. For edition prices and pre-order bonuses, see our GTA 6 editions and pre-order guide.
FAQ
Does GTA 6 come out at midnight?
Yes, according to the current store listings. Both the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store set the release to midnight local time in each country, from New Zealand (11:00 UTC Nov 18) to Mexico (06:00 UTC Nov 19).
What time does GTA 6 release in EST and PST?
The US store timestamp is 12:00 am EST on November 19, which is 9:00 pm PST on November 18. Whether the West Coast unlocks at 9 pm PT or at local midnight hasn’t been confirmed.
When can I pre-load GTA 6?
From Tuesday, November 10 for digital copies, Rockstar and PlayStation say. On PS5 it starts at midnight local time in your time zone, region by region (11:00 UTC on November 9 in New Zealand, 05:00 UTC on November 10 on the US East Coast, 08:00 UTC on the West Coast). On Xbox Series X|S it starts at 12:00 am GMT worldwide, which is 7:00 pm ET or 4:00 pm PT on Monday, November 9. For code-in-box copies the Rockstar Store now says the code supports pre-load on November 10, while boxes are estimated to ship from November 12.
How big is GTA 6?
Up to 212 GB, according to Rockstar’s November 3 post, and the exact size can vary by console. Clear at least that much before November 10, plus room for a day-one patch. The 676.7 GB screenshot is a parody fake.
What is the GTA 6 file size on Xbox Series X|S?
Rockstar’s up-to-212 GB figure covers Xbox Series X|S too. It hasn’t given a separate number for Series S, and the Microsoft Store listing doesn’t show a size yet. Series S owners, with a 512 GB SSD, should clear space early.
Can I pre-load GTA 6 with a physical copy?
Yes, once you have the code. The physical box only contains a download code, and the Rockstar Store page now says it is there “to support pre-load on November 10” (it said November 12 on November 3). Rockstar lists November 12 as the estimated shipping date, so redeem the code when your copy arrives, then download as you would with a digital copy.
Does GTA 6 come with a map?
Not in the box. Rockstar is adding a printable cover-art poster and map of Leonida as a free digital download on its official site on November 19, and a double-sided printed version will be sold at the Rockstar Store shortly after launch for $0.99, or free with any Rockstar Store purchase.
Is GTA 6 coming to PC on November 19?
No. Rockstar has only announced PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. A PC version hasn’t been announced. Reports of a 2027 PC release are unconfirmed.
Sources: Rockstar Newswire, “Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Load Begins on November 10” (Nov 3, 2026), quoted by GamingBible, Push Square, Pure Xbox, VGC and Insider Gaming; Rockstar Games pre-order announcement (via Game Developer), PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Xbox Wire, PlayStation Blog (Nov 3), PlayStation Support (pre-orders), PlayStation Support (refunds), PlayStation Support (M.2 SSD), Insider Gaming (676.7 GB fake), Rockstar Store, Vice, Rockstar Games GTA VI site. Regional store times checked October 28, 2026; US and UK store times and store pages rechecked November 3, 2026, 15:20 UTC; PlayStation Blog, Rockstar GTA VI page, Rockstar Store and PlayStation Store (US) pre-load wording rechecked November 9, 2026, 23:09-23:10 UTC.
Live: Follow today’s gaming news as it happens
Featured image: AI-generated illustration
[…] only adds a vehicle when Rockstar shows or names it. The full roster arrives on November 19. Our GTA 6 release time and pre-load guide has the unlock time for your […]
[…] the release is November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a pre-load from November 12. Our GTA 6 release time and pre-load guide lists the unlock times by region. Rockstar’s GTA VI site names six parts of Leonida, which we […]
[…] 6 launches on November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Our GTA 6 release time, pre-load and file size guide lists the unlock times by region. The episode streams on Paramount+ from the day after its […]
[…] Ocarina of Time among this season’s new games. If you’re timing a GTA 6 purchase, our GTA 6 release time and pre-load guide has the November 19 […]
[…] pointing his players at a console release. For exact unlock times and the download size, see our GTA 6 release time and pre-load guide; for the PC question, see what Rockstar and Take-Two have said about a GTA 6 PC release. The same […]
[…] and the Invite-A-Friend window ends November 11, about a week before GTA 6 on November 19 (see our GTA 6 release time guide). WoW Forever shares launch week with Ocarina of Time on Switch 2; our games coming out this week […]
[…] November, which gives Microsoft a second reason for a big franchise moment. The month is crowded: GTA 6 launches on November 19. For Xbox, the reveal would land in a turbulent stretch that includes its 2% revenue drop in the […]
[…] November 12. We’ve corrected the pre-load dates and the official download size below. Our GTA 6 release time and pre-load guide has the start times for each […]
[…] A store lists one timestamp per country, not per city. Australia’s 13:00 UTC is midnight in Sydney and Melbourne, but it is 11:00 pm in Brisbane and 9:00 pm in Perth on November 18, if the listing is applied literally. The same goes for the US and Canada: the single 05:00 UTC timestamp is 9:00 pm in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Nothing official says whether Rockstar will hold the West Coast until local midnight, so treat the earlier time as the one the listing points to. We cover that caveat in our GTA 6 release time and pre-load guide. […]
[…] stores. It doesn’t mention PS5, Xbox or Switch 2 pricing. For the games themselves, see our GTA 6 release time and pre-load guide and the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 trailer […]