GTA 6 comes out on Thursday, November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. If you bought it digitally, you can download it a week early: the preload opens at local midnight on November 12. In the US the game should unlock at midnight Eastern time, which means 9 PM on November 18 for players on the West Coast. There is no PC version yet.
Now for the rest of it. People keep asking us about unlock hours in their country, what's different between the two editions, the bonus for pre-ordering, why the box has no disc, and whether PC players will get it this year.
What Is GTA 6?
Grand Theft Auto VI is the next main game in Rockstar's open-world crime series and the first new one since GTA V in 2013. It takes place in Leonida, a fictional take on Florida, with Vice City as its biggest city. You play as two leads, Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, a couple who get pulled into a run of crimes after a job goes wrong.
The game was revealed in December 2023 and slipped twice before Rockstar locked the November 2026 date. At launch it is a console-only release on current hardware. PS4 and Xbox One are not supported.
GTA 6 Release Date
The official date is November 19, 2026. It is the same day on every supported console and in every region, though the exact hour depends on where your account is registered (more on that below).
- Pre-orders opened: June 25, 2026
- Preload opens: November 12, 2026 (digital copies)
- Physical copies ship: from November 12, 2026 at most retailers
- Launch: November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
Take-Two has also said no edition gets early access. Paying for the Ultimate Edition doesn't let you start a day sooner.
What Time Does GTA 6 Unlock?
Rockstar has announced the date but not a time. What we do have comes from the PlayStation Store, where each country's listing shows when the game becomes playable. Most regions unlock at midnight in their main time zone, so some countries get in hours before others.
| Region | Unlock (local) | Unlock (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (first) | Nov 19, 00:00 | Nov 18, 11:00 |
| Central Europe (Germany, France and most of the EU) | Nov 19, 00:00 CET | Nov 18, 23:00 |
| UK, Ireland, Portugal | Nov 19, 00:00 GMT | Nov 19, 00:00 |
| US East Coast and Canada | Nov 19, 00:00 ET | Nov 19, 05:00 |
| US West Coast | Nov 18, 21:00 PT | Nov 19, 05:00 |
| Mexico and Central America (last) | Nov 19, 00:00 | Nov 19, 06:00 |
Keep in mind these are store timestamps, not an announcement from Rockstar, and they could shift before launch. Xbox hasn't published a schedule like this, but console launches usually follow the same midnight pattern there too. If Rockstar posts official times in the last two weeks, we'll update this table.
One thing that trips people up: the US unlocks all at once, at midnight Eastern. A player in California doesn't wait for local midnight. They can start at 9 PM on the evening of November 18.
How the GTA 6 Preload Works
If your copy is digital, the download button goes live at local midnight on November 12, 2026. The files download to your console, but the game stays locked until your region's unlock time.
To make sure it downloads on its own:
- PS5: turn on automatic downloads and enable "Stay Connected to the Internet" in Rest Mode settings.
- Xbox Series X|S: turn on automatic updates and use Sleep mode rather than a full shutdown.
The physical edition contains a download code, so people who buy the box can preload as well once they have it.
The final download size hasn't been published. The Xbox listing only shows a small placeholder file for now. Estimates from the press land somewhere around 120–130 GB and up, and the real number should appear on both stores by November 12. A base PS5 has about 667 GB of usable space and a 512 GB Series S has about 364 GB, so it's worth clearing room ahead of time.
GTA 6 Price and Editions
There are two editions of the game. A third product, the Goodtime State Vice City Collection, is a collector's set of physical items, and the game isn't included in it.
| Edition | Price (US) | Format | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $79.99 | Digital or boxed (download code) | The game + Vintage Vice City Pack if pre-ordered |
| Ultimate Edition | $99.99 | Digital only | Everything in Standard + extra vehicles, weapons, outfits, businesses and a bonus side mission |
European and UK prices depend on the store and currency, so check your local PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store listing.
The Ultimate Edition extras listed so far include a '95 Grotti Cheetah, the Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers, custom pistol variants, a Vice City style pack with outfits and tattoos, a Dinka Enduro motorcycle and a kayak for Jason's safehouse, and an exclusive side mission tied to an illegal goods store. All of it is single-player content. Nothing in either edition affects the story.
So which one should you get? If you just want to play the story, Standard is all you need. The Ultimate content is mostly cars, guns and clothes you'll see in the first hours and forget about later.
Pre-Order Bonus: Vintage Vice City Pack
Both editions get the Vintage Vice City Pack when pre-ordered before launch. It contains:
- a '55 Vapid Stanier sedan
- a vintage outfit for Jason and one for Lucia
- a retro weapon pattern
Digital pre-orders on PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store also come with a free month of GTA+, according to the store pages.
Is GTA 6 Coming to PC?
Not at launch. Rockstar has only confirmed PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and there's no PC date. Rockstar has done this before. GTA V reached PC about 19 months after its console release, and Red Dead Redemption 2 took about a year. A PC version is likely at some point, but anything you read about a specific window is guesswork until Rockstar says so.
Physical Copy: Is There a Disc?
No. The boxed Standard Edition holds a download code instead of a disc, so you'll need an internet connection to install it either way. The upside is that physical buyers can preload just like digital ones. That also matters for the PS5 Digital Edition and the all-digital Xbox Series S. Since there's no disc, both can install the boxed copy too.
What We Know About Leonida
Going by the trailers and the official website, Leonida looks like the biggest map Rockstar has made for a GTA game so far. Vice City is the centre of it, but the state also covers the Leonida Keys island chain, the Grassrivers wetlands, Port Gellhorn, the farm town of Ambrosia and the forests around Mount Kalaga.
The trailers show crowded beaches, dense nightlife and a lot of wildlife, alligators included, plus a social-media layer that parodies streaming culture. GTA Online for GTA 6 hasn't been detailed yet. Rockstar's focus for November is the story campaign.
Before You Go
Most people only need three things here. The game comes out on November 19, you can preload it from November 12, and PC players will have to keep waiting. If you'd rather spend the week before launch in another game, our blog covers the latest news on new releases, and the FrostyBoost home page lists every game we work with.
FAQ
When is GTA 6 out?
On a Thursday, the 19th of November 2026, and PS5 and Xbox Series X|S owners get it on that same day.
What hour can I start playing GTA 6?
Midnight on November 19 in most countries. The US goes live at midnight Eastern, so on the West Coast that's 9 PM the night before. Central Europe starts at midnight CET, and New Zealand gets there first.
When can I preload GTA 6?
From local midnight on November 12, 2026 if you pre-ordered digitally. The box comes with a download code, so it works for boxed copies as well.
How much does GTA 6 cost?
In the US, $79.99 for Standard and $99.99 for Ultimate. Elsewhere, look at the price in your own console store.
Is GTA 6 on PC?
No. There's no PC version at launch and Rockstar hasn't given a date.
Does the physical version of GTA 6 have a disc?
No. The box contains a download code, not a disc.
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