GTA 6 Launch Time Confirmed: Midnight Local, Worldwide

One week out from launch, the exact unlock moment is now clear. Radio Times reports, based on a post from Rockstar Games, that Grand Theft Auto VI releases at midnight local time on Thursday, November 19, 2026 — the game unlocks territory by territory as each region reaches midnight, rather than at one single global moment.

That staggered rollout means players in New Zealand and Australia get in first, while the United States and Canada are among the last regions to unlock. For US players on the East Coast, the unlock time is midnight Eastern at the start of November 19 — which is exactly the moment the countdown on this site has been ticking toward.

A midnight local launch rewards preparation more than patience. If you have pre-loaded the game, there is nothing left to download at unlock; if you are buying digitally on the night, expect the console stores to be busy in the first hour as everyone signs in at once.

To recap what Rockstar has confirmed: GTA VI launches November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, set in the state of Leonida, starring Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval. No PC version has been announced. The launch-time detail comes via Radio Times' reporting of Rockstar's post, and we will update this article if Rockstar publishes the timing directly.