GTA 6 release times set for a local midnight rollout on November 19

Rockstar has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI will unlock at midnight on November 19 in each player's local time zone. Anyone who has preloaded the game can begin playing immediately at that hour, with access rolling out worldwide as each region hits midnight.

Preloading is available now through the PlayStation Store. The PS5 version requires a 212GB download, placing it among the largest console installs in history. The file size is expected to grow over time through patches and the addition of GTA Online.

Because of the time zone rollout, New Zealand will be the first country where the game becomes playable. Players outside the region can create a New Zealand PSN account and purchase the game through its store to start a few hours earlier than they otherwise could. Save data from a separate regional account cannot be transferred to a normal profile.

Rockstar is selling the title in two digital editions on PS5: the Standard Edition and the Ultimate Edition. Even the physical box sold at retail contains a download code rather than a disc. A physical map of the game world will not be included in the box like previous games, but will be sold separately on the official Rockstar store for $0.99, or included at no extra cost with other purchases from that storefront.