Grand Theft Auto 6 Launch Times Vary by Region
- GTA 6 launches worldwide on 19th November for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
- Unlock times differ by region, with 15 distinct launch windows, spanning from 11am UTC on 18th November to 6am UTC on 19th November.
- XBOX users can switch regions to access the game early, unlike PS5 users tied to their account’s location.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to release on 19th November for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, the availability of the game varies depending on the user’s geographical location and chosen platform.
For PS5 users, the game features 15 different regional launch times. Customers who pre-ordered a digital copy through the PlayStation Store will find their unlock time determined by the account’s region and store selection, meaning not everyone will gain access simultaneously.
A detailed examination by GTA fansite GTAVice.net revealed that unlock times differ across these regions. The earliest unlock time is at 11am UTC on 18th November, while the latest is 6am UTC on 19th November, marking a total difference of 19 hours.
New Zealand will be the first to access GTA 6, with the game going live at 12am NZDT on 19th November (midnight on 18th November). Conversely, players in Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua will have to wait until 12am CST on 20th November (midnight on 19th November) for their access.
It is important to note that not all PlayStation Store pages provide the release timestamps, as GTAVice indicates that countries including Bahrain, China, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Qatar lack such information. Additionally, store pages for regions like The Philippines, Russia, Serbia, and Vietnam redirect users to other countries’ stores.
The game’s unlock timing is strictly linked to the region of the PlayStation Store account, not the user’s physical location. For instance, a user in Canada who pre-ordered via the UK store will find that the game unlocks in alignment with UK timing.
This regional variation was highlighted when retailers warned that codes for the physical version of the game are region-locked. Rockstar subsequently clarified which countries are impacted and specified that codes can only be redeemed in the country of purchase.
In contrast, Xbox users have more flexibility, as the platform enables region changes through the system menu. This feature allows gamers to bypass regional locks, making it possible to play GTA 6 as early as the New Zealand launch by simply adjusting their console’s settings.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
