GTA 6 launches in 11 days, on Thursday, November 19, 2026. Digital preloading starts on Tuesday, November 10 — and on Xbox it actually opens the evening of Monday, November 9 in the Americas. This is the day-by-day calendar from today through launch, with official times, reported items clearly labelled, and a link to the HUDWire guide that covers each date in full.
Last checked on November 8, 2026. Official Launch day, the November 10 preload, the Xbox 00:00 GMT start, the “up to 212 GB” install and November 12 for code-in-box copies come from Rockstar and the matching PlayStation Blog post. Unlock hours on November 19 come from PlayStation Store listings (midnight local), not from a Rockstar blog post that names the hour. Reported Review-embargo timing is still a report, not an official Rockstar notice.
The next 11 days at a glance
| Date | What happens | Label | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Nov 8 (today) | NASCAR Cup championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with a Vice City GTA 6 blimp overhead (3:00 p.m. ET on NBC, per Heavy) | Reported event / Official partnership | Vice City blimp |
| Mon Nov 9 | Xbox Series X|S preload opens at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT), which is 00:00 GMT on November 10 | Official | Preload times |
| Mon Nov 9 | Take-Two reports fiscal results and hosts its earnings call at 22:30 CET | Official | Take-Two earnings |
| Tue Nov 10 | PS5 preload opens at midnight local time in each store region | Official | Preload times |
| Tue Nov 10 | 007 First Light free Starter Pack arrives on PS5 (already out on Steam and Xbox since Nov 5) | Official | 007 starter pack |
| Tue Nov 10 | Football Manager 27 releases on PC and consoles | Official | FM27 date |
| Thu Nov 12 | Code-in-box copies are due in stores (there is no disc) | Official | Physical boxes |
| Thu Nov 12 | Metaphor: ReFantazio digital price cut in Japan (standard ¥3,990) | Official | Metaphor Japan cut |
| Mon Nov 17 | GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 leave PlayStation Plus Extra | Official | PS Plus leaving |
| Wed Nov 18 | Miami Heat “A Night in Vice City” vs the Bucks, tip-off 7:00 p.m. ET | Official | Heat night |
| Wed Nov 18 | GTA 6 reviews are expected to go live | Reported | Review embargo |
| Thu Nov 19 | GTA 6 unlocks, midnight local time on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S | Official date; store listings for the hour | Unlock times |
Preload: the one date people mix up
Rockstar first talked about a November 12 digital preload, then brought it forward to November 10. November 12 is now the date for physical code-in-box copies at retail, not the digital download. On PlayStation, November 10 means midnight in your store region. On Xbox, everyone gets the file at the same instant: 12:00 a.m. GMT on November 10, which is 7:00 p.m. Eastern and 4:00 p.m. Pacific on Monday, November 9.
| Where you are | PS5 preload | Xbox preload |
|---|---|---|
| US Eastern | Tue Nov 10, 12:00 a.m. ET | Mon Nov 9, 7:00 p.m. ET |
| US Pacific | Mon Nov 9, 9:00 p.m. PT | Mon Nov 9, 4:00 p.m. PT |
| UK | Tue Nov 10, 12:00 a.m. | Tue Nov 10, 12:00 a.m. |
| Spain, France, Germany (CET) | Tue Nov 10, 12:00 a.m. | Tue Nov 10, 1:00 a.m. |
Official The PS5 “midnight local” rule and the Xbox 12:00 a.m. GMT start are from Rockstar and Sony. Our math The city rows are conversions we already published in the preload time guide. You need up to 212 GB free; check with the storage calculator and the console prep checklist before Monday night if you are on Xbox.
A simple checklist for this week
- Today or tomorrow: free 212 GB, update PS5 or Xbox system software, and confirm your pre-order is on the console you will play. Cancel-and-refund rules are in this guide if you still need to switch editions or platforms.
- Monday evening (Americas) / Tuesday 01:00 CET (Spain): start the Xbox download so it is not running on launch night.
- Tuesday: PS5 owners can start at local midnight. The 007 First Light starter pack also lands on PS5 the same day.
- Thursday Nov 12: if you bought a box, retailers should have the download code. Photos of sealed German PS5 boxes already circulated on November 7; they do not let anyone play early.
- Monday Nov 17: finish or buy GTA 5 and RDR2 if you only have them on PS Plus Extra.
- Wednesday Nov 18: expected reviews, and the Heat’s Vice City night in Miami.
- Thursday Nov 19: unlock at local midnight. A live timer sits on our countdown page.
Key takeaways
- Xbox players in the US can start downloading tomorrow evening, not Tuesday morning.
- November 12 is for boxed codes, not the digital preload.
- Reviews on November 18 are still reported, not confirmed by Rockstar.
- Dataminers yesterday put the trophy list at 55; that report is covered separately in our trophies article.
FAQ
When does GTA 6 preload start?
Tuesday, November 10, 2026. On PS5 that is midnight local time. On Xbox Series X|S it is 12:00 a.m. GMT on November 10, which is 7:00 p.m. Eastern and 4:00 p.m. Pacific on Monday, November 9.
When does GTA 6 launch?
Thursday, November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Store listings put the unlock at midnight local time.
Is November 12 still a preload date?
No. Rockstar moved digital preloading to November 10. November 12 is when code-in-box copies are due in stores.
How much storage do I need?
Rockstar says up to 212 GB, depending on the device. Use the storage calculator to see whether it fits and how long the download should take.
When do reviews come out?
Reports point to Wednesday, November 18, the day before launch. Rockstar has not announced an embargo time.