GTA 6 release date: November 19, 2026
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on Thursday, November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. This is the official release date confirmed by Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive. PC release is expected later, after the console exclusivity window. Here is everything we know about the launch - global rollout times, pre-order opening windows, the road to launch and what to expect on day one.
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only: no PC, no last-gen
Grand Theft Auto VI ships simultaneously worldwide on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. There is no PS4 or Xbox One version - GTA 6 is the first mainline GTA built exclusively for current-generation consoles. There is also no PC version at launch: Rockstar Games has historically held PC releases of its main games well after the console launch (GTA V landed on PC around 19 months later, Red Dead Redemption 2 about 12 months later).
GTA 6 launch timeline: from announcement to release
Here is the public timeline of Grand Theft Auto VI from the first official Rockstar Games tease through to the November 19, 2026 launch. We update this section every time Rockstar Games publishes a new milestone.
- December 4, 2023
Rockstar Games publishes the first official trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, one day earlier than planned after the trailer leaked online. The trailer confirms Vice City and the dual protagonists Jason and Lucia.
- 2024 to 2025
Take-Two Interactive references the GTA 6 release window during multiple earnings calls. The window slips from a 2025 target to a 2026 release, and Rockstar Games eventually settles on Thursday, November 19, 2026.
- May 14, 2026
Best Buy launches an email campaign to its US customer base promoting a 5% discount on GTA 6 pre-orders, valid May 18 through May 21. No editions or prices revealed - first major retailer to run a paid GTA 6 pre-order promo.
- Expected: ahead of release
Official Rockstar Games pre-order opening across Rockstar Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store and worldwide retailers. Edition contents and pricing confirmed.
- November 19, 2026
Grand Theft Auto VI launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, midnight local time on digital storefronts.
When do GTA 6 pre-orders open?
Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed the global opening date for GTA 6 pre-orders. However, retailer movement is the strongest signal so far: Best Buy started rolling out a marketing email to its US customer base on May 14, 2026, promoting a 5% discount on GTA 6 pre-orders valid May 18 through May 21. The email reveals no editions, prices or product pages - only the promo window - but a major US retailer running a paid campaign with hard dates implies its pre-order pages are imminent. Based on past Rockstar Games launches (GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2), pre-orders typically open 2 to 4 months before launch - the May to September 2026 window aligns perfectly.
GTA 6 launch time: when can I play on day one?
Rockstar Games' standard launch pattern is a midnight local time release on PlayStation Store and Xbox Store. For Grand Theft Auto VI, that means the game unlocks at 00:00 in your local time zone on November 19, 2026 if you pre-loaded the digital version. Physical copies typically reach stores at midnight launch events at GameStop, Micromania, GAME and select Best Buy locations. Some retailers ship physical pre-orders so they arrive on launch morning.
What to expect on November 19, 2026
Grand Theft Auto VI is set up to be the biggest entertainment launch of the decade. Expect a saturated server day, a sizeable day-one patch, and Rockstar Games' traditional rollout: single-player available immediately, GTA Online opening a few weeks after launch.
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