GTA VI Launch Guide: release date, editions, preorders and everything confirmed before November 19
The complete GTA VI launch guide: November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, all editions and prices, how preorders work, and every confirmed detail before launch — updated as news breaks.
Release date and platforms
GTA VI launches on November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar's North co-lead Rob Nelson reaffirmed the date in a September interview, hoping the Extended Look had put quality concerns to rest (GamesRadar+, Insider Gaming). No PC date has been announced yet — historically, Rockstar has shipped the PC version months after console (GTA V waited almost two years).
Release time: midnight, local time
The game unlocks at midnight local time on November 19 — not at a single worldwide moment. France and mainland Europe start exactly at midnight on the night of November 18-19 (CET). New Zealand plays first (November 18 at 1 p.m. Paris time), and the whole United States unlocks at midnight Eastern. Full details on the staggered rollout → Exact unlock times for every region, including all four US time zones →
Update — 2026-09-02
Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, has again confirmed that the November 19 release date is still on track, and said the Netflix premiere of GTA VI: An Extended Look will help grow "consumers' passion and anticipation" in the run-up to launch (IGN, Aug 7). The message, picked up again by Chinese outlets in late August, is the latest in a series of public reassurances from the publisher — which has repeatedly insisted the game will not be delayed again. Combined with record preorders and the Extended Look's viewership numbers, Take-Two's tone remains confident as the launch window approaches.
All confirmed editions
Rockstar confirmed the standard and digital deluxe line-ups, plus the physical Ultimate Edition in select markets:
- Standard — $79.99 — the base game. Physical and digital.
- Ultimate Edition — $99.99 — the premium tier: exclusive vehicles, weapons, apparel and extra story-threaded action, on top of the Vintage Vice City Pack.
- Digital Deluxe — bonus in-game content for digital buyers in some regions.
Pricing varies by region and retailer. Preorders opened in August and have been described as "unprecedented" by Take-Two — several regional outlets (Japan, China, Korea) reported record figures within days of the preorder launch.
Preorder bonuses (order before November 20)
- Vintage Vice City Pack (every preorder, physical or digital): throwback items nodding to 2002's Vice City — including a homage to Vercetti's iconic button-up shirt.
- 1 free month of GTA+ (digital preorders only, via PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store): GTA$500,000 into your GTA Online account, vehicle discounts, a 15% bonus on Shark Cards, and access to the rotating GTA+ Games Library of classic Rockstar titles. See the dedicated GTA+ preorder article for details.
What is confirmed about the game
- Setting: back to Vice City, in the state of Leonida — described as Rockstar's largest open world yet
- Story: Jason and Lucia, a Bonnie-and-Clyde duo — the first playable couple in the series
- Runtime: roughly 80 hours to complete the story, per Rockstar
- Performance: 30 FPS on consoles at launch, no performance mode confirmed
- No microtransactions and no generative AI in the base game at launch
- 600,000+ unique NPC animations — more than ten times GTA V
- Six-star wanted system: the police tracks your face, clothes and vehicle
- Wildlife: hunting and fishing, ~30 animals already confirmed
Explore the full GTA 6 guides
Every confirmed detail, organised by topic — each guide below is updated as Rockstar announces more:
- 🗺️ Map & Vice City — the full Leonida map guide (2× bigger than GTA V, locations, districts)
- 👥 Characters — Jason & Lucia explained (the playable couple, supporting cast)
- 🚗 Vehicles — every confirmed car & vehicle (Mammoth Patriot, fuel, realistic damage)
- 🕐 Release time — the staggered midnight launch (New Zealand first, France at midnight CET)
- 🎮 DualSense controllers — the limited-edition PS5 hardware
- 💰 GTA+ month — free with digital preorders
- ⏳ The final weeks — when preload and the launch trailer should land (dates projected from Rockstar's last two launches)
Preorder checklist for November 19
1. Pick your edition — Standard if you just want the game; Digital Deluxe if you want the launch bonuses; Ultimate only if you're a collector (limited stock, order early).
2. Choose your platform — PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. GTA VI does not run on PS4 or Xbox One.
3. Storage — the game is large (the Extended Look alone was a 14 GB file); make room ahead of launch.
4. Preload — digital preorders will likely include a preload window in the days before launch.
5. Check for cheats on launch day — GTA VI cheat codes will be published on this site as soon as they are confirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
- The PC release date
- The online mode (GTA Online successor) and its monetization
- Whether a 60 FPS performance mode arrives post-launch
- Day-one patch size and exact file size
This guide will be updated
As Rockstar announces more details — preload dates, patch notes, first reviews — this guide will be updated. Bookmark it and check back; it is the single page to consult before buying GTA VI.
