Because GTA 6 unlocks at midnight local time, Xbox players have reportedly been able to start earlier by switching the console to New Zealand, the first major region to reach 19 November. Rockstar has not confirmed it works, so treat it as a try, not a promise.
| When New Zealand hits midnight (19 Nov, NZDT) | Your local time |
|---|---|
| UTC | 11:00 a.m., Wed 18 Nov |
| UK (GMT) | 11:00 a.m., Wed 18 Nov |
| Central Europe (CET) | 12:00 p.m., Wed 18 Nov |
| US Eastern (ET) | 6:00 a.m., Wed 18 Nov |
| US Pacific (PT) | 3:00 a.m., Wed 18 Nov |
How to try it on Xbox Series X|S
- Make sure GTA 6 is fully preloaded (digital purchase).
- Settings → System → Language & location → set Location to New Zealand.
- Restart the console when asked.
- After New Zealand passes midnight, launch the game from My games & apps.
- Once you are in, you can switch the location back after your session.
What about PS5?
PlayStation releases follow your account store region, not the console clock. Changing the PS5 time zone does not unlock it earlier, and creating a foreign account means buying the game again in that region. We do not recommend it.
Is the time zone trick allowed?
Changing your console location is a normal system setting. Buying from foreign stores or using VPNs to get around store rules can break terms of service.
Will Rockstar block it?
It may simply not work if the game checks the release region online. Rockstar has not said either way.
