Grand Theft Auto fans counting down the days until GTA 6 finally arrives may be able to play the highly anticipated game several hours earlier than expected, thanks to a trick involving PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles.
Rockstar Games' next major release is scheduled to arrive on November 19, 2026, bringing players back to Vice City and the fictional state of Leonida.
After years of anticipation, fans are preparing to explore the game's enormous open world, which promises new locations, characters and activities.
However, an important detail about the game's international launch has caught the attention of gamers hoping to get started as early as possible.
According to a report by LADbible, the game will unlock at different times around the world, potentially allowing some players to access it more than 12 hours before others.
And there may be a way for console owners to take advantage of that difference.
How can you play GTA 6 early?
The trick being discussed by gamers is commonly known as the New Zealand trick, a method that has previously been used around the launches of other major video games.
It involves changing the region associated with a console or gaming account so that the system uses New Zealand's release schedule.
Because New Zealand is among the first countries to reach a new calendar day, games released at midnight local time can become available there considerably earlier than in Europe or North America.
For GTA 6, LADbible reports that the earliest unlock is scheduled for 11am UTC on November 18, while the UK release is expected at midnight on November 19.
That creates a potential difference of around 13 hours for British players.
However, the method is not guaranteed to work, particularly if Rockstar or the console platforms enforce account-region restrictions or a single global unlock time.
How to try the GTA 6 early access trick on Xbox Series X and Series S
For Xbox owners, the reported method is relatively straightforward because Microsoft allows users to change the location setting on their consoles.
According to LADbible, players can attempt the following steps:
- Turn on your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S.
- Open the Settings menu.
- Navigate to System and select Language & location.
- Find the Location setting and change it to New Zealand.
- Restart the console when prompted.
- Once the game becomes available in New Zealand, attempt to launch GTA 6.
If the game's digital unlock is determined by the console's selected location, this could potentially allow access before the release time in the player's home country.
However, changing the console location does not necessarily change the region associated with a purchased game licence.
Microsoft's regional restrictions and Rockstar's release configuration may prevent the method from working.
Players should also be aware that changing their location can affect store availability and other regional services.
How to try the GTA 6 early access trick on PS5
PlayStation owners face a more complicated process because Sony does not allow users to change the country associated with an existing PlayStation Network account.
Instead, the reported method involves creating a separate account registered to New Zealand.
The steps described by LADbible are:
- Create a new PlayStation Network account.
- Select New Zealand as the account's country or region during registration.
- Purchase GTA 6 through the New Zealand PlayStation Store using an accepted payment method.
- Download the game using the new account.
- Open Settings, then Users and Accounts.
- Under Other, enable Console Sharing and Offline Play for the account that purchased the game.
- Return to the main account and attempt to launch GTA 6 once it unlocks in New Zealand.
There are several important limitations to consider.
PlayStation Store purchases are region-specific, and payment methods may need to match the account's registered country.
Purchasing a game from another region can also complicate refunds, downloadable content and account management.
Players should not provide false registration information or attempt to bypass restrictions that violate platform terms.
Simply changing a PS5's language or time zone will not change the region of an existing PlayStation Store purchase.
What time does GTA 6 release around the world?
According to LADbible's November 5 report, GTA 6 will launch in stages across different regions.
The publication lists New Zealand as one of the earliest locations, with the game reportedly becoming available at 11am UTC on November 18.
In the UK, the reported launch time is midnight GMT on November 19.
Several Central American countries, including Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador, are listed among the final locations, with a reported unlock time of 6am UTC on November 19.
These timings suggest the game is following a local-midnight release schedule rather than unlocking simultaneously worldwide.
However, players should check the countdown displayed on their own console's digital storefront, as the precise unlock time may depend on the region and edition purchased.
When can players preload GTA 6?
Rockstar has reportedly confirmed that digital preloading will be available before launch, allowing players to download the game files in advance.
According to the announcement quoted by LADbible, PlayStation 5 preloading begins on November 10 at midnight local time.
For Xbox Series X and Series S, preloading is also scheduled to begin on November 10, at midnight GMT.
Physical code-in-box editions are reportedly expected to become available through retailers from November 12.
Preloading does not grant immediate access to gameplay. It simply allows the necessary files to be installed before the game's official unlock time.
Players will still need to wait until the appropriate release time before launching the full game.
How much storage space will GTA 6 need?
Players may also need to clear a significant amount of storage space before downloading GTA 6.
According to Rockstar's statement quoted in the report, the preload could require up to 212GB of storage, depending on the device.
That would make GTA 6 one of the larger mainstream console releases in terms of download size.
Players using consoles with limited available storage may need to uninstall older games or expand their storage capacity.
On PS5, compatible internal SSD expansion can provide additional space for PS5 games.
Xbox Series X and Series S owners can use compatible storage expansion cards for games that require the console's high-speed storage architecture.
How much will GTA 6 cost?
According to the reported preorder listings, GTA 6's standard edition is priced at £69.99 in the UK, while the premium edition costs £89.99.
In the United States, the listed prices are $79.99 for the standard edition and approximately $100 for the premium version.
Prices may vary depending on the retailer, region and edition selected.
Anyone considering purchasing the game through a different regional storefront should check the final price, payment requirements and applicable terms before proceeding.
Will the New Zealand trick definitely work for GTA 6?
Although the New Zealand trick has worked for some previous video game releases, there is no guarantee it will provide early access to GTA 6.
Its effectiveness depends on how Rockstar and the console platforms configure the game's release permissions.
Some games use local release times, while others are restricted by the region where the digital licence was purchased.
For Xbox users, changing the console's location may be enough in some circumstances, but this is not assured.
For PlayStation users, the additional account and purchasing requirements make the process more complicated.
With the official November 19 release approaching, the safest option remains preloading the game through an existing account and waiting for the confirmed unlock time.
However, for players determined to explore Vice City at the earliest possible opportunity, the reported regional release schedule has provided one more reason to pay close attention to launch day.
