GTA 6 Global Midnight Launch Means a New Zealand Headstart for Xbox Players
Rockstar is opting for a midnight local time launch for Grand Theft Auto 6 in most countries on November 19, according to IGN. This strategy means the game will unlock at different times across the globe, creating a staggered release.
Fans have already noted that this system provides a loophole for early access. Because New Zealand is among the first time zones to hit midnight, players there will get to start roughly 20 hours before those in Central America. IGN reports that Xbox Series X/S players can exploit this by changing their console's region setting to New Zealand.
The trick, however, does not work on PlayStation 5. The outlet notes that the only way to play early on PS5 would be to create and fund a separate New Zealand account, a more cumbersome process.
Following New Zealand, the unlock will roll through Australia, Japan, India, Europe, and the UK. In the United States, the entire country will get access at midnight Eastern Time, giving West Coast players a late-night start at 9 PM on November 18.
Pre-loading for the digital-only title begins on November 12, which is also when physical editions containing a download code will ship. Rockstar has not yet announced the final install size for the highly anticipated game.
