Regional release timings may give some players access before others, while console workarounds could let Xbox and PS5 users play earlier.

Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is increasingly expected to receive a rolling regional midnight launch, potentially allowing players in New Zealand to access the game before users in other parts of the world.

The staggered release means the game will unlock at midnight in each region rather than becoming available globally at one fixed time. Videotech has shared a chart showing the expected launch timings across different regions, based on information displayed by the PlayStation Store countdown.

Players in the United States may also be able to access GTA 6 earlier through a regional workaround. According to the information shared, East Coast players could start playing at 6am on November 18, while those on the West Coast could gain access at 3am.

In Europe, countries including France, Germany and Italy are expected to receive the game at 12pm on November 18.

Xbox users have a relatively straightforward option to access the game early. They can change their console’s location settings to New Zealand before the release, potentially allowing them to play when the game becomes available there.

The process is more complicated for PlayStation 5 users. Synth Potato outlined a method that involves creating a New Zealand PlayStation Network account and enabling console sharing and offline play through the system settings.

Players would then need to purchase GTA 6 using a New Zealand-region gift card and pre-order it through the new account. Once console sharing is enabled, they can access the purchased game through their main PlayStation profiles.

However, PlayStation Network rules state that users should not create accounts for countries where they do not live, meaning the workaround could involve risks related to account policies.

For players who prefer to wait for the official release in their own region, pre-loading is expected to begin on November 12. The PS5 version is reportedly expected to require around 210GB of storage, making an early download useful for avoiding delays on launch day.

GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19, although regional unlock timings could mean some players begin exploring the fictional state of Leonida earlier.