Rockstar Games has scheduled Grand Theft Auto VI for November 19, 2026

Rockstar Games has scheduled Grand Theft Auto VI to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The publisher has not officially confirmed a PC release date, though reports say the PC version could arrive in Q1 2027, January through March, a shorter wait than the PC versions of Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption.

Players in New Zealand are expected to access Grand Theft Auto VI before players in the UK and the United States because November 19 arrives there earlier under staggered regional midnight unlocks. Rockstar Games has not published its own complete launch-time schedule, though PlayStation and Xbox digital storefronts indicate regional releases at 12 AM based on the player’s time zone. The staggered approach means players do not unlock the game at the exact same moment worldwide.

Digital preloading is scheduled to begin on November 12, 2026, one week before the November 19 release, for eligible digital preorders. Download times will depend on internet speed, network congestion, and the final file size.

Rockstar first announced a 2025 release window, then moved the date to May 26, 2026, before setting November 19, 2026 after a November 2025 delay. The official new date announcement came in 2025 after two major delays, and Rockstar said it needed additional time to deliver a highly polished experience. Preorders opened earlier this summer, and Rockstar confirmed the November 19 date in a new launch trailer. Following the announcement, the publisher stayed quiet for an extended period before launching a major promotional push for the game.

Rockstar Games reportedly provided review codes to media outlets and creators, with the embargo lifting on November 18, 2026, one day before launch. Many journalists and content creators posted on social media thanking Rockstar for the review copies and said their reviews will drop on November 18, 2026. The embargo is set a day before launch to avoid spoilers and leaks. Review codes are reportedly circulating, and additional gameplay details or spoilers could appear online before release.

The console version launches on November 19, 2026 as a single-player game, while Bloomberg reports indicate the online component is planned for 2027. Rockstar Games has not announced an official release date for the online multiplayer experience.

The game could require approximately 210GB of download space on PlayStation 5 according to PlayStation Game Size, though Rockstar Games has not officially confirmed the figure. PlayStation Game Size shared the estimate on X on October 27, 2026, and leaker Cyberleak reportedly offered a similar 210GB estimate in October. The original PlayStation 5 has approximately 665GB of usable storage, so the download would occupy nearly one-third of that capacity, while the PlayStation 5 Pro offers approximately 1.86TB and Xbox Series X offers approximately 800GB. Xbox Series S users have approximately 365GB of usable storage, so the file would consume more than half that space.

Grand Theft Auto VI takes place in the state of Leonida, modeled after Florida, with a map expected to contain cityscapes, beaches, parks, swamps, bars, and clubs. The story follows protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos through a criminal conspiracy, with Lucia cast as the franchise’s first playable female protagonist of the modern era. Jason has an Army background and heavy tactical gear, while Lucia starts out fresh on parole wearing an ankle monitor, and trailers show her in prison. The pair have a Bonnie-and-Clyde dynamic, and side activities include base jumping, kayaking, scuba diving, and airboating.

Justice, a French electronic duo, composed the original score backing the game’s atmosphere. The Xbox store description gives Grand Theft Auto VI an 18+ rating because of violence, sexual contents, and drugs.

In India, Grand Theft Auto VI costs INR 5,999 for the standard edition and INR 7,499 for the ultimate edition, with pre-order perks including one month of GTA+ and the Vintage Vice City pack. A report cited by IGN on October 26, 2026 found the release has driven as much as a 17 percent increase in time-off requests.

Grand Theft Auto VI falls within The Game Awards 2026 eligibility window because it launches on November 19, one day before the November 20 at 9 p.m. PT commercial availability deadline. If review copies arrive ahead of launch, jurors for The Game Awards 2026 could have additional time to evaluate the game before voting closes.

During an MCM Comic Con media interaction, GTA 5 voice actors Ned Luke, Shawn Fonteno, Steven Ogg, and Young Maylay shared advice with the actors playing Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Luke, Fonteno, and Ogg played Michael, Franklin, and Trevor in GTA 5, while Maylay voiced Carl CJ Johnson in San Andreas. “Have fun,” said Luke.

Rockstar reportedly plans to release the game digitally only, a move intended to lower the risk of early leaks before launch. As of October 28, 2026, Vice reports there are 21 days remaining until Grand Theft Auto VI releases on November 19, 2026.