GTA VI: New Zealand first, Mexico last?

It looks like Grand Theft Auto VI won't unlock everywhere at once. GTAVice dug up PlayStation Store timestamps showing 15 different unlock times across time zones, and going by those, the game goes live at local midnight on November 19 in most countries. Rockstar hasn't officially confirmed anything yet.

New Zealand goes first: midnight hits there at 11am UTC on November 18. Then comes Australia, Japan, India, mainland Europe, the UK and finally the US, where the whole country unlocks at midnight Eastern. Mexico brings up the rear, just behind the United States.

The outlets don't quite agree on the size of the head start.

• GTAVice: 15 release windows spread across 19 hours.
• IGN: New Zealand gets roughly 20 hours on Mexico and other parts of Central America.
• GamesRadar+: New Zealand players start about 13 hours before Britain and 18 hours before the US east coast.

Then there's the region trick. According to IGN, Xbox Series X/S owners can simply switch their console region and get in early (Eurogamer says that still seems to work). It won't fly on PS5, though a separate New Zealand account topped up with a New Zealand gift card could technically do it.

Pre-loading for pre-orders starts on November 12, the same day boxed copies ship. Don't expect a disc: IGN says the box only holds a download code. However early you download it, the game stays locked until your own time zone's window opens. Rockstar still hasn't said how much free space you'll need.

Take it all with a pinch of salt: Insider Gaming warns these could be placeholder times, since Rockstar hasn't said whether the launch is regional or simultaneous worldwide. GamesRadar+ still reckons the store data will turn out close to the truth. Old-timers will remember that Red Dead Redemption 2 had a staggered launch, while GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition didn't.

That leaves 73 more sleeps. Are you switching regions, or waiting for midnight at home? ;)