GTA 6 Will Launch Digitally at Midnight Around the World, So Of Course Fans Are Already Planning to Set Their Console Locations to New Zealand
News Source
β’Mon, 7 Sep 2026 18:00:31 +0000
π° What Happened
Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6 will unlock digitally at midnight in every time zone around the world. That means the game starts at the same local hour everywhere, but not at the same moment. Players in New Zealand and Australia get in first, while the US waits most of the day.
Fans are already planning the famous 'New Zealand trick.' They change their console region to New Zealand to unlock the game early. The habit has become a ritual for huge worldwide launches. Players share countdown timers and setup guides every year.
π The Backstory
The New Zealand trick goes back more than a decade. Players noticed that setting a PlayStation or Xbox to New Zealand time unlocks games hours ahead of their own region. It works because many games go live at midnight local time for the whole region at once.
GTA 6 is one of the most awaited games in history. Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series has sold hundreds of millions of copies. The last main entry, GTA 5, came out in 2013 and is still played by millions. Fans have waited over a decade for this sequel, so every hour counts.
π― Why It Matters
GTA 6 is one of the biggest game launches ever. Midnight timing decides when millions of players start playing. The New Zealand trick shows how fans bend the rules to get in sooner.
Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6 will unlock digitally at midnight in every time zone around the world. That means the game starts at the same local hour everywhere, but not at the same moment. Players in New Zealand and Australia get in first, while the US waits most of the day.
Fans are already planning the famous 'New Zealand trick.' They change their console region to New Zealand to unlock the game early. The habit has become a ritual for huge worldwide launches. Players share countdown timers and setup guides every year.
The New Zealand trick goes back more than a decade. Players noticed that setting a PlayStation or Xbox to New Zealand time unlocks games hours ahead of their own region. It works because many games go live at midnight local time for the whole region at once.
GTA 6 is one of the most awaited games in history. Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series has sold hundreds of millions of copies. The last main entry, GTA 5, came out in 2013 and is still played by millions. Fans have waited over a decade for this sequel, so every hour counts.
GTA 6 is one of the biggest game launches ever. Midnight timing decides when millions of players start playing. The New Zealand trick shows how fans bend the rules to get in sooner.