How to Play GTA 6 Early on PS5 With New Zealand Trick—All Time Zones, Explained
Grand Theft Auto 6 launches globally on November 19, 2026, at midnight local time, but players can gain early access by exploiting timezone differences using the “New Zealand trick” on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles.
The technique involves changing your account region to New Zealand, which sits ahead of most other global timezones. Since the game becomes available at midnight in each timezone sequentially as the date line moves across the world, New Zealand players theoretically get access first. By setting your console region to New Zealand and purchasing or accessing the game through a New Zealand account, players in other regions can begin playing before their local midnight release time.
The process reportedly takes approximately 30 seconds to complete and has become a widely discussed workaround among eager players. Rockstar Games has not officially announced any anti-circumvention measures for timezone-based early access, though the practice exists in a gray area regarding terms of service compliance. Similar regional unlock tricks have been used for major game releases in previous years, allowing dedicated fans to start playing hours earlier than their official local release window.
With GTA 6 anticipated to be a record-breaking release, players are eager to experience the game as soon as possible. The title is expected to become the fastest-selling game of all time, making early access particularly appealing to the gaming community. Both PlayStation and Xbox versions support the same timezone-based access method, giving players across both console ecosystems equal opportunity to play early.