GTA 6 Officially Playable Before November 19

With pre-orders now open for Grand Theft Auto VI, it feels like all systems are go for the November launch. We can officially mark our calendars for November 19, 2026, and plan a few sick days from work. The most anticipated game of the decade is coming in less than 6 months, but it still feels so far away. Well, what if we told you, you could get to play Grand Theft Auto VI early. Let’s get into it!

Thanks to a well-known exploit on the PlayStation Store, it’s possible to play Grand Theft Auto VI earlier than your friends, as long as you are in the know. Imagine exploring Leonidas a day before everyone else you know. Getting to grips with gameplay mechanics and uncovering the story we’ve all waited so long to experience. All while your friends are still counting down the clock. No need to wait until midnight to jump into Jason and Lucia’s adventure.

GTA6 Ultimate Edition — Grand Theft Auto VI Vice City Tommy Vercetti livery

For those unaware of the exploit…let us explain. On the PS5, you are allowed to set up multiple profiles and decide what country each profile belongs to. You will need to use another email address not already in use on PSN and fill out some false details. With New Zealand being anywhere from 16 to 21 hours ahead of states in America, you can effectively set up a New Zealand profile on your console and play the game a day early.

Yes, it’s a cheeky way to get in on the action early, but it’s also a great way to ensure you’re not staying up past midnight just to see those opening credits for the first time. Even if you’re based in Europe, New Zealand is typically 10 to 12 hours ahead, so you could be driving the streets of Vice City around lunchtime on November 18. I can think of worse ways to spend a Wednesday afternoon.

Grand Theft Auto VI Ultimate Vice City Merch

Grand Theft Auto VI is set to smash all records with pre-orders live right now. Whether you choose the Standard edition or Ultimate, there is no early access for the game. November 19 is the first chance for any gamers to play, so tweaking your time zone may be the only way you can get ahead of your friends and jump in a little bit early. As for unfortunate PC users….you’ll have to wait a lot longer to play.

With some content locked behind a paywall, many fans are already upset with Grand Theft Auto VI, but not enough to stop fans from buying it en masse. Players can grab a ton of free bonus content and a free month’s subscription to GTA+ which means buying the Ultimate edition might be a pricey prospect, but one that offers a lot of value. Whichever version you buy though, November 19, 2026, will go down in history as one of the biggest days in gaming history. Time to move to New Zealand I reckon!