GTA 6 release time in NZ: we get it first, but there's a catch in the box

The less fun news: the boxed copy has no disc in it, Rockstar still hasn't said how big the download is, and if you're running an Xbox Series S or a launch PS5, you could be clearing space on preload night instead of playing.

What time does GTA 6 unlock in NZ?

The PlayStation Store lists GTA 6 as unlocking at midnight local time in each store region, and New Zealand is the first region on that list. So the switch flips as Wednesday the 18th of November rolls into Thursday the 19th, NZ time.

One caveat I'm not going to gloss over: Rockstar hasn't announced an unlock hour itself. The date has been reaffirmed by Take-Two more than once, and the midnight time comes from Sony's store listing. I'd plan around midnight, but I wouldn't book the next day off work until Rockstar confirms.

To put our head, start in perspective, midnight in Auckland is 11am UTC on the 18th of November. The UK unlocks 13 hours after us. The US East Coast doesn't get in until 6pm on the 19th, our time, by which point plenty of Kiwis will have been playing for most of the day.

How much is GTA 6 in NZ?

The cheapest way in is a boxed copy from a local retailer, which comes in about $20 under the digital store price for the Standard Edition.

There's one catch with the cheap box. Rockstar's support page says the free month of GTA+ goes to people who buy the digital version before 20 November, so I wouldn't count on getting it with a boxed code. Everyone who buys before launch, boxed or digital, gets the Vintage Vice City Pack: a classic 1955 car, a garage near Ocean Beach, retro outfits for Jason and Lucia, and a weapon finish.

Is GTA 6 cheaper in NZ or Australia?

For once, the answer is New Zealand. Even with our higher GST, the digital editions cost less here than they do across the Tasman once you convert the Aussie price.

Australian prices include 10% GST, and NZ prices include 15%. Conversions use A1=NZ1.233.

So there's no point switching your account to the Australian store to save money. You'd pay more, and as I covered in my piece on parallel importing in NZ, mixing regions usually causes more grief than it's worth.

Should you buy the Ultimate Edition?

The Ultimate Edition is $174.95 and adds exclusive vehicles, weapons, outfits and tattoos, plus extra shops and activities spread through the story. It's digital only.

I wouldn't buy it upfront. The Xbox NZ store lists a Standard to Ultimate upgrade for $35, and JB Hi-Fi confirms the upgrade can also be bought inside the game later. A boxed Standard copy plus the upgrade works out at about $153, roughly $22 less than buying Ultimate outright, and you only spend the extra if you end up wanting the bonus gear. The catch, again, is that the boxed route probably won't get you the free GTA+ month.

Is there a GTA 6 disc in the box?

No. Rockstar has confirmed the physical edition is a code in a box, and JB Hi-Fi's listing notes it's Rockstar's decision across every retailer worldwide. You're buying a cardboard case with a download code inside.

If you're holding out for a disc version later, I wouldn't. There were reports in June that one was planned for December, but they were later contradicted by a source telling The Hollywood Reporter that no discs are planned, not at launch and not months after. Rockstar hasn't announced one.

On launch night the missing disc barely matters, since a disc would have needed a hefty download anyway. It matters in three other places.

• You can't sell it on. Once the code is redeemed it's tied to your account. Normally a finished game is worth a bit of store credit at EB Games, as I covered in my guide on how to trade in old tech in NZ, but a used code is worth nothing.

• Region matters. Mighty Ape's listing says the PS5 code only works on a PlayStation account registered to New Zealand. If your account is set to Australia or the US, buy on that store instead.

• Digital consoles are fine. The code works on a PS5 Digital Edition or an Xbox Series S, neither of which can read discs anyway.

Mighty Ape is guaranteeing delivery on 12 November, so you can preload on day one, with a $10 account credit if it doesn't arrive.

Will GTA 6 fit on my PS5 or Xbox?

This is the question I'd be asking now rather than on the 12th of November. Rockstar hasn't published an install size, and every figure floating around online is a guess or a rumour. What isn't a guess is how much usable space each console has once the system takes its cut.

Series S owners are the ones who should be nervous. Rockstar opening preload a full week early is a pretty clear hint this won't be a small install.

A spare USB hard drive won't bail you out. Both consoles can store current generation games on a USB drive but can't run them from it. You'd need a compatible NVMe SSD in the PS5's expansion slot, or a Storage Expansion Card on Xbox, and SSD prices have climbed this year thanks to the global memory shortage. If you need one, buy it now, not on launch week.

How long will GTA 6 take to download on NZ broadband?

Without an official size, the most useful thing I can give you is time per 100GB at common NZ plan speeds. These are best case numbers. Console servers on launch week rarely hit your full plan speed.

If you're rural, on satellite or on a capped plan, the preload week is what decides whether you play at midnight or at breakfast. Start it on the 12th and leave it running overnight.

Does GTA 6 have online multiplayer at launch?

Not as far as anyone has been told. Rockstar's own press material, the PlayStation Store and the Xbox store all describe GTA 6 as a single player experience, and there's been no announcement about a new GTA Online. Rockstar has done this before: GTA V's online mode followed a couple of weeks after launch, and Red Dead Online took months. If you're buying it to play with mates, don't expect that on day one.

Is GTA 6 coming to PC or Switch 2?

Not yet. Rockstar has only announced GTA 6 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. There's no PC date, no PS4 or Xbox One version, and if you bought a Switch 2 this year hoping Vice City would follow, nothing has been announced for it.

My take

Buy the boxed Standard Edition from a local retailer, save yourself around $20, and skip the Ultimate Edition until you know you want it. You'll probably miss out on the free GTA+ month, but that's a fair swap for the saving. If you want GTA+, buy digitally before 20 November instead. Either way, don't bother with the Australian store. For once, we're paying less.

The real job this month is storage. If you're on a Series S or an original PS5, do a cull now, and set a reminder for 12 November rather than the 19th. Preload night is when launch night is won.

FAQ