According to Notebookcheck, PS5 players could get into GTA 6 up to 18 hours early on release day by using a PlayStation Network (PSN) trick. With just seventeen days to go before launch, it's exactly the kind of news everyone is searching for: how to start playing as soon as possible.
What we know
The tech outlet reports that there's a way to unlock GTA 6 earlier on Sony's console through PSN. The key detail is the number: "up to 18 hours." A head start that big lines up with time zone differences, since digital launches don't go live everywhere at once and some parts of the world reach November 19 many hours before others. Still, the exact method is laid out by Notebookcheck, and it's worth reading carefully before you change anything on your account.
Release date and platforms
Here's the official part: GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. There's no PC version announced for launch. Going by the headline, this trick only applies to PS5, so Xbox players will have to wait and see whether something similar turns up on their platform.
What it means for you
If you've pre-ordered the digital version, this could mean exploring Leonida the night before instead of waiting for the official unlock time in your region. For a lot of players that's worth more than a few hours of extra play: it's a chance to get in before social media fills up with spoilers.
That said, keep a few things in mind:
- Check PSN's terms. Any trick that involves your account settings may come with fine print. Know what you're changing and whether you can undo it.
- This isn't official early access. Neither Rockstar Games nor Sony has announced it as such; it's about taking advantage of how the store works.
- It could change. Publishers sometimes adjust how unlocks work for huge launches, so what works today might not work on the 19th.
The mood around launch
The wait is getting long, and the community is feeling it: while some are digging into previews of the police system, the map and combat, others admit on Reddit that their excitement is fading after so many years. News like this, which puts an almost exact time on when you can start playing, is what brings the hype back.
We'll keep an eye out for any confirmation of regional unlock times. As soon as Rockstar or PlayStation share official times, you'll find them here.