It’s been a long, long time coming, but GTA 6 is finally almost here. If you’re desperate to get your hands on Grand Theft Auto 6 as soon as possible (and who could blame you), the old New Zealand trick could give Xbox players a head start. It’s a method that’s worked for plenty of major releases over the years, potentially letting you play several hours before everyone else in the UK or US.
The trick involves changing your Xbox’s region to New Zealand and acting like you have a ring to chuck in a volcano without any of that bothersome walking.
How To Do The New Zealand Trick On Xbox
It’s actually bafflingly easy to do this trick:
– Open Settings on your Xbox Series X or Series S.
– Select System, then Language & location.
– Under Location, select New Zealand.
– Choose Restart now to apply the changes.
– Once GTA 6 becomes available in New Zealand, try launching your pre-installed copy.
You shouldn’t need to create a new Xbox account or purchase another copy of the game, which is a difference to PS5. Changing your console’s location is separate from changing your Microsoft account’s billing region. It really is as simple as this! Luckily, there’s no paid early access like with so many Ultimate Editions, so everyone should be able to play at the same time.
What Time Could You Play GTA 6 Early?
All being well, GTA 6 should become playable at the following times on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, a day before its official November 19 release.
| Region | Potential Unlock Time |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12:00 AM, November 19 |
| UK | 11:00 AM, November 18 |
| US Eastern | 6:00 AM, November 18 |
| US Pacific | 3:00 AM, November 18 |
| Central Europe | 12:00 PM, November 18 |
These times are based on a midnight New Zealand launch, as indicated by regional store data.
Will The New Zealand Trick Actually Work For GTA 6?
While the New Zealand trick hasn’t been officially confirmed for GTA 6 (as it never would be), the game is set to launch at midnight in different time zones, meaning there’s every reason to believe it’ll work as it has for plenty of other Xbox releases. Unless Microsoft decides to crack down on the workaround, Xbox players should be able to get a head start on everyone else.
Rockstar has confirmed that Xbox pre-loading begins on November 10, with the download requiring up to 212 GB of storage. So, get pre-loading as soon as possible.
For now, it’s worth trying if you’re on Xbox. Just don’t book the Wednesday off work expecting a guaranteed early trip to Vice City.
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