GTA 6 is expected to unlock at midnight in each country rather than worldwide at the same time. That means players in some regions could access the game up to 12 hours earlier than others, prompting questions about whether changing a console’s region to New Zealand could provide early access on PS5 in Italy.
According to the report, the method is available only on Xbox Series X/S. It involves preordering the game and changing the console’s region so it treats the player as being in New Zealand. Xbox players who use the trick could reportedly start playing at 12:00 p.m. on November 18, 2026, up to 12 hours early.
The report cautions that Microsoft could take action over use of the method for GTA 6, potentially including an account or console ban, even though it says the company usually does not intervene in such cases.
A New Zealand workaround is also possible on PS5 in theory, but it requires a New Zealand account and buying the game through that profile. The report says this could conflict with Sony’s policies and advises against attempting it, noting that creating such an account requires living in New Zealand and having a valid local address.
For players waiting to play, the report recommends preparing for the preload. It says GTA 6 requires a 212 GB download, which could take days for people with particularly slow internet connections.
Sources: Everyeye.it.