The briefing
Rockstar’s platform and version FAQ currently lists November 12 at local midnight as the preload start. It also describes the physical retail product as a code supplied in a box rather than a disc. These details are worth checking before buying or planning launch day.
A boxed product, an edition and a preload are three different parts of the purchase. The box describes delivery, the edition describes licensed content and the preload describes when installation can begin. None of them alone tells you the exact regional moment the game becomes playable.
The practical consequence
Choose the correct console and account region, read the product’s redemption instructions, and verify the license in the platform account. Allow enough time for the store’s actual download and update requirements. The launch-preparation guide turns those checks into a useful sequence.
A dated reading of the FAQ
This article records the version information reviewed on October 15, rather than claiming that this date is the original announcement date. Follow the source FAQ for later corrections or regional changes. The release guide preserves the distinction between the calendar release date and an exact unlock time.
Sources & further reading
Current official version FAQ ↗
Read the game and edition listed in the facts panel before applying gameplay advice. Story outcomes are marked as spoilers. Read our corrections policy.