Rockstar confirms GTA 6 PS5 codes are region-locked, Xbox players unaffected

Following the confirmation that Grand Theft Auto VI will forgo a physical disc release when it launches on November 19, 2026, a new controversy has emerged regarding how the retail download codes will work.

Rockstar Games has confirmed that while physical copies of GTA 6 will include a download code instead of a game disc, PlayStation 5 download codes will be region-locked, meaning they can only be redeemed on PlayStation Network accounts that match the code's region. Xbox Series X|S players, however, won't have to deal with the same restriction.

The difference means PlayStation users who import the game from another country could run into activation issues if the code doesn't match the region of their PlayStation Network account.

How the regions are divided

Rockstar groups PlayStation 5 download codes into regional markets. To avoid redemption issues, make sure the code you purchase matches the region of your PlayStation Network account.

• North America: United States and Canada.
• Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and other supported European countries.
• Japan: Japan only (Note: Due to local regulations, Japanese product codes will expire 170 days after the November 19 launch date).
• Asia: Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and other supported Asian markets.
• Latin America: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and other supported LATAM countries.
• Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.

Xbox Series X|S download codes from Rockstar are not region-locked, so you won’t need to worry about the region where you purchase the game matching your Microsoft account. This means more options for Xbox users to buy the game from overseas stores or take advantage of regional discounts.

This restriction could be a headache for players who regularly import games or have PlayStation accounts registered in countries other than where they are currently living. Since Sony does not officially allow users to change the region of an existing PlayStation Network account, affected players may have limited options if they purchase a code from the wrong region. While some users have historically created secondary PSN accounts in different regions, doing so may not be an ideal solution for everyone.