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🌴 GTA 6 · 19 November 2026

Plan your GTA 6 launch subathon

Grand Theft Auto VI comes out on 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Release day will be one of the busiest moments of the year on streaming platforms: here is how to turn it into a subathon your community keeps going.

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Countdown to midnight on 19 November in your time zone. Rockstar has not announced the exact unlock time.

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Why a subathon on GTA 6 release day

A big release brings viewers who are looking for someone to watch the game with, and many of them will hop from channel to channel during the first hours. A subathon gives them a reason to stay: every sub, cheer or donation adds time, and the whole chat sees the clock jump.

An open-world game also fits the format: there is always something to do, the stream does not end with the credits, and the community can steer the next activity through goals and challenges.

Your launch timeline

  1. The week before: announce it

    Post the date and the starting time on your socials and in your stream title. Say what the subathon is for, and show the rate card: viewers support more when they know what a sub is worth.

  2. A few days before: set everything up

    Create the timer, add the overlay to OBS, connect your platforms and donation tools, then test with a manual addition. Check your console capture well in advance: GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only.

  3. Release day: start before the unlock

    Go live early with the timer running, so the waiting time already counts. When the game unlocks, a happy hour that multiplies the time is a good way to mark the moment.

  4. The following days: keep the rhythm

    Share the progress with goals, thank the biggest contributors on screen, and decide in advance whether there is a cap. Once it is over, the recap image sums up the whole marathon.

A rate card for a launch

Launch day draws more viewers than usual, so a rate card that is too generous can run away within hours. A common starting point:

  • Tier 1 sub: 3 to 5 minutes
  • Gifted sub: the same as a sub, counted for each gift
  • 100 bits: 1 minute
  • 1 € / $1 donation: 1 minute

Start low: raising the rate card during the stream is a nice surprise, lowering it feels like a punishment. A cap, or a time multiplier that shrinks as the clock fills up, keeps the marathon under control.

What helps on a launch

Happy hour at the unlock

Double the time for an hour when the game comes out, or at any chosen moment.

Goals

Sub and donation goals shown on stream, each one unlocking a challenge.

Chat commands for your mods

Your mods add time, pause or start a happy hour from the chat, on Twitch, Kick and YouTube.

Stream Boss

An on-screen boss your community takes down with subs, bits and donations.

Editors

Hand the controls to someone you trust while you sleep, without sharing your account.

Every platform at once

Twitch, YouTube and Kick, plus Streamlabs, StreamElements, Tipeee and Ko-fi, on the same timer.

Challenge ideas for your goals

Goals work best when each one unlocks something the chat wants to see. A few ideas that work in an open world without spoiling the story:

  • The chat picks the next vehicle, and you keep it until the next goal.
  • One hour of driving without the minimap.
  • A night session: you only play in-game nights for an hour.
  • Photo contest: the chat votes for the best in-game picture.
  • A road trip across the map at the speed limit.

Staying on your feet

  • Spoilers: tell the chat your rule before the stream starts, and give it to your mods.
  • Sleep: plan your breaks, show them on screen, and leave the controls to an editor.
  • Health: water, real meals and a few minutes away from the screen every couple of hours.
  • A cap: there is no shame in ending a subathon. Decide the limit before, not at four in the morning.

Too many tips in the chat? What backseat gaming is, and how to set the rule.

Frequently asked questions

When does GTA 6 come out?

Grand Theft Auto VI comes out on Thursday 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. No PC version has been announced.

At what time does GTA 6 unlock?

Rockstar has not announced the exact unlock time. Start your stream early with the timer running, so the waiting time already counts for the subathon.

Can I run a GTA 6 subathon on YouTube or Kick?

Yes. Marathon-Timer counts Twitch subs and bits, YouTube members and Super Chats, Kick subs, and donations from Streamlabs, StreamElements, Tipeee and Ko-fi, on the same timer.

How much time should a sub add?

Between 3 and 5 minutes is a common start for a launch, when more viewers than usual come by. You can raise it during the stream; lowering it is less well received.

Is the timer free?

Yes. Marathon-Timer is free, without ads or commission. You sign in with Twitch and the overlay goes into OBS as a browser source.

Can my mods add time while I sleep?

Yes, in two ways: chat commands for moderators, or editor access that lets someone you trust run the timer without your account.

Go further

What is a subathon?

Subathon guide

Subathon countdown timer

Countdown timer for streams

Add the timer to OBS

The browser source, step by step.

Your launch, your rules

Marathon-Timer extends your stream at the pace your community supports it. Set it up now, and be ready when Vice City opens.

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Grand Theft Auto and GTA are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software. Marathon-Timer is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.