Rockstar sends GTA 6 review codes ahead of November 19 launch
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Rockstar Games has begun sending GTA 6 review codes, with reviews due November 18, a day before launch.
The $79.99 console launch is already reshaping work calendars and Miami marketing.
Background
Grand Theft Auto VI is the next entry in Rockstar Games' open-world crime series, published by Take-Two Interactive and arriving after several postponements. It is now set for Thursday, November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at $79.99, with pre-orders opened at midnight local time on June 25. Rockstar has spent heavily on marketing, blanketing Miami with in-universe ads, and the launch lands eight days before Black Friday, putting the game's push in the same fortnight as holiday promotions.
How it unfolded
- Jun 25, 2026Pre-orders for GTA 6 opened at midnight local time.
- Oct 20, 2026A report said GTA 6 had already made Rockstar more than half a billion dollars.
- Oct 22, 2026A news roundup covered reports of a potential Q1 2027 PC release, weapon wheel details and a Miami marketing campaign with customized vehicles, neon decorations, a Vice City blimp and more than 20 fictional brands.
- Oct 25, 2026A 25-minute gameplay video tied to the Cyberleek account circulated; VGC reported it as unauthorized.
- Oct 26, 2026Rockstar began sending out review codes, per a credible video game insider, with reviews to release November 18. BambooHR data showed a 9% to 17% rise in time-off requests for November 19.
- Nov 12, 2026Pre-load for the game begins.
- Nov 18, 2026Reviews are scheduled to release one day before launch, and an NBA game between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks will be staged as the Vice City Heat with GTA 6-themed jerseys and court.
- Nov 19, 2026GTA 6 launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at $79.99.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- GamesBeat reported, citing four industry sources, that Rockstar is targeting Q1 2027 for the PC version, a short console-to-PC gap possibly tied to the anticipated GTA 6 Online launch.
- Caution
- VGC reported that the 25-minute gameplay footage is unauthorized and Rockstar has not confirmed any of what it shows.
- Public
- BambooHR data showed time-off requests for November 19 up 9% to 17% over a normal third Thursday, which IGN said likely reflects people taking the day off to play.
Still unverified
The Q1 2027 PC release window comes from a GamesBeat report citing four industry sources; Rockstar has not officially confirmed it. Every detail in the 25-minute leak — including nudity involving the two playable leads, street racing, dirt-bike racing and first-person driving — remains unconfirmed as an official feature. Xbox One and Windows PC listings are unconfirmed and not stated in official sources.