GTA 6 reviews: when they come out, according to the rumors
Every big release has the same question in its final weeks: will reviews arrive before the game, or after? For GTA 6 Rockstar has said nothing. The rumors, though, all point the same way: reviews before November 19, probably only just.
What the rumors say
The November 18 in many headlines does not come from any source: it is an inference from Rockstar’s past. And it is a reasonable one, as the next section shows.
The precedent: one day before
Rockstar has done this for years. Reviews of GTA 5 came out on September 16, 2013, the day before the game; reviews of Red Dead Redemption 2 on October 25, 2018, again the day before. If the pattern repeats, GTA 6 reviews would arrive on November 18, a few hours before you can play.
Original illustration.
There is also an older rumor pointing the other way. Some journalists and YouTubers claimed Rockstar would send copies to no one, for fear of leaks, and that reviews would come from supervised play sessions. More recent reports contradict it, but the concern behind it stands: after this year’s leaks, Rockstar has good reasons to keep copies as safe as possible.
What it means if you are buying
If reviews land on the 18th, anyone waiting for scores before deciding will have one day to spare. Preload starts earlier, on November 12: if you pre-ordered digitally, you will download the game a week before knowing what it is like. For everything else, from the date to the download, see our guide on when GTA 6 comes out.
In brief
- Rockstar has not announced when GTA 6 reviews will come out.
- Insider Gaming wrote that the embargo lifts before November 19, then removed the article.
- According to NateTheHate, press copies arrive by the end of October.
- November 18 is an inference: GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 had reviews the day before release.
- Preload starts on November 12, before the reviews.
Frequently asked questions
When do GTA 6 reviews come out?
There is no official date. Rumors say before November 19, and the GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 precedent points to November 18, the day before release.
Is Rockstar sending GTA 6 copies to the press?
According to insider NateTheHate, yes, by the end of October. Rockstar has not confirmed it.
Should I wait for reviews before buying GTA 6?
If you want to read scores before spending, yes: they will most likely arrive only a few hours before release, so waiting costs almost nothing.