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GTA VI launches on

Jason and Lucia embrace at sunset in a swamp, surrounded by police airboats with a helicopter overhead.

GTA 6 reviews before launch could put it in The Game Awards 2026 race

GTA VI reviews are expected before the November 19 launch, Insider Gaming reports. What we know, and why the game can still compete at The Game Awards 2026.

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Will there be GTA VI reviews before it's out? Plenty of players assumed Rockstar wouldn't let anyone play early for fear of more leaks. A report published on October 15, 2026 suggests otherwise: according to Insider Gaming, the review embargo will lift before launch on November 19. Rockstar hasn't confirmed it.

What we know

Insider Gaming chose not to share the provisional embargo date because it may change, and it's unclear whether critics will get copies or play it at a Rockstar-run event. What we don't know is exactly when it lifts. It could be several days early or the night before launch; either way, in most time zones reviews would be readable before you can play.

Can GTA VI win at The Game Awards 2026?

This is the intriguing part. GTA VI was thought to be too late for this year's show, but The Game Awards rules say a game qualifies if it's commercially available by Friday, November 20, 2026, at 9 p.m. PT. GTA VI launches a day earlier, so it's eligible.

The catch is the voting calendar: nominations are decided early, and jurors need to have played it. If critics get to play it early, some of the jury outlets could make it in time. Nominees are announced only a few days after launch, so we'll know soon enough.

Why reviews matter

  • For you: you'll know how the game runs on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (performance, length, potential bugs) before it unlocks, which helps if you haven't pre-ordered yet.
  • For Rockstar: strong reviews ahead of launch supercharge day-one sales, and it's what the studio did with GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.

In the meantime, if you're torn between editions, here's what each one includes on pre-order.