Everything We Know About GTA VI: Delays, Leaks, and Record Pre-Orders

After more than a full decade and two generations of gaming consoles running on «GTA V», the world is still waiting for the next installment in the famous «Grand Theft Auto» series. «GTA VI», developed by Rockstar Games, has become one of the most anticipated releases in the history of the gaming industry, yet at the same time it is surrounded by a wave of delays, leaks, and labor disputes. In this article, we review the most notable developments related to the eagerly awaited game.

Release Date After a Series of Delays

The game has faced repeated delays that have thrown off players' expectations. It was originally supposed to release in the fall of 2025, but Rockstar postponed the date twice: first to May 26, 2026, then again to November 19, 2026—a delay of nearly a full year from the original date.

The game will launch on the «PlayStation 5» and «Xbox Series X/S» platforms and will be available digitally at launch. As for physical copies, they will not contain discs but only download codes. The pre-load phase for the game begins on November 12, giving players enough time to install it before the official launch.

Pre-Orders and the Two Available Editions

Pre-orders for the game, which is sold digitally only, have opened through two main editions:

• Standard Edition: priced at $79.99.
• Ultimate Edition: priced at $99.99.

Both editions share the same pre-order perks, including the «Vintage Vice City» pack, which contains vehicles, weapon styles, and hairstyles inspired by the classic «GTA: Vice City» game.

Strauss Zelnick, CEO of «Take-Two Interactive», the parent company of Rockstar, noted that the volume of pre-orders was «unprecedented and astonishing», expressing his gratitude for this demand. He also pointed out that the company's business now relies on digital distribution by more than 90 percent, which explains the abandonment of physical discs.

The Story and Protagonists

The first official footage revealed the game's two protagonists, Jason and Lucia, whose story revolves around the city of «Vice City» in an attempt to survive a complex criminal conspiracy after one of their jobs goes wrong. This duo returns as the first dual protagonists in the history of the series, amid the atmosphere of chaos and crime for which it is renowned.

A Renewed Wave of Leaks

This is not the first time the game has been leaked; in September 2022, a massive leak occurred that included around 90 video clips showing early stages of the game, and that incident ended with the conviction of the hacker responsible.

Recently, a new series of leaks appeared under the name «CyberLeek», showing scenes from the game days before the event Rockstar had planned. The clips showed the character Jason Duval engaging in various activities such as driving, piloting a plane, and using a stun gun, in addition to a scene where the player writes the word «LEEK» by shooting at a wall—an indication that nearly confirms that an actual copy of the game had leaked beyond the company's control.

In response, «Take-Two» took legal action and sent subpoenas to «Microsoft» and «Discord» regarding content that infringes on the game's intellectual property rights, asking them to provide information to identify those responsible for the leak.

An Exclusive Event via Netflix

Rockstar announced the broadcast of an «extended look» at the game on August 27. This content will be shown on «YouTube» at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, but «Netflix» subscribers will get priority viewing at 3 p.m., as part of a previous partnership between the two parties that included releasing the original «GTA» trilogy on mobile phones.

Accompanying Labor Dispute

The game's development path has not been free of tension; Rockstar faced accusations of union-busting after laying off more than 30 employees. In response, workers at the studio filed a request for voluntary recognition of their union under the Game Workers union, in a sign of escalating labor activism within the company.

It remains to be said that «GTA VI» embodies a rare state of anticipation in the gaming world, where grand artistic ambitions intersect with the challenges of delays, leaks, and internal disputes, and everyone is looking forward to the upcoming event to reveal more details.

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