When Will GTA 6 Reviews Come Out?

If you’re deciding whether to pre-order or wait, the review date matters. As of early October 2026, Rockstar hasn’t announced when the review embargo for GTA 6 lifts. But its last two big releases followed the same pattern, and that gives a good idea of what to expect.

What Rockstar did last time

GTA 5’s reviews went live on September 16, 2013, one day before the game launched on September 17. Red Dead Redemption 2’s embargo lifted at 4am Pacific on October 25, 2018, again one day before its October 26 release.

That’s a short window. Plenty of publishers let reviews out a week or more ahead of launch. Rockstar has preferred to give critics enough time to play, then publish all at once right before release, which keeps the conversation focused on launch day.

If GTA 6 follows suit, expect reviews around November 18, 2026. Rockstar usually confirms the embargo date only a few days before it lifts.

What we’ve seen from the press so far

Selected outlets and creators have already been to Rockstar North in Edinburgh for previews. According to reports, that July event was hands-off, meaning journalists watched the game being played rather than playing it themselves, and impressions went live alongside the Netflix Extended Look on August 27. Previews aren’t reviews, so treat them as descriptions rather than verdicts.

There have also been reports that Rockstar may have critics play at controlled locations rather than sending out review copies, in order to keep the game from leaking. That isn’t confirmed. If it happens, it could mean reviews are based on supervised sessions, which would be unusual for a game this long. With Rob Nelson putting his own playthrough at around 80 hours, reviewers will need a lot of time either way.

Watch out for fake reviews

A few “reviews” claiming early access have already appeared online, months before anyone outside Rockstar could have finished the game. Ignore any score posted before the official embargo lifts. Real reviews from major outlets will all appear within minutes of each other on the same morning, which is the easiest way to tell they’re genuine.

Should you wait for reviews?

A day isn’t long to wait if you’re unsure, and the pre-load means a digital buyer who orders on review day can still be playing by midnight, given a fast connection. If you’re already committed, pre-ordering costs you nothing extra, since you can cancel a digital pre-order before release. Our pre-order or wait piece weighs both sides, and our pre-order cancellation guide explains the refund rules.

We’ll add the official embargo date here as soon as it’s confirmed.